[center][size=6][font=Constantia]Entries[/size][/font]
[font=times new roman][size=4]The many wonderful entries!
Though this is mostly meant to be where the judges can easily look through every entry, feel free to browse through them yourself. Even if an entry doesn't win, it still deserves to be admired, no?
Also feel free to discuss entries, compliment the creators, etc.[/size]
[size=2]([b]Notice[/b]: My computer has had...issues...and is no longer working (it will likely remain decommissioned for the remainder of the week) so I'm stuck on mobile, where I can't properly copy and paste images to show on the forums or directly link to entries. As of a certain point in the entry list, art entries will not be images, but rather I will indicate which page of the thread the entry was posted on... Sorry for the inconvenience!)[/size][/center]
[quote]
'Prompt 1 - A Pool of Life' by [b]Origamer[/b]
(Note: submitted before submission form was made)
Dip your toes
Get inside
no one knows
what does hide
Inside the mystic pool
a little fish?
a bigger clam?
Something squishy?
Who i am?
Everything can go
stay and come
Inside this pool
a mini-home
[/quote]
[quote]
Username: ViziVoir
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry: Drift Glass
When clouds had swallowed up the sun's bright rays
And not a single person was in sight
I walked along the beachfront by the quay
And basked within the evening's fading light.
I danced among the little rippling waves
That fell upon the shifting, sopping sand
I saw a glimmer on the line they made
And bent to scoop it up within my hand.
By pebbles, shells, and driftwood, one might find
A kind of enigmatic precious stone
Within its clouded surface, each one hides
The currents that our Tidelord does call home.
It takes a special sort of soul to see
The treasure in the edges of the sea.
Commission me for music![/quote]
[quote]
Username: paintminion
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry:
Play Along the Shore
sand stained dark
a curtain along the edge of a stage
Wind whispers, murmurs
of hidden wonders to be displayed
Sun spotlights glitter
from jewel crested aqua decor
hush, Wind, quiet
the Waves speak gently on the shore
each act flowing
I grasp the unearthed treasure revealed
Waves close curtain
the audience walks on hunting further thrills[/quote]
[quote]
Username: Fabro
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry: Sunlight
The sunlight fades, yet they still search.
A swinging of hands, a quickening of step, and sand all around. They move across the beach, daring to go farther with each step. Waves crash and thunder. Footprints are lost to wind and sand. The last rays of sun shimmer on the water.
The world would sing to them if they cared to pay attention.
They are lost in their own world.
The sunlight is leaving the beach, yet they press on. They pause, start up again, pause. When the alarm comes, they crouch and dig. They repeat. They have always done this. The younger complains of sore feet and the older complains of bothersome sisters, but they both drop to dig without fail.
This one has a strong cry. They strike upon it soon. Fingers wrap around a smooth metal surface and fish it out of the hole. There's disbelief, and laughter, and running up the boardwalk to the benches.
The sunlight has gone, and they hold their treasure aloft.
It's a fork.
[/quote]
[quote]
Username: casuallySleepy
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry: A historical piece discovered deep within Levitos - a painting made by creatures that existed before dragonkind.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/3tauAXV.png[/img]
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[quote]
Username: Amaranth41
Prompt: Creature Feature
Entry: Nautilus
Kaimana padded softly along the sopping wet sand at the edge of the Sea of a Thousand Currents, her talons leaving prints to get washed away by the sparkling waves. Satisfied she was in a spot unclaimed by a Water clan, Kaimana spread her enormous leathery wings and slipped into the water. She let the salty liquid flow over her streamlined blue body, reveling in the familiarity of it. Living in the Shifting Expanse for so long, she had almost forgotten what the ocean had felt like. Sighing with pleasure, Kaimana tipped her wings forward, took a deep breath, and dove beneath the waves.
Kaimana slipped easily through the water, her Imperial wings catching currents as if it was second nature. Sunlight filtered through the water in beams, creating a shifting geometric pattern on the sandy ocean floor. As Kaimana swam towards a drop off, the current slowed and grew cold. Kaimana tucked in her wings and swam, moving her body like an iguana. She quickly reached the drop off and placed her talons in the sand. She didn't see any patrolling dragons, so the area was clear of clans. Eagerly Kaimana spread her wings and leapt off the ledge and into the water beyond. The Fishspine Reef was spread out below her, brightly colored and bustling with life.
Kaimana dove down towards the reef, swimming along the edge. She watched as eel, angelfish, clownfish, and juvenile octoflyers darted past. On any other day she would've caught one, but today she simply wanted to enjoy the reef's beauty. She turned her head to look over the reef, the quick motion sending up bubbles. Swimming over the center of the reef was a small creature in a spiral shell.
Nautilus! Kaimana cried internally. She pushed up off the sand and centered herself above the reef, keeping as close to the tips of the coral as possible without breaking them. The nautilus swam in front of her, not seeing the blue Imperial because of her natural camouflage. The nautilus had a shell like a snail, mostly white with stripes of red. The top of its head was a rusty red with white spots. It had fleshy white eyes on the side of its head that looked like octopus suckers with a black dot in the center. It's head consisted of many tiny tentacles, which surrounded a small water jet that the nautilus used to move. It moved slowly, speeding up every couple seconds as it expelled water to propel itself forward. Kaimana followed the curious creature as it traversed the reef, weaving in and out of the spines for which the reef was named. After several minutes the nautilus dove into a tiny cave, probably its home. Figuring she should follow the crustacean's example, Kaimana swam up and caught a current that would bring her back to the beach.[/quote]
[quote]
Username: casuallySleepy
Prompt: Creature Feature
Entry: A jellyfish is really cute! <3
[img]http://i.imgur.com/bMBoPun.png[/img][/quote]
[quote]
Username: Xarina
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry: "Unnameable"
Eyes, swollen and red, tinged with grey and fading skin, stared almost blankly up from the water's surface. There was an emptiness there, an astute awareness of temporality that didn't vanish as a straggling breath crossed the glass-like tide pool, momentarily warping the face in ripples. "So... they see me... like this," a voice whispered, almost as if whispering was the loudest the speaker could achieve, and as if each collection of words was painful to say aloud. He wouldn't have spoken, but he felt in that moment that the words needed to be made manifest in the world, even if only his own straining ears and the water itself would ever really hear them. The vision in the waves that he saw needed to be validated, both in his mind and to the serene rocky outcroppings that surrounded him. It was no monster reflected there, no alien beast of the deep, only his own visage. He closed his eyes slowly, letting the salty sea air rest on what was left of him.
He had avoided mirrors for so long, had hidden himself from this very reality, all in the hopes of making a world around which his condition did not revolve. And yet, here he was, standing among pockets of water at low tide as a gaunt old Coatl stared back at him, unavoidably twisted in rippling water, all while others elsewhere celebrated and rejoiced.
But in some way, he knew, this was his celebration, too. There was something very freeing about being grounded by this image, and the weight of years of not knowing what he looked like was lifted from him. There was nothing to fear, now, nothing to worry about. No mental images projecting something far worse or uselessly hoping for anything far better. He saw how his feathers were becoming translucent, many having fallen out while many more prepared their escape. He saw how the wrappings around his face had become stained with old blood, and how his once-powerful wings held themselves at uselessly weakened angles, the only way to avoid too much soreness in their joints. He saw how far he had fallen (or how far he had come), a vibrant hatchling reduced (or elevated) to a pale and dying dragon.
As these thoughts wafted through his head, his vision began to shift, as if suddenly looking not at himself, but past himself, into the shallow depths of the pool before him. And then, as his focus returned to what his eyes were beholding, he saw it. He saw the reason he had been aided by clanmates and his enchanted "service familiar" to go to this place. "You must see it at least once, you know," one of the chosen exalts from the Tsunami Flats had said as she rested from a day of grueling training, "before your time is over, you should see the pools. There is so much..."
"...Life!" He let the word go from his mouth with so much force that his ailing body reprimanded him with a fit of coughing, loud hacking sounds that disturbed the water and caused a school of small fish to dart away in the opposite direction. But, by now so accustomed to such painful outbursts, he just let the coughs become dry laughter. He watched them flit away, diving between small anemones and other strange collections of underwater beings, things seemingly impossibly torn between being animal or plant.
"Nameless?" A voice, loud and deep, cut through his observations. She, like all others in this new clan that had adopted him, called him by that word. He had refused a name, forgotten his, and simply allowed the meaninglessness of his own, slowly fading existence to become his shelter. "I heard you coughing. Need anything?"
He just shook his head, mentally saying, "no, no, I'm as fine as I'll ever be," but knowing it would take far too long for him to say those words. A formidable Imperial that was actively picking at a tide pool nearby nodded in return. Her aims were different. Where he wished to merely see life, she wished to collect it, discern its properties, discover what it could become if altered in this way or that. She would be putting these impossibly brilliant sea slugs into jars, knowing them not as examples of what abundance there could be in such small spaces, but as potential ingredients in a poison or additions to a cure.
He did not approve of her intentions, but he did not disapprove, either. She was a collector, and for a small moment, he almost saw how her disregard for conservation in this moment fit into the larger system of the known lands of Sornieth. It felt, somehow, like everything was connected. If he were to die here, or on the journey back, his fallen form would become part of the scenery, part of the life, a small ecosystem that teemed with things he couldn't imagine, just as this tide pool was.
A celebration indeed, he nodded slowly. Wavecrest Saturnalia was taken for granted, just like so many other things he'd come to understand over the progression of his terminal infection. It wasn't about gondola rides or prophecies, though those were small parts of it. He smiled as best he could. Wavecrest Saturnalia, he decided, was a celebration of life, of the little things in the tide pool, of the collectors and the observers both, of the grand scheme of things that water itself was necessary to maintain.
He let himself stop staring at the myriad of rainbow-colored beautiful beings in the water before him, and again saw the gaunt, pale Coatl staring back at him. Its head turned with his, bobbed with his, and spoke weakly with his. "There is no... such thing... as a meaningless existence... and you are," he stared hard into the eyes of his own reflection, "unnameable."[/quote]
[quote]
Username: Amaranth41
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry: Outing
The waves thundered against the shore of the ocean. Avrae carefully picked her way down the slope to the Tsunami Flats, followed closely by Seregroval, India, and four bumbling hatchlings. The two Pearlcatchers, Midnight and Blackberry, were arguing about whose pearl was prettier, while Nytus and Effie, the two Tundras, simply sniffed, trying to take in all the scents of the sea. The sand was loose under Avrae's talons, and her steps were careful.
"Make sure to watch were you're walking!" Avrae called over her shoulder to the hatchlings.
"We're being careful, don't worry, Avrae!" Blackberry squeaked. He smacked Midnight with the tuft on the end of his tail as his brother tumbled over his pearl. "At least I am!" Effie snickered and shoved Nytus playfully, who squealed as he stumbled.
"Seriously, you guys do need to calm down a bit." India remarked, helping Nytus back to his talons. "Don't want you tumbling into any of these tide pools. Who knows what might be hiding in the depths." India feigned trying to grab Effie, and the Tundra shrieked, diving over Blackberry and Midnight. The three other hatchlings laughed, and India repressed a chuckle. Effie laughed too, popping up from behind the Pearlcatchers.
"Watch out!" She exclaimed, running towards Nytus. "I'm a Mantarune and I'm going to get you!"
"Oh no!" Nytus yelled. "Not an evil Mantarune!" He laughed and pelted down the slope, Blackberry, Midnight, and Effie hot on his heels.
"Rawr!" Effie roared. "I'm going to get you all!" The two Pearlcatchers had sped past her, and now Effie leapt onto Blackberry's back. Blackberry shrieked in delight and fell dramatically.
"Oh no, the Mantarune has me!" Blackberry cried.
"I'll save you!" Midnight responded, turning quickly. He charged up the slope towards Effie and Blackberry, Nytus following suit. Seeing the pair barreling towards her, Effie squeaked and leapt off Blackberry.
"The Mantarune gives up!" She exclaimed, throwing up her forepaws.
"That is quite good, seeing as we're at the tide pools." Seregroval interrupted, turning to the hatchlings. Immediately all four of them turned their heads to see the fabled ocean's edge.
"Woah..." Breathed Midnight. "I never thought the ocean would be so big!"
"Race you there!" Nytus yelled. He took off down the sand, Midnight, Blackberry, and Effie hot on his heels. Laughter echoed across the beach and Avrae smiled. She craned her neck to see the hatchlings and gasped.
"Careful!" She called, quickening her pace to catch up with them. "You're very close to the edge of the nearest tide pool! I wouldn't want you to fall-"
Splash!
"...in." [/quote]
[quote]
Username: Crystalinastar
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry:
The waves come in and out, the white seafoam announcing its arrival. I breath in the salty sea air, the scent that always calms me down. The sun is shining down on my wings, pleasantly warming them up. The rough grains of sand crunch as my claws go over them.
I am perfectly at home in the sea. My mate, however, so used to the Abiding Boneyard, she hovers a few feet away from me. "Vanir," I gently coo, "it's really not that hot. The sand is quite pleasing, really."
Vanir shakes her head disbelievingly, her eyes sparing a fleeting glance on the rolling waves.
"The water is much cooler, if you'd prefer," I try to convince.
Vanir squeaks, and shoots up into a palm tree nearby. "The sea is dangerous. I could drown." Her voice comes out muffled.
I have to giggle a little. "Come on now, Vanir, the sea won't drown you. Not if you stay at the edge. See, the water's coming in and out."
My Spiral mate peeks out from behind a coconut. She hesitatingly flies over to me. "That's it now..." I say, guiding her to the water.
She dips her tail in it. "EEP!" she yelps. "It's cold!" I stamp my claw firmly on the ground. "Vaitai! I don't wanna!"
I give Vanir a reassuring smile. "No worries, you'll be holding onto me the whole time. What could go wrong?"
Slowly but surely, she comes toward my embrace. I hold my pearl near her, letting her know that I will protect her from the "vile sea creatures". "It's not so bad anymore, is it?" I ask. The seawater swirls around my feet, the tide rising just a slight bit.
"Not really," comes the reply from my chest. "It's better than hot, hot, hot, hot sand."
I feel something squirming in the water. Dipping my claws in, I pull out a starfish. It wiggles in my claws as Vanir starts to slowly back away. “Ah! Squirmy thing! Get away!” she shrieks, accidentally going deeper into the ocean. I doubt she noticed.
“Vanir, come closer,” I urge. The starfish wiggles still. “I can put it down.” I lower it to the water to make a point.
“A-alright.” Vanir slowly comes back as the starfish makes an audible ‘plop!’ into the water.
The wave comes crashing in. “Eek!” I hear Vanir scream as she lands face first into the water. The wave starts getting rough and the winds beat my face. Never have I been so worried so near the shore ever before.
My heart pounding in my chest, I rush over to my beloved. “Vanir! Vanir, grab on!” I feel the Spiral clutching my claws.
I try to heave her up, but the water keeps pushing her down. I use both claws. It still doesn’t work.
Vanir’s pulse is rapidly increasing. Salty sea air, I tell myself. Breathe in, breathe out.
My pearl glows golden. I take a fleeting glance at it. It fills me with strength and hope. “I CAN do it,” I murmur.
Vanir comes out of the sea, crashing into me. The salty droplets of water splash onto me as she hugs me tight, determined not to let go.
The sunshine illuminates Vanir’s scales. “Thank you,” she mumbles, buried in my chest again. “You saved me.”
“I will protect you always, my dear.” I stroke her head. “Just, please, stay at the edge of the sea.”
[/quote]
[quote]
Username: Origamer
Prompt: Floating City
Entry: Wavecrest Saturnalia, day 3.
' Our staying in Levithos has have gone most pleasant so far. Many of our dragons have been eyeing the many wares being offered by artisans of all flights, in this marvelous city.
The mechanism of water flowing back, after Wavecrest and draining, before, is one of the most interesting i have yet seen.
Times the tundras got lost on the streets: 3 4.
Hydro particularly has been very enthusiastic of being back to her natural place. Hyrr is mingling with almost every philosopher and artist. Purity has been changing color non-stop. My daughter is flying from street to street, checking every type of poetry she can.
I do believe we will be left treasure-less.
Second-in-command, Nobunaga.'
[/quote]
[quote]
Username: andreaissy
Prompt: day three Levitos
Entry: The last time Kailani had seen the city, it had been underwater. It was far different from now, sure, there were still dragons and merchants, but the beautiful art works and most foods, and things like kites and balloons, they hadn't really done too well underwater. Seeing the city as it was meant to be, gleaming and dry in the sunlight, honestly took her breath away. The maze of streets were filled with people, merchants, art, trinkets, and the smells of food wafted deliciously through the air. She saw people in the canals too, gondolas carrying them down through the many beautiful districts.
She couldn't help exploring. Last time, she had gotten lost quickly. She was amused to fnd it was no different this time around. Still, she found a small, private looking square that mimced the great sundial, the pillars around it clearly reflecting the Light dragons who lived so close. Yet on the floor was a tiled mosaic, depicting a conch, and so many bubbles. There had been streets boasting glass orbs, some filled with magic others just hanging and looking pretty. Kailani even found a tiny little wagon owned by a fae and a snapper, which held a mixture of plant foods and wares.
Soon enough, she found herself near the main canal, which fairly had fleets of gondolas and row boats jostling and sailing past each other. She laughed as she saw a fae using magic to propel their boat, much to the annoyance of some others. Some vendors had even set up on docking platforms, which gave them access to the floating guests, and maybe less competition. A sign caught her eye; gondola tours. She knew the rough layout, but, still. She climbed aboard, paying the fare, and watching as the canal passed. There were roof top terraces bursting with plant life, though how the plants would survive underwater was probably going to be a problem later on. There was a huge bridge, one she knew held hundreds of craft stores, mostly jewelry and glass. She tuned out of the explanation of the three disasters of the bridge, paying more attention to the shore front. Souvenirs, presents, and the general sights and sounds were so much more interesting than a flat toned guide. She found a piece of jewelry thrust at her, and when she saw the beautifully wrought piece, she couldnt help but part ways with some money.
"Getting something special for yourself?" Her friend chaperone asked. Kailani nodded, smiling admiringly at the exquisitely made flower. "Hoping to grab a certain air heads attention?" With that, embarrassment set in, and the gondolier chuckled as the two girls fought playfully, drifting along the canal and continuing to marvel at the beauty of Levitos.[/quote]
[quote]
Username: dawnsong
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry: Shell-pool
[b](Art entry: posted on page 5)[/b][/quote]
[quote]
Username: dawnsong
Prompt: Creature Feature
Entry: Seahorse
[b](Art entry: posted on page 5)[/b][/quote]
[quote]
Username: Zalva
Prompt: The Floating City
Entry:
As I travel my timeworn shifting dreams
in a field of never-ending blue,
see the trees, watch them synchronize
in a land far beyond your reach.
This place, this forest
this cave, this Island-in-the-sky...
oh, when I die...
take. me. to. this place I see,
see somewhere in my lies.
OooOOh, how the wind cries,
screams so silent in the mines.
when the earth quakes,
and the sea breaks.
When the wind blows, sings on the waters of your mind.
Howling creatures join a curious charade...
joining the parade and carry towards the night,
where the end goes, goes
none of us willingly,
but, oh, dream speak, tell me
I will live again.
Will I live there,
on this Island-in-the-sky?
Shining through the leaves,
breathless boughs breath
brilliant mist into the dark light, forest of the night.
twisting through overgrowth, the great wind's chorus wills us forth.
Floor of leaves weeps gently as we sway,
sweet sad tune sold of all the world's dismay,
and our soul joins in
as the creatures grin
such a somber, soft, swiftly swelling song.
OooOOh, does the moon sigh,
such strange scents hang on the vine.
laughing creatures twirl through the twilight masquerade
bounding through trees and onward toward the dawn.
And so this road does wind
as my soul rejoins the mind,
The many friends I've made,
tears fall as they fade.
Gently falling snow,
as the soft light grows,
blinds the time we keep
before the never rising sun.
Oh, as the e-e-echo flows,
so does the dance now slow.
dearest Dream sleep, give me strength to carry on
marching on an' on, though the morrow's song
when the end comes, comes
the dawn of a new dream!
"Festival of Dreams" - a work in progress[/quote]
[quote]
Username: Kapara
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry:
His footprints led down the shore, untidy where he had stumbled from the weight of his equipment. Long, sand covered metal tub drawing scribbles on the sand. A bag hefted over his shoulder, less full than when he set out.
This place was where two tidal currents intersected, in the lee of the wind. Enticingly heavy foliage not far from the bitter waves. The enemy generals were not stupid. But his generals were both smart, and cruel.
Cruelty is the poison of war.
A good spot to land. Rough rock. A barely walkable path onwards. He laughed because he wanted to cry. Walkable paths don't exist anymore. They are all littered with bombs. The bag on his shoulder crashed to the ground.
He heaved the long metal tube. Arms shaking, he centred it where the salt wrought feet of the lead enemy soldier would sink tomorrow morning. The hollow part of the tube sunk easily into the ash coloured sand.
When he pushed it down as far as it would go, the other end of the tube was just above his hip. He grabbed the handle and pumped.
The pump shuddered and gasped on nothing. Then a single glob of watery sand plopped by his feet. With each pump more sludge burst out like sewage. The creak of the machine accented the wet noises, the crash of the waves, his own grunting breath.
He pumped until the tube's handle touched the sand, until he could pump no more. He pulled, a little elevator shoved it's way up, clearing the pipe.
And from the bag, he took another mine. The most expensive one so far, he judges. If two wings wade through the water first, spreading out, guns raised. He can see it. The line that go on the rocks move more slowly, they are cautious of snipers above. But the bomb beneath their feet will be the one to kill them.
He could already feel their blood on his hands. Or was it the saltwater.[/quote]
[quote]Username: Kapara
Prompt: Fishermen's Fiends
Entry:
July 5th, Day 0: We embark tomorrow. The ship I have hired is the Sister Julianne. I had to gather a crew by hand, the original deserted when they heard what I am planning to go after. I should expect no less from sea-folk. I may have with me the least superstitious crew the sea has ever seen!
July 6th, Day 1: The spirit of scientific inquiry drives the sails today. We take a route down the west side of the American continent. Once we reach Macaw Point on the equator we turn west, to a place no ship should reach unless they are lost or their captain is insane. I must plead guilty to the second charge, of which I admit I should be diagnosed for four times if five medical men examined my head.
July 8th, Day 3: The weather is fine, the breeze is warm. I joined the skipper for a round of cards, and lost every hand. One is not warned of the dangers to one's purse onboard a vessel.
July 12th, Day 7: I supposed I should record what exactly set me on this journey to begin with. I heard a story, not two months back, at the University. I had just finished the study on behavioural patterns of the Turkish posaria elemantori when a colleague told me a fascinating tale.
Sailors from the western shore were lost in a devil of a storm when they suddenly beached. With alarm they realised they had landed on the Sirens' Rock (as locally known) where, as its title suggests, sirens were said to reside. Miraculously, the ship held tight. A brave sailor was elected to go down to the rock, and push the small ship back into water. When he was down there, he found with utter amazement, that the ground shifted beneath his feet. Like it was breathing.
Of course, he could've been delusional. And so could I, for giving him any measure of my confidence. But here I am.
July 15th, Day 10: I talked with a sailor who hails from the orient. I told him about the breathing rock, he told me of a his people's turtle god of storms and water. They would throw dead bodies into the water as offerings, and watch as the body was swiftly carried away in the direction of the rock. Frankly, between our stories neither is less believable than the other.
July 18th, Day 13: We turn west today. Leaving the land behind us. I should not see it for some time.
July 20th, Day 15: The man in the crow's nest gave a hoo-ha at dawn. The rock has been sighted. The captain tells me that we should prepare to disembark this time tomorrow. I have with me weatherproof gear and reliable rope, my sketchpad and compass. A scientist is never daunted by the unexamined.
Extracts from a journal 16th century, recovered from a small limestone island off the coast of Madagascar
[/quote]
[quote]
Username: SilverWinter
Prompt: Creature Feature (but it works for Edge of the Sea too...)
Entry:
While sea turtles aren't my favorite sea creatures, they are one of the most fascinating. I was inspired by the way that the turtles eggs hatch on the beach instead of in the sea. So I made a seashell turtle out of polymer clay! (omg this took me like 5 hours)
[b](Art Entry: Posted on page 5)[/b]
[/quote]
[quote]
Username: Fabro
Prompt: Fishermen's Fiends
Entry: Sirenarum
They call him Sirenarum and Kieran doesn't know why. It's not that he doesn't know what the word means- he's studied Latin, like any other sailor. No, what he doesn't understand is what warrants him the name 'of the sirens'.
It's confusing. He's never seen one himself, but he's heard the reports of the scaled beasts that lurk in the depths of the sea. They have large sunken eyes and a gaping maw of fangs. They call out in raspy voices, singing a haunting melody that promises love and happiness and everything one can desire.
This is what he's been told. Kieran has never seen a siren, and nor does he want to.
He doesn't get a choice.
The storm hits out of nowhere. Waves lash out, sweeping over the ship and pulling men down with them. Lightning crackles and the shockwaves from the thunder nearly split Kieran's eardrums. The storm is right overhead.
He's flinging rainwater from his eyes when he's seized by the arms and thrown in the middle of the ring of crew members. They scowl down at him and a foreboding feeling settles in his chest.
"It's him!" shrieks a sailor. "It's the Sirenarum!"
"He's brought this storm upon us with his ill luck!" the second-mate shouts.
Then the mass of sailors descends on him, and Kieran screams. He kicks out, tries to scramble away, but it's no use. Ropes wrap around his ankles and burn into his skin.
"I told you it was bad luck to keep the child on board! Boys born on the sea always bring bad omens!"
He was born aboard the ship during a storm, not unlike the one threatening to sink it now. The sea was seething that day. Waves rocked the ship and rain poured down in torrents. He's been told countless times of how his mother was swept overboard, how she fell into the raging sea.
Now he wonders if even this is true.
"Like mother, like son!" roars a crew member, hoisting Kieran onto his shoulder. He carries him like a sack of potatoes to the edge of the ship, seizing the railing to keep himself steady.
Kieran sobs, still struggling to free himself. He knows it won't happen. He can feel the security of the knots and knows that he is about to die.
The water knocks his breath out upon impact. He gasps in a mouthful of water and chokes. Which way is up and which way is down? He wriggles, hoping, praying to break the surface and save his burning lungs.
He blinks again, and there is a woman before him. Her wrists bear the scars of rope and the scaly fish tail trailing beneath her is ragged and torn. She seems so sad, and Kieran suddenly knows who she is.
She stretches out her hand, and her voice is raspy and raw from the salty water.
"Come to me, my son."
They call him Sirenarum, and now he realizes why.
[/quote]
[quote]
Username: dawnsong
Prompt: The Depths
Entry: Jellyfish
[b](Art Entry: Posted on Page 6)[/b][/quote]
[quote]
Username: andreaissy
Prompt: Fishermen's Fiends
Entry:
The wind whipped past her face, her heart beat creating a rushing sound in her ears. Clouds trailed around her, orange and pink and yellow in the setting sun. She laughed, spiraling around and trailing her hand through the closest one. It merely felt cool, and she zipped away, leaving trailing wisps behind her. She heard a laugh, and saw a flash of seafoam as another dragon darted past her. He flew in a straight line, occasionally corkscrewing before gliding around to her. The wind shifted, and she swore she heard reeds as the two lazily flew in spirals around each other. She found herself breathless as he looked at her with light green eyes, flying closer to her. She could hardly breathe as he brushed against her, slowly coiling around her before suddenly- she couldn't breathe. He was squeezing almost painfully. She began thrashing, and then hit her head hard. Wait, hit her head?
Kailani opened her eyes, rubbing her head grumpily as she took in her room. Disoriented at first, she realized that her head and top half has fallen off her bed. She glared at a certain relic eel stared back at her, still partially coiled around her. The stare down continued until it finally uncoiled from around her chest, and swam off. She sighed, getting up and stretching out her coils from her disturbed sleep. She shot out of her den, diving down the tower like circular common hallway. Most of the others were already awake, and after her rude awakening, she wasn't too bothered by the noise she made on her way down. "Zoooom~"
She glided down another hallway, looking out between the large rib bones of some long dead monster at the coral and fish beyond. Judging by the light filtering down from the surface, she was late..... Again. The dining hall was surprisingly full, and not many of the other dragons noticed as she grabbed herself some food before settling at her usual seat. There was the cursed eel, sticking next to her mother as usual.
"You're up late." Was all she said, calmly looking over some tablet she had brought with her.
"I was having a good dream." She grumbled, starting to eat without paying much attention to the others. Maybe if she was lucky she could finish her breakfast and leave before any of her snobby relatives deigned to grace her woth their superior intellect.
"You shouldn't wander off today. Not with the report that came in this morning." Okay, maybe she had been naive to hope she'd be lucky this morning. Her wake up call should've given her a hint. With an exaggerated groan, she looked at the pearlcatcher who had spoken up. She preened briefly, taking her time knowing that Kailani couldn't exactly leave without getting in trouble, or miss whatever news had come in.
"Someone came back from patrol along the trench this morning rather injured. His partner was nowhere to be seen. He came bearing the news of a siren that had managed to sing his friend into stupidity. The injuries came from trying to stop them from swimming down to find it." Kailani was immediately silent. The occasional maren was easy enough to slip away without a guard. But a siren? No way was she going to be able to get out today. She had a few moments to think of possible escape routes before the pearlcatcher snorted.
"It's not going to work. Every entrance and exit is being closed off, and guarded to make sure no one does anything stupid until the thing is destroyed. So be a dear, and don't make a fool of yourself trying to get out." Kailani glowered, simmering in anger as the snooty dragoness stood.
"Of course, you'd know this if you actually could see. For someone who's the child of two great prophets, you fall dismally short."
The table was quiet as she left, a few sympathetic looks passed towards Kailanis mother. She knew better than to think the sympathy was for what had been said, oh no, she'd learned that ages ago. They were pitying her mother for producing a child who had hatched at the worst possible time and had no talent in divination whatsoever. So, without a word, Kailani left, her half finished meal behind her.
The day was so boring. Within no time, she found herself nearly in knots as the day passed at a crawl. She groaned, flopping down like a limp noodle, and staring at the ceiling. The rock had little coral growths, something a fae or some scholar might find endlessly fascinating. No such luck for her. A frustrated sound came in a forceful exhale, little bubbles trailing upwards. A snout suddenly burst into it, startling her. A concerned creaking sound made her smile slightly, lifting her head to look at the Cloud chaser. It bumped against her gently, whistling in a manner not unlike some coatls. It swam around her small den, grabbing a starfish and dropping it into her hands. "Sorry bud, no games today. We aren't allowed outside." Kailani said with a soft sigh. It simply whistled at her again, bumping into her. Then it swam towards the small circle in the stone wall, easily darting through
The window was high up, and looked out on a sloping shelf of coral. Only a fae could ordinarily fit through, but if she slithered and tucked her wings, she might just fit. Filled with renewed enthusiasm, she squeezed her way through, grinning triumphantly at the dolphin. She then immediately darted away, eagerly playing with her familiar. The reef was quiet, which was a miracle to her. She chased after fish, raced the cloud chaser in the currents, and explored the areas created by the broken bones from another age.
The angle of light shifted, but Kailani was only dimly aware of the passage of time. It was when she stopped to catch her breath on top of a rise that she realized just how eerily quiet it was. There wasn't the usual splashing, chatter, or calls from adventurous dragons. There was just, quiet. The water grew darker a bit farther away, but that didn't mean it should be so- wait.
The warnings of the siren suddenly returned. And here she was, a stones throw from the leviathan trench. The place where the beasts lived. She turned to head back home when a soft, haunting voice drifted her way. It was faint, ever so faint, yet, it was definitely there. She only heard a few words, but, the song was so strange. It was creepy. And yet, Kailani found herself swimming closer to the trench drop off to hear it better. It sounded almost like a lullaby, and as she peeked over the edge, she saw only darkness. But, there was a light?
Despite all warnings she'd heard, she dove, curious about the gently bobbing light far below. The song grew louder, and she could pick out the individual words. "Come wiiith me, and taaaake my haand. I'll wash your paaain, with the waaater and saands. But wiiill you come up, as you slip to your death, as you go un der with your last, dying breath~." She shuddered, almost turning back when a small light moved along something. Intrigued once again, she allowed herself to sink farther down.
Then there was nothing. The light blinked out. She looked around, confused. The darkness was so murky it was hard to know where anyone or anything was. The singing was softer now, and, drawing closer? A bulb bobbed closer, and she swam towards it briefly. She frowned, noticing how big it was. Surely she would've seen it by now? If a fish was this close-
Then came an earsplitting shriek, and something surged towards her. She caught a glimpse of huge eyes, sharp teeth, and then there was pain and a bright light. She blindly thrashed, darting upwards as soon as she could. Was she going upwards? She had no idea. She was too disoriented from the light and pain and suddenness of the attack. She breathed out in a panic, and, why were the bubbles going sideways? Kailani was confused before remembering "they go up!" Reoriented, she swam upwards as fast as she could, hearing the enraged shrieking of the siren. Something bit her wing, making her shriek herself in pain. Now she had to get it off while trying not to sink. She turned, thrashing desperately before the sight of the monster made her squeak in terror
The beast was hideous. A long bulb hung over its face, illuminating it too well in such close quarters. Huge, milky white eyes, stiff fins along the sides of its face. Long, crooked, and frighteningly sharp teeth stained slightly with red. Little patches on its face glowed randomly, and along the long sinuous, disturbing body similar lights flashed. It's sharp talons raked her sides, making her squeal and cry out loudly. Just when she was resigning herself to her fate, and angry chattering grew closer, and something slammed into the monster. It shrieked itself, as stunned by the new arrival as the young spiral was.
The dim light made it hard to see, but in the struggle between the two creatures, Kailani realized her opportunity to escape. She weakly began swimming upwards, leaving the sound of the conflict behind her. Then, a shriek, and a nudging. She felt like she was about to cry as something with teeth closed around her tail. Then she yelped as suddenly she was being pulled, upwards. She looked up, seeing the outline of a familiar shape. Something so comforting that she might've started crying.
She looked back down, seeing the sea witch closing on them. It was such a scary sight, her heart pounding and blood roaring in her ears she almost missed a different roar. A huge shadow blocked the light, and the siren was stopped by a large guardian diving at her. Familiar figures closed in around her, and Kailani couldn't help but closing her tired eyes in relief. The exhaustion was setting in and suddenly a nap sounded like a good idea. She felt something familiar coiling around her, before her suddenly leaden eyes closed.
-ake......... oon."
"She............... diot. What...... thinking?"
"........ moving!"
With a groan, Kailani blearily opened her eyes. The shapes of three fuzzy outlines slowly came into focus.
"She lives!"
"Oh my gods, what were you thinking!" She winced at the loudness of everything.
"Calm down?" She asked, lookig up at them before something was thrust into her hands. It was cool, metal, and, she looked to the side when she saw a blue spiral looking back at her.
"Kailani, tell me what do you see in that mirror?"
"...... Myself."
"Describe yourself."
"Blue."
"Your eyes?"
"..... green."
"Yes. Light green." Her mother leaned towards her, looking furious. "You, a wind aligned hatchling went off to fight a monster that has every advantage over you! Size! Strength! Elemental magic!"
"I didn't-"
"Think, we know. You just ran off without telling anyone! Your familiar had to come get us!" Her mother, and the physician, looked very upset with her, but she was too busy trying to get past the 'you fought a monster'.
"Hold on, I, what?"
"I'm stunned you managed to survive, much less hurt the thing. You scared us so much! Especially when your cloud chaser was dragging up your limp noodle trailing blood from your wing." Kailani by this point had stopped trying to understand most of what was being said.
"You were worried about me?" Dead silence.
"Of course we were." The incredulous voices chorused after their shock wore off. It took her a while to process that, but once she had, she was lovingly coiled around her mother. The woman huffed, but fondly patted her head.
Kailani of course, was grounded. And forbidden from going near the trench. And possibly from ever having fun again. The terms weren't clear. She didn't mind it much however. She had a steady stream of visitors asking for her to describe the siren, and her fight with it. The clan seemed to think she had sought it out to fight it, and Kailani wasn't about to correct them on it.[/quote]
[quote]
Username: casuallySleepy
Prompt: Fisherman's Friend
Entry:
[b](Art entry: posted on page 7)[/b][/quote]
[quote]
Username: casuallySleepy
Prompt: The Floating City
Entry:
One lone Pearlcatcher sat in the gondola, her eyes watching as the orange light dances across the water surface. She has been waiting far too long.
[b](Art Entry: posted on page 7)[/b][/quote]
[quote]Username: casuallySleepy
Prompt: The Depths
Entry: Long after battle of the bay ended, the creature still lingers. Replaying moments of its life that is left in its hazy mind, it wept whenever its slumber was disturbed. With what little magic it had, the last memories of its family soothe its mind.
[b](Art Entry: posted on page 7)[/b][/quote]
[quote]Username: Fallencrow
Prompt: Fishermen's Fiends
Entry:
[b](Art entry: posted on page 7)[/b][/quote]
[quote]Username: Amaranth41
Prompt: Started out for Depths, but i think it fits in more with Fisherman's Fiends. I guess I'll let you make the final decision??
Entry: Danger
Mati sat on the rocking fishing boat, looking warily down at the calm water. Itzamna was several feet away, tying Mati's lifeline to the deck. She sighed and bit her lip, shifting on her stocky legs. Today it was her turn to go down into the Leviathan Trench and fish for the elusive delicacies only found at the bottom of the sea. Mati knew it was her responsibility as Itzamna's fishing partner, but she never liked having to do it. The darkness scared her, and she never knew what she might encounter.
"Estás lista?" Itzamna called from his position down the deck.
"Ready as I'll ever be." Mati responded. She flattened her wings against her back and waddled over to the area of the deck where they would dive off. It had a gate instead of a true railing so they would'nt have to jump over anything. Mate pressed and held a silver button, and a beep was heard. Abernathy's genius (and waterproof, thank Stormcatcher) electromagnetic lock disengaged and the gate swung inward. Looking down at the peaceful waves, Mati took a breath.
"Lifeline secure?" Mati asked, turning to Itzamna. She trusted him, but it was their protocol. Itzamna fiddled with the rope around the anchor on the deck, tugging on it to make sure that it was sound.
"Sí, lifeline is secure." He responded, nodding his head. He took the rope in his talons, worn by years of doing just this. "Ready to dive."
"Diving." Mati responded reluctantly. She took a deep breath and tensed her muscles. She leapt off the side of the boat, falling maybe three feet before plunging into the water.
Rays of sunlight pierced the surface, giving it a surreal look. From the whistles and clicks floating through the nearest current, there was most likely a pod of cloud chasers somewhere nearby. Either way, they weren't the prey Mati was looking for. She blinked and shifted her gaze down to the depths beneath her. She tapped the blue bulb on her head, which lit up the water around her. It wasn't exceptionally dark right now, but Mati knew it would get darker. Reluctantly, Mati swam downwards, the sunlight steadily fading away. She passed a school of octoflyers, grabbing a few before continuing down into the depths. Mati continued swimming, her wings pushing hard against the darkening water.
Eventually the sunlight petered out, the only light sources being Mati's bulb and the occasional vampire squid. Creatures became rarer to spot, and most were either too small or too dangerous to catch. As she swam further into the trench, Mati could feel the water becoming warmer, a sign she was within several hundred feet of the volcanic vents at the bottom of the ocean. Feeling this warmth, Mati stopped swimming down and decided to look for more prey. Pulling her trident from her belt, Mati swam parallel to the trench walls. She glanced down to see a flickering light, its pulsating colors strangely attractive. Fingering the trident, Mati recalled the lore surrounding the rare Mantarune.
Those traveling the depths of the ocean may see a glimmer in the distance.
Avoid it.[/quote]
[quote]Username: Amaranth41
Prompt: Wild Card
Entry:
Just by the way, Asteroid is a Spiral and Messier is a Bogsneak
Rawan traced through the white, immaculate hallways of her ship, alarms wailing and red lights flashing. The night sky flashed by as Rawan passed windows, one with spiderweb cracks in the outer layer of glass. Rawan reached a clear door and paused long enough for the scanner to register her markings, then the door slid open. Rawan walked onto the bridge, polycaudal tail held high.
"Captain on the bridge!" A crew member near the door cried.
"What in Ramma is going on, Marei?" Rawan exclaimed.
"It seems as if the other orbiting battlecruisers have been disabled." Marei, the crew member manning the scanners, said as she bent over a control panel. "A wormhole-like anomaly opened in the beta sector, and the electromagnetic pulse took out their electronics. Two ships have come through the anomaly, unknown configuration. We don't know if they're hostile, they appear to be disabled as well."
"Let's go check them out." Rawan replied. She wove her way through the few crew members between her and her chair and leapt into it. "Elwa, take us through beta sector." Rawan commanded, gesturing with with her tail to a small tom with pulsating green markings.
"Beta sector has been contaminated, it'll knock us out just like it did the rest of the fleet." Elwa responded after taking a moment to look at Marei's map.
"Then I guess we have to take the long way through gamma sector." Elwa nodded in acknowledgement of the command and pushed a silver lever forward. A low rumble resonated through the bridge, which danced with light from glowing markings. The planet visible out the large viewport seemingly slipped off to the side as the ship moved. The planet was mostly lush jungle green and bright ocean blue, with a snowy white covering the single visible pole. The planet was covered in wispy white clouds, which could be seen moving if one looked hard enough. Beneath the clouds the jungle was broken by a few huge, perfect circles that glowed with the billions of lights from the city within.
The ship inched forward, the pace agonizingly slow but necessary so that they would have adequate time to react to any hostility from the alien crafts.
"Beta squadron entered, Captain." Marei said after a few minutes of silence.
"Acknowledged." Rawan responded. "Once in range, kill everything except scanners and communication." Marei nodded in response and tapped the engineer next to her with her tail to make sure the order was understood. They flashed their markings twice, the sign for "yes." The ship trundled on for maybe a minute, long enough to see three fleet battlecruisers out the viewport.
Rawan's ship stopped a decent ways away from the disabled fleet, and then the bridge went eerily silent. The thrumming of the engines died away, all chatter had ceased, and no one had their markings glowing. The silence was broken by five pings from the scanner. Three were the normal warble of other battlecruisers, but two were shorter and higher pitched, indicating much smaller ships.
"Begin transmission to unknown vessels." Rawan said. Someone standing behind Rawan's chair flashed a marking in acknowledgement and a click could be heard.
"I am Captain Rawan of the Battlecruiser Melorn. You have entered our space and I demand you identify yourselves." Rawan flashed the signal for "end" and another click sounded. Moments later, a garbled transmission came in. The video appeared on the viewport, showing two strange, long-necked creatures. One was pudgy with glittery purple and shiny blue scales as well as giant pink frills, while the other was skinny with giant horns. It had shiny ivory scales and bright magenta stripes on its spine. Rawan vaguely wondered if they would glow, but she pushed the question to the back of her mind. The pudgy one spoke in a strange language filled with hard sounds completely alien to Rawan and her crew. The creature on the screen appeared worried, and Rawan tore her gray eyes from the screen to turn to the linguist behind her.
"Translate." Rawan said simply before turning back around. The linguist pushed a few buttons and jumbled text covered the video. The text cleared and robotic voices speaking in the crew's native tongue replaced the alien voices of the creatures.
"Captain Rawan, my name is Captain Messier of the Wanderer. This is my linguist and architectural analyst, Asteroid." The pudgy creature said. "We were caught in a wormhole on the edge of Lightning Fleet space and transported here along with another ship. We are a Lightning Fleet civilian explorer ship and we mean no harm. We are requesting assistance for ourselves and the other stranded ship, we both seem to be losing power, and I don't how how much longer our life support is going to last."
"Just letting you know, we have no idea who the other ship is." The tan creature, apparently named Asteroid, interjected. "Please don't hold is responsible for what they might do! We've never known them before today, we just want help for both us and them. Please send assistance!" Asteroid paused for a moment, seemingly to read something offscreen. When she spoke it was in Rawan's tongue, but it was halting and strangely accented.
"Save us." Asteroid said. She opened her mouth to speak again, but the transmission was suddenly cut off in a wave of static.[/quote]
[quote]
Username: Hanelli
Prompt: Wild Card
Entry: [url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jxXmBGvujd1x6xmNA38SwC9PGQWMujDCUVGwrXQCA_s/edit?usp=sharing]Stay with Me[/url] (warning: some swearing here and there, and just. Feels?)[/quote]
[quote]Username: Hanelli
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry: [url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/19kVsSZpxoRIxZqGZ5Ddbhep-D3GCbPTZUhCwAyPui6k/edit?usp=sharing]I Can't Swim![/url] (when someone ashamedly admits he can't swim)[/quote]
[quote]Username: Hanelli
Prompt: Fisherman's Fiends
Entry: It’s said that the legendary C’thulhu lives in one of the deepest points in the human world—somewhere near Point Nemo, specifically. Even though the place itself is referred to as the Spacecraft Graveyard by everyone else, there’s just something rather…unsettling whenever someone mentions it and calls it by its other name: R’lyeh.
What exactly happens when someone mentions R’lyeh (and its accompanying chant)?
C’thulhu itself is said to be a mytho, a figment of the imagination; but for those who do heed the Call of C’thulhu, well… it exists. Likened to a giant octopus attached to a human body said to be even larger than the Earth itself, those loyal to its call patiently wait for the time when their savior will rise from its eternal sleep…
…and bring destruction to the world![/quote]
[quote]Username: andreaissy
Prompt: The deep
Entry:
The water was cool. Probably cold, but Lumen hardly noticed it. His focus was on a group of diving mirrors, their focus on some objects that had sunken far below the usual reaches of the divers that usually tried to salvage treasures. Unfortunately, they were salvaging something others had an interest in. It had made him uncomfortable in the past, but the only ones willing to dive this deep, dive into the Leviathan Trench, were either working for some group like he was, or scum who were fully aware of their actions. He studied them, deciding that it was probably the first option. The group wasn't particularly careful, but had signs that they were fighters. Hired muscle to do the dirty work. He felt something akin to pity, then swam towards the wreck.
Avoiding them was simple enough. He could sense everything well enough where they were, a privilege they didn't have. He briefly stayed still as one such mirror started up her partol, then darted to the side of the wreckage when her gaze was elsewhere. He pressed against the surface, cursing at himself as he sensed the cloud of debris left where he had been. As she looked over, presumably with a light, she grew alarmed.
"There's something here!" She called, gaining the attention of every one of her fellows. It was almost amusing, how they all rushed into a pack formation while scanning for danger.
"There's nothing here!?!" He could hear their confusion easily. He simply slipped into the wrecked hold of the ship through a gaping hole in the side.
"Maybe it was a mantarune?" Their voices were still so audible through the wood, and he paid attention to them even while trying to figure out where the old ship might've been hiding it's most important artifacts. They began spreading out right as he found a panel that had something behind it. More, he could sense the space behind it briefly. He had opened it when one of the mirrors moved towards the whole where he'd enterered. They looked inside, and he stayed still.
"See anything?"
"No." They called back before making a lap around the ship. He chuckled slightly, thanking his naturally low body temperature for making him near invisible in the cold waters.
He had just opened the panel and moved the artifacts when another mirror returned to the hole in the side of the ship. "What the- hey!!" Their shouts immediately drew the others closer, making him curse.
"He's nearly invisible!"
"It doesn't matter! Get 'im!" Lumen sighed as they scrambled towards him, turning to face them before sweeping his wings out and creating a cloud of fine sand in the air. They skittered to a stop, looking around as he swiftly disabled the few lights they had. In total darkness save from the little flitering around the wreck from their work lights, they moved about blindly.
""Where-?!"
"That thing, it, where is it?" His body temperature was so low that they couldn't see him. Most mirrors weren't used to actually needing to pick out specific shapes with their heat vision. They used their normal eyes to pick up the prey, then if that prey tried to hide, looked for their heat signature. They'd only get an idea for his location if he blocked their sight to another mirror. And with so much junk in the room, that was unlikely.
In the mean time, his abilities provided him a very strong advantage. He could see them, and the objects in the room. Now for more confusion. He smiled, then his form glowed blue in the darkness. The light was only for a split second, but sent them rushing at him. They simply rammed their skulls together. Tey looked around blindly, seeing a green flash from hi outstretched wings, and yellow on his face. One squeaked, jumping back before the others charged again. He dodged easily, digging his claws into the decrepit rotting planks and moving quickly along the ceiling. More phantoms appeared, his luminescence wrecking what little vision they had, and leaving what seemed like many different foes, of various sizes. They kept chasing the after images, crashing into and through things even. He simply continued a watchful eye on the rest of the ship, briefly pausing to grab the odd object that looked valuable that was kicked up in the scuffle.
"Gotcha!" A mirror slashed at his side, making him curse as the slightly glowing substance spilled from him. He glowed as intensely as he could, and, combined with the eerily glowing blood, it startled the dragon back. Scowling, Lumen knew that the mirrors would be able to trace him so easily now. So he kicked up as much as he could as he ran off, swimming towards the surface. Soon enough, the water would dilute his blood, and who would believe the mirrors about a glowing assailant with blue, glowing blood deep underwater? An invisible foe until he chose to be?
".... I'm starting to sound like a cocky comic villain." He mumbled, swimming up through the changing pressure, escaping from his latest job site easily.[/quote]
[quote]Username: Fabro
Prompt: Wild Card.
Entry: Gleam and Glow
"Hey, you ready?"
Jay looks up to Cole, his fingers still tangled in feathers. "Does it look like it?" he retorts.
"Considering you only've done half of that wing, I'd say no."
Jay sighs, removing one hand long enough to scoop up some more of the dye. He works it into the next patch of feathers, wrinkling his nose at the smell. "C'mon Cole, my wings are still dark enough from last time. Can't I just skip it once?"
Cole scowls. "Jay, iridescent blue isn't exactly a subtle color." His wings twitch on his back, a clump of black that blends right into his stealth robes. "And it's poking through- see? Just finish up already!"
"Fine, fine." Jay covers the rest of his primaries. He arches his back and flexes his wings. "I'm done!"
"You missed a spot."
Cole's hand presses against Jay's back. He tenses. The earth ninja doesn't seem to notice, however, as he works dye into the mantle feathers. Jay fights the urge to collapse under his touch. Wings are sensitive, and his are extremely so. And generally, only someone's partner or family members will ever touch their wings.
Jay wonders which one Cole considers him.
"You two ready?"
Cole steps away and considers his handiwork. Jay tries not to whine as he leaves.
The other member in the room nods his head. "Whenever you are."
"Yeah." Jay ignores the phantom touch still lingering on his back. Its mission time. He's got to focus.
Cole inspects them both, nodding shortly. "Let's get going then."
He steps to the window and jumps, the wind catching his wings and carrying him up. Zane goes next, then it's Jay's turn. He leaps without looking back.
The night air is cool and refreshing. Jay lands on the outer wall, stumbling only a little. They skim across the rooftops, closing in on their destination. He ducks through a trapdoor, revealing the target.
Jay waits for Cole's signal before he drops down. They encircle the boy. Three pairs of wings arching high in threatening posture should make anyone terrified, but the boy looks angry, not worried. His wings arch too, right before he jabs at Zane with his toothbrush.
Before anyone can react, he's sneaking out through the rafters.
Jay leads this chase, flying into the rafters and using his wings to help him go faster. He curses the dye which stiffens his feathers. He could go faster without it. He's almost tempted to pause and claw it off, if he were able.
They come out into the courtyard and halt. Jay scans the area for any sign of red. He finds it. The boy activates the training course, and now he's dodging dummies and axes as he tries to fulfill his mission.
They tackle the boy, being careful not to break anything as they tie his arms and wings down.
"Let me go!" he shouts. "Sensei! Help!"
Jay pauses.
"He's bluffing," Cole says, but he's hesitating too. "Sensei said that we needed to capture the imposter and find the real master of fire."
The boy smirks from beneath them. "Oh, is that it? Then you're in luck, boys." He struggles to his feet and they let him. He presses his fingertips to the ropes, and soon they smoke and burn away.
"I'm your master of fire."
Jay considers him. The evidence matches up, but he needs to be sure. Only descendants of elemental masters will have iridescent or gleaming wings. That's why Jay's are faceted like a gemstone, Cole's shimmer with a bright copper hue, and Zane's practically glow in the sunlight.
He calls up his lightning, managing to summon tiny sparks to his fingers. He brings his hand close to the boy's wing. They looked dark red in the dim lighting of the bathroom, but the section lit up by his hands doesn't lie.
Red, orange and yellow.
The colors of fire.[/quote]
[size=2]([b]Notice[/b]: Yikes. There's apparently too much stuff here for the post to handle! When I tried to add more entries, it cut off the last one and refused to show anything past it... I'll try to find a way around this, but for the time being I'll just say that I left off just after the first post on page 8. Sorry for all of the problems!)
Entries
The many wonderful entries!
Though this is mostly meant to be where the judges can easily look through every entry, feel free to browse through them yourself. Even if an entry doesn't win, it still deserves to be admired, no?
Also feel free to discuss entries, compliment the creators, etc.
(Notice: My computer has had...issues...and is no longer working (it will likely remain decommissioned for the remainder of the week) so I'm stuck on mobile, where I can't properly copy and paste images to show on the forums or directly link to entries. As of a certain point in the entry list, art entries will not be images, but rather I will indicate which page of the thread the entry was posted on... Sorry for the inconvenience!)
Quote:
'Prompt 1 - A Pool of Life' by Origamer
(Note: submitted before submission form was made)
Dip your toes
Get inside
no one knows
what does hide
Inside the mystic pool
a little fish?
a bigger clam?
Something squishy?
Who i am?
Everything can go
stay and come
Inside this pool
a mini-home
Quote:
Username: ViziVoir
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry: Drift Glass
When clouds had swallowed up the sun's bright rays
And not a single person was in sight
I walked along the beachfront by the quay
And basked within the evening's fading light.
I danced among the little rippling waves
That fell upon the shifting, sopping sand
I saw a glimmer on the line they made
And bent to scoop it up within my hand.
By pebbles, shells, and driftwood, one might find
A kind of enigmatic precious stone
Within its clouded surface, each one hides
The currents that our Tidelord does call home.
It takes a special sort of soul to see
The treasure in the edges of the sea.
Commission me for music!
Quote:
Username: paintminion
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry:
Play Along the Shore
sand stained dark
a curtain along the edge of a stage
Wind whispers, murmurs
of hidden wonders to be displayed
Sun spotlights glitter
from jewel crested aqua decor
hush, Wind, quiet
the Waves speak gently on the shore
each act flowing
I grasp the unearthed treasure revealed
Waves close curtain
the audience walks on hunting further thrills
Quote:
Username: Fabro
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry: Sunlight
The sunlight fades, yet they still search.
A swinging of hands, a quickening of step, and sand all around. They move across the beach, daring to go farther with each step. Waves crash and thunder. Footprints are lost to wind and sand. The last rays of sun shimmer on the water.
The world would sing to them if they cared to pay attention.
They are lost in their own world.
The sunlight is leaving the beach, yet they press on. They pause, start up again, pause. When the alarm comes, they crouch and dig. They repeat. They have always done this. The younger complains of sore feet and the older complains of bothersome sisters, but they both drop to dig without fail.
This one has a strong cry. They strike upon it soon. Fingers wrap around a smooth metal surface and fish it out of the hole. There's disbelief, and laughter, and running up the boardwalk to the benches.
The sunlight has gone, and they hold their treasure aloft.
It's a fork.
Quote:
Username: casuallySleepy
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry: A historical piece discovered deep within Levitos - a painting made by creatures that existed before dragonkind.
Quote:
Username: Amaranth41
Prompt: Creature Feature
Entry: Nautilus
Kaimana padded softly along the sopping wet sand at the edge of the Sea of a Thousand Currents, her talons leaving prints to get washed away by the sparkling waves. Satisfied she was in a spot unclaimed by a Water clan, Kaimana spread her enormous leathery wings and slipped into the water. She let the salty liquid flow over her streamlined blue body, reveling in the familiarity of it. Living in the Shifting Expanse for so long, she had almost forgotten what the ocean had felt like. Sighing with pleasure, Kaimana tipped her wings forward, took a deep breath, and dove beneath the waves.
Kaimana slipped easily through the water, her Imperial wings catching currents as if it was second nature. Sunlight filtered through the water in beams, creating a shifting geometric pattern on the sandy ocean floor. As Kaimana swam towards a drop off, the current slowed and grew cold. Kaimana tucked in her wings and swam, moving her body like an iguana. She quickly reached the drop off and placed her talons in the sand. She didn't see any patrolling dragons, so the area was clear of clans. Eagerly Kaimana spread her wings and leapt off the ledge and into the water beyond. The Fishspine Reef was spread out below her, brightly colored and bustling with life.
Kaimana dove down towards the reef, swimming along the edge. She watched as eel, angelfish, clownfish, and juvenile octoflyers darted past. On any other day she would've caught one, but today she simply wanted to enjoy the reef's beauty. She turned her head to look over the reef, the quick motion sending up bubbles. Swimming over the center of the reef was a small creature in a spiral shell.
Nautilus! Kaimana cried internally. She pushed up off the sand and centered herself above the reef, keeping as close to the tips of the coral as possible without breaking them. The nautilus swam in front of her, not seeing the blue Imperial because of her natural camouflage. The nautilus had a shell like a snail, mostly white with stripes of red. The top of its head was a rusty red with white spots. It had fleshy white eyes on the side of its head that looked like octopus suckers with a black dot in the center. It's head consisted of many tiny tentacles, which surrounded a small water jet that the nautilus used to move. It moved slowly, speeding up every couple seconds as it expelled water to propel itself forward. Kaimana followed the curious creature as it traversed the reef, weaving in and out of the spines for which the reef was named. After several minutes the nautilus dove into a tiny cave, probably its home. Figuring she should follow the crustacean's example, Kaimana swam up and caught a current that would bring her back to the beach.
Quote:
Username: casuallySleepy
Prompt: Creature Feature
Entry: A jellyfish is really cute! <3
Quote:
Username: Xarina
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry: "Unnameable"
Eyes, swollen and red, tinged with grey and fading skin, stared almost blankly up from the water's surface. There was an emptiness there, an astute awareness of temporality that didn't vanish as a straggling breath crossed the glass-like tide pool, momentarily warping the face in ripples. "So... they see me... like this," a voice whispered, almost as if whispering was the loudest the speaker could achieve, and as if each collection of words was painful to say aloud. He wouldn't have spoken, but he felt in that moment that the words needed to be made manifest in the world, even if only his own straining ears and the water itself would ever really hear them. The vision in the waves that he saw needed to be validated, both in his mind and to the serene rocky outcroppings that surrounded him. It was no monster reflected there, no alien beast of the deep, only his own visage. He closed his eyes slowly, letting the salty sea air rest on what was left of him.
He had avoided mirrors for so long, had hidden himself from this very reality, all in the hopes of making a world around which his condition did not revolve. And yet, here he was, standing among pockets of water at low tide as a gaunt old Coatl stared back at him, unavoidably twisted in rippling water, all while others elsewhere celebrated and rejoiced.
But in some way, he knew, this was his celebration, too. There was something very freeing about being grounded by this image, and the weight of years of not knowing what he looked like was lifted from him. There was nothing to fear, now, nothing to worry about. No mental images projecting something far worse or uselessly hoping for anything far better. He saw how his feathers were becoming translucent, many having fallen out while many more prepared their escape. He saw how the wrappings around his face had become stained with old blood, and how his once-powerful wings held themselves at uselessly weakened angles, the only way to avoid too much soreness in their joints. He saw how far he had fallen (or how far he had come), a vibrant hatchling reduced (or elevated) to a pale and dying dragon.
As these thoughts wafted through his head, his vision began to shift, as if suddenly looking not at himself, but past himself, into the shallow depths of the pool before him. And then, as his focus returned to what his eyes were beholding, he saw it. He saw the reason he had been aided by clanmates and his enchanted "service familiar" to go to this place. "You must see it at least once, you know," one of the chosen exalts from the Tsunami Flats had said as she rested from a day of grueling training, "before your time is over, you should see the pools. There is so much..."
"...Life!" He let the word go from his mouth with so much force that his ailing body reprimanded him with a fit of coughing, loud hacking sounds that disturbed the water and caused a school of small fish to dart away in the opposite direction. But, by now so accustomed to such painful outbursts, he just let the coughs become dry laughter. He watched them flit away, diving between small anemones and other strange collections of underwater beings, things seemingly impossibly torn between being animal or plant.
"Nameless?" A voice, loud and deep, cut through his observations. She, like all others in this new clan that had adopted him, called him by that word. He had refused a name, forgotten his, and simply allowed the meaninglessness of his own, slowly fading existence to become his shelter. "I heard you coughing. Need anything?"
He just shook his head, mentally saying, "no, no, I'm as fine as I'll ever be," but knowing it would take far too long for him to say those words. A formidable Imperial that was actively picking at a tide pool nearby nodded in return. Her aims were different. Where he wished to merely see life, she wished to collect it, discern its properties, discover what it could become if altered in this way or that. She would be putting these impossibly brilliant sea slugs into jars, knowing them not as examples of what abundance there could be in such small spaces, but as potential ingredients in a poison or additions to a cure.
He did not approve of her intentions, but he did not disapprove, either. She was a collector, and for a small moment, he almost saw how her disregard for conservation in this moment fit into the larger system of the known lands of Sornieth. It felt, somehow, like everything was connected. If he were to die here, or on the journey back, his fallen form would become part of the scenery, part of the life, a small ecosystem that teemed with things he couldn't imagine, just as this tide pool was.
A celebration indeed, he nodded slowly. Wavecrest Saturnalia was taken for granted, just like so many other things he'd come to understand over the progression of his terminal infection. It wasn't about gondola rides or prophecies, though those were small parts of it. He smiled as best he could. Wavecrest Saturnalia, he decided, was a celebration of life, of the little things in the tide pool, of the collectors and the observers both, of the grand scheme of things that water itself was necessary to maintain.
He let himself stop staring at the myriad of rainbow-colored beautiful beings in the water before him, and again saw the gaunt, pale Coatl staring back at him. Its head turned with his, bobbed with his, and spoke weakly with his. "There is no... such thing... as a meaningless existence... and you are," he stared hard into the eyes of his own reflection, "unnameable."
Quote:
Username: Amaranth41
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry: Outing
The waves thundered against the shore of the ocean. Avrae carefully picked her way down the slope to the Tsunami Flats, followed closely by Seregroval, India, and four bumbling hatchlings. The two Pearlcatchers, Midnight and Blackberry, were arguing about whose pearl was prettier, while Nytus and Effie, the two Tundras, simply sniffed, trying to take in all the scents of the sea. The sand was loose under Avrae's talons, and her steps were careful.
"Make sure to watch were you're walking!" Avrae called over her shoulder to the hatchlings.
"We're being careful, don't worry, Avrae!" Blackberry squeaked. He smacked Midnight with the tuft on the end of his tail as his brother tumbled over his pearl. "At least I am!" Effie snickered and shoved Nytus playfully, who squealed as he stumbled.
"Seriously, you guys do need to calm down a bit." India remarked, helping Nytus back to his talons. "Don't want you tumbling into any of these tide pools. Who knows what might be hiding in the depths." India feigned trying to grab Effie, and the Tundra shrieked, diving over Blackberry and Midnight. The three other hatchlings laughed, and India repressed a chuckle. Effie laughed too, popping up from behind the Pearlcatchers.
"Watch out!" She exclaimed, running towards Nytus. "I'm a Mantarune and I'm going to get you!"
"Oh no!" Nytus yelled. "Not an evil Mantarune!" He laughed and pelted down the slope, Blackberry, Midnight, and Effie hot on his heels.
"Rawr!" Effie roared. "I'm going to get you all!" The two Pearlcatchers had sped past her, and now Effie leapt onto Blackberry's back. Blackberry shrieked in delight and fell dramatically.
"Oh no, the Mantarune has me!" Blackberry cried.
"I'll save you!" Midnight responded, turning quickly. He charged up the slope towards Effie and Blackberry, Nytus following suit. Seeing the pair barreling towards her, Effie squeaked and leapt off Blackberry.
"The Mantarune gives up!" She exclaimed, throwing up her forepaws.
"That is quite good, seeing as we're at the tide pools." Seregroval interrupted, turning to the hatchlings. Immediately all four of them turned their heads to see the fabled ocean's edge.
"Woah..." Breathed Midnight. "I never thought the ocean would be so big!"
"Race you there!" Nytus yelled. He took off down the sand, Midnight, Blackberry, and Effie hot on his heels. Laughter echoed across the beach and Avrae smiled. She craned her neck to see the hatchlings and gasped.
"Careful!" She called, quickening her pace to catch up with them. "You're very close to the edge of the nearest tide pool! I wouldn't want you to fall-"
Splash!
"...in."
Quote:
Username: Crystalinastar
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry:
The waves come in and out, the white seafoam announcing its arrival. I breath in the salty sea air, the scent that always calms me down. The sun is shining down on my wings, pleasantly warming them up. The rough grains of sand crunch as my claws go over them.
I am perfectly at home in the sea. My mate, however, so used to the Abiding Boneyard, she hovers a few feet away from me. "Vanir," I gently coo, "it's really not that hot. The sand is quite pleasing, really."
Vanir shakes her head disbelievingly, her eyes sparing a fleeting glance on the rolling waves.
"The water is much cooler, if you'd prefer," I try to convince.
Vanir squeaks, and shoots up into a palm tree nearby. "The sea is dangerous. I could drown." Her voice comes out muffled.
I have to giggle a little. "Come on now, Vanir, the sea won't drown you. Not if you stay at the edge. See, the water's coming in and out."
My Spiral mate peeks out from behind a coconut. She hesitatingly flies over to me. "That's it now..." I say, guiding her to the water.
She dips her tail in it. "EEP!" she yelps. "It's cold!" I stamp my claw firmly on the ground. "Vaitai! I don't wanna!"
I give Vanir a reassuring smile. "No worries, you'll be holding onto me the whole time. What could go wrong?"
Slowly but surely, she comes toward my embrace. I hold my pearl near her, letting her know that I will protect her from the "vile sea creatures". "It's not so bad anymore, is it?" I ask. The seawater swirls around my feet, the tide rising just a slight bit.
"Not really," comes the reply from my chest. "It's better than hot, hot, hot, hot sand."
I feel something squirming in the water. Dipping my claws in, I pull out a starfish. It wiggles in my claws as Vanir starts to slowly back away. “Ah! Squirmy thing! Get away!” she shrieks, accidentally going deeper into the ocean. I doubt she noticed.
“Vanir, come closer,” I urge. The starfish wiggles still. “I can put it down.” I lower it to the water to make a point.
“A-alright.” Vanir slowly comes back as the starfish makes an audible ‘plop!’ into the water.
The wave comes crashing in. “Eek!” I hear Vanir scream as she lands face first into the water. The wave starts getting rough and the winds beat my face. Never have I been so worried so near the shore ever before.
My heart pounding in my chest, I rush over to my beloved. “Vanir! Vanir, grab on!” I feel the Spiral clutching my claws.
I try to heave her up, but the water keeps pushing her down. I use both claws. It still doesn’t work.
Vanir’s pulse is rapidly increasing. Salty sea air, I tell myself. Breathe in, breathe out.
My pearl glows golden. I take a fleeting glance at it. It fills me with strength and hope. “I CAN do it,” I murmur.
Vanir comes out of the sea, crashing into me. The salty droplets of water splash onto me as she hugs me tight, determined not to let go.
The sunshine illuminates Vanir’s scales. “Thank you,” she mumbles, buried in my chest again. “You saved me.”
“I will protect you always, my dear.” I stroke her head. “Just, please, stay at the edge of the sea.”
Quote:
Username: Origamer
Prompt: Floating City
Entry: Wavecrest Saturnalia, day 3.
' Our staying in Levithos has have gone most pleasant so far. Many of our dragons have been eyeing the many wares being offered by artisans of all flights, in this marvelous city.
The mechanism of water flowing back, after Wavecrest and draining, before, is one of the most interesting i have yet seen.
Times the tundras got lost on the streets: 3 4.
Hydro particularly has been very enthusiastic of being back to her natural place. Hyrr is mingling with almost every philosopher and artist. Purity has been changing color non-stop. My daughter is flying from street to street, checking every type of poetry she can.
I do believe we will be left treasure-less.
Second-in-command, Nobunaga.'
Quote:
Username: andreaissy
Prompt: day three Levitos
Entry: The last time Kailani had seen the city, it had been underwater. It was far different from now, sure, there were still dragons and merchants, but the beautiful art works and most foods, and things like kites and balloons, they hadn't really done too well underwater. Seeing the city as it was meant to be, gleaming and dry in the sunlight, honestly took her breath away. The maze of streets were filled with people, merchants, art, trinkets, and the smells of food wafted deliciously through the air. She saw people in the canals too, gondolas carrying them down through the many beautiful districts.
She couldn't help exploring. Last time, she had gotten lost quickly. She was amused to fnd it was no different this time around. Still, she found a small, private looking square that mimced the great sundial, the pillars around it clearly reflecting the Light dragons who lived so close. Yet on the floor was a tiled mosaic, depicting a conch, and so many bubbles. There had been streets boasting glass orbs, some filled with magic others just hanging and looking pretty. Kailani even found a tiny little wagon owned by a fae and a snapper, which held a mixture of plant foods and wares.
Soon enough, she found herself near the main canal, which fairly had fleets of gondolas and row boats jostling and sailing past each other. She laughed as she saw a fae using magic to propel their boat, much to the annoyance of some others. Some vendors had even set up on docking platforms, which gave them access to the floating guests, and maybe less competition. A sign caught her eye; gondola tours. She knew the rough layout, but, still. She climbed aboard, paying the fare, and watching as the canal passed. There were roof top terraces bursting with plant life, though how the plants would survive underwater was probably going to be a problem later on. There was a huge bridge, one she knew held hundreds of craft stores, mostly jewelry and glass. She tuned out of the explanation of the three disasters of the bridge, paying more attention to the shore front. Souvenirs, presents, and the general sights and sounds were so much more interesting than a flat toned guide. She found a piece of jewelry thrust at her, and when she saw the beautifully wrought piece, she couldnt help but part ways with some money.
"Getting something special for yourself?" Her friend chaperone asked. Kailani nodded, smiling admiringly at the exquisitely made flower. "Hoping to grab a certain air heads attention?" With that, embarrassment set in, and the gondolier chuckled as the two girls fought playfully, drifting along the canal and continuing to marvel at the beauty of Levitos.
Quote:
Username: dawnsong
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry: Shell-pool
(Art entry: posted on page 5)
Quote:
Username: dawnsong
Prompt: Creature Feature
Entry: Seahorse
(Art entry: posted on page 5)
Quote:
Username: Zalva
Prompt: The Floating City
Entry:
As I travel my timeworn shifting dreams
in a field of never-ending blue,
see the trees, watch them synchronize
in a land far beyond your reach.
This place, this forest
this cave, this Island-in-the-sky...
oh, when I die...
take. me. to. this place I see,
see somewhere in my lies.
OooOOh, how the wind cries,
screams so silent in the mines.
when the earth quakes,
and the sea breaks.
When the wind blows, sings on the waters of your mind.
Howling creatures join a curious charade...
joining the parade and carry towards the night,
where the end goes, goes
none of us willingly,
but, oh, dream speak, tell me
I will live again.
Will I live there,
on this Island-in-the-sky?
Shining through the leaves,
breathless boughs breath
brilliant mist into the dark light, forest of the night.
twisting through overgrowth, the great wind's chorus wills us forth.
Floor of leaves weeps gently as we sway,
sweet sad tune sold of all the world's dismay,
and our soul joins in
as the creatures grin
such a somber, soft, swiftly swelling song.
OooOOh, does the moon sigh,
such strange scents hang on the vine.
laughing creatures twirl through the twilight masquerade
bounding through trees and onward toward the dawn.
And so this road does wind
as my soul rejoins the mind,
The many friends I've made,
tears fall as they fade.
Gently falling snow,
as the soft light grows,
blinds the time we keep
before the never rising sun.
Oh, as the e-e-echo flows,
so does the dance now slow.
dearest Dream sleep, give me strength to carry on
marching on an' on, though the morrow's song
when the end comes, comes
the dawn of a new dream!
"Festival of Dreams" - a work in progress
Quote:
Username: Kapara
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry:
His footprints led down the shore, untidy where he had stumbled from the weight of his equipment. Long, sand covered metal tub drawing scribbles on the sand. A bag hefted over his shoulder, less full than when he set out.
This place was where two tidal currents intersected, in the lee of the wind. Enticingly heavy foliage not far from the bitter waves. The enemy generals were not stupid. But his generals were both smart, and cruel.
Cruelty is the poison of war.
A good spot to land. Rough rock. A barely walkable path onwards. He laughed because he wanted to cry. Walkable paths don't exist anymore. They are all littered with bombs. The bag on his shoulder crashed to the ground.
He heaved the long metal tube. Arms shaking, he centred it where the salt wrought feet of the lead enemy soldier would sink tomorrow morning. The hollow part of the tube sunk easily into the ash coloured sand.
When he pushed it down as far as it would go, the other end of the tube was just above his hip. He grabbed the handle and pumped.
The pump shuddered and gasped on nothing. Then a single glob of watery sand plopped by his feet. With each pump more sludge burst out like sewage. The creak of the machine accented the wet noises, the crash of the waves, his own grunting breath.
He pumped until the tube's handle touched the sand, until he could pump no more. He pulled, a little elevator shoved it's way up, clearing the pipe.
And from the bag, he took another mine. The most expensive one so far, he judges. If two wings wade through the water first, spreading out, guns raised. He can see it. The line that go on the rocks move more slowly, they are cautious of snipers above. But the bomb beneath their feet will be the one to kill them.
He could already feel their blood on his hands. Or was it the saltwater.
Quote:
Username: Kapara
Prompt: Fishermen's Fiends
Entry:
July 5th, Day 0: We embark tomorrow. The ship I have hired is the Sister Julianne. I had to gather a crew by hand, the original deserted when they heard what I am planning to go after. I should expect no less from sea-folk. I may have with me the least superstitious crew the sea has ever seen!
July 6th, Day 1: The spirit of scientific inquiry drives the sails today. We take a route down the west side of the American continent. Once we reach Macaw Point on the equator we turn west, to a place no ship should reach unless they are lost or their captain is insane. I must plead guilty to the second charge, of which I admit I should be diagnosed for four times if five medical men examined my head.
July 8th, Day 3: The weather is fine, the breeze is warm. I joined the skipper for a round of cards, and lost every hand. One is not warned of the dangers to one's purse onboard a vessel.
July 12th, Day 7: I supposed I should record what exactly set me on this journey to begin with. I heard a story, not two months back, at the University. I had just finished the study on behavioural patterns of the Turkish posaria elemantori when a colleague told me a fascinating tale.
Sailors from the western shore were lost in a devil of a storm when they suddenly beached. With alarm they realised they had landed on the Sirens' Rock (as locally known) where, as its title suggests, sirens were said to reside. Miraculously, the ship held tight. A brave sailor was elected to go down to the rock, and push the small ship back into water. When he was down there, he found with utter amazement, that the ground shifted beneath his feet. Like it was breathing.
Of course, he could've been delusional. And so could I, for giving him any measure of my confidence. But here I am.
July 15th, Day 10: I talked with a sailor who hails from the orient. I told him about the breathing rock, he told me of a his people's turtle god of storms and water. They would throw dead bodies into the water as offerings, and watch as the body was swiftly carried away in the direction of the rock. Frankly, between our stories neither is less believable than the other.
July 18th, Day 13: We turn west today. Leaving the land behind us. I should not see it for some time.
July 20th, Day 15: The man in the crow's nest gave a hoo-ha at dawn. The rock has been sighted. The captain tells me that we should prepare to disembark this time tomorrow. I have with me weatherproof gear and reliable rope, my sketchpad and compass. A scientist is never daunted by the unexamined.
Extracts from a journal 16th century, recovered from a small limestone island off the coast of Madagascar
Quote:
Username: SilverWinter
Prompt: Creature Feature (but it works for Edge of the Sea too...)
Entry:
While sea turtles aren't my favorite sea creatures, they are one of the most fascinating. I was inspired by the way that the turtles eggs hatch on the beach instead of in the sea. So I made a seashell turtle out of polymer clay! (omg this took me like 5 hours)
(Art Entry: Posted on page 5)
Quote:
Username: Fabro
Prompt: Fishermen's Fiends
Entry: Sirenarum
They call him Sirenarum and Kieran doesn't know why. It's not that he doesn't know what the word means- he's studied Latin, like any other sailor. No, what he doesn't understand is what warrants him the name 'of the sirens'.
It's confusing. He's never seen one himself, but he's heard the reports of the scaled beasts that lurk in the depths of the sea. They have large sunken eyes and a gaping maw of fangs. They call out in raspy voices, singing a haunting melody that promises love and happiness and everything one can desire.
This is what he's been told. Kieran has never seen a siren, and nor does he want to.
He doesn't get a choice.
The storm hits out of nowhere. Waves lash out, sweeping over the ship and pulling men down with them. Lightning crackles and the shockwaves from the thunder nearly split Kieran's eardrums. The storm is right overhead.
He's flinging rainwater from his eyes when he's seized by the arms and thrown in the middle of the ring of crew members. They scowl down at him and a foreboding feeling settles in his chest.
"It's him!" shrieks a sailor. "It's the Sirenarum!"
"He's brought this storm upon us with his ill luck!" the second-mate shouts.
Then the mass of sailors descends on him, and Kieran screams. He kicks out, tries to scramble away, but it's no use. Ropes wrap around his ankles and burn into his skin.
"I told you it was bad luck to keep the child on board! Boys born on the sea always bring bad omens!"
He was born aboard the ship during a storm, not unlike the one threatening to sink it now. The sea was seething that day. Waves rocked the ship and rain poured down in torrents. He's been told countless times of how his mother was swept overboard, how she fell into the raging sea.
Now he wonders if even this is true.
"Like mother, like son!" roars a crew member, hoisting Kieran onto his shoulder. He carries him like a sack of potatoes to the edge of the ship, seizing the railing to keep himself steady.
Kieran sobs, still struggling to free himself. He knows it won't happen. He can feel the security of the knots and knows that he is about to die.
The water knocks his breath out upon impact. He gasps in a mouthful of water and chokes. Which way is up and which way is down? He wriggles, hoping, praying to break the surface and save his burning lungs.
He blinks again, and there is a woman before him. Her wrists bear the scars of rope and the scaly fish tail trailing beneath her is ragged and torn. She seems so sad, and Kieran suddenly knows who she is.
She stretches out her hand, and her voice is raspy and raw from the salty water.
"Come to me, my son."
They call him Sirenarum, and now he realizes why.
Quote:
Username: dawnsong
Prompt: The Depths
Entry: Jellyfish
(Art Entry: Posted on Page 6)
Quote:
Username: andreaissy
Prompt: Fishermen's Fiends
Entry:
The wind whipped past her face, her heart beat creating a rushing sound in her ears. Clouds trailed around her, orange and pink and yellow in the setting sun. She laughed, spiraling around and trailing her hand through the closest one. It merely felt cool, and she zipped away, leaving trailing wisps behind her. She heard a laugh, and saw a flash of seafoam as another dragon darted past her. He flew in a straight line, occasionally corkscrewing before gliding around to her. The wind shifted, and she swore she heard reeds as the two lazily flew in spirals around each other. She found herself breathless as he looked at her with light green eyes, flying closer to her. She could hardly breathe as he brushed against her, slowly coiling around her before suddenly- she couldn't breathe. He was squeezing almost painfully. She began thrashing, and then hit her head hard. Wait, hit her head?
Kailani opened her eyes, rubbing her head grumpily as she took in her room. Disoriented at first, she realized that her head and top half has fallen off her bed. She glared at a certain relic eel stared back at her, still partially coiled around her. The stare down continued until it finally uncoiled from around her chest, and swam off. She sighed, getting up and stretching out her coils from her disturbed sleep. She shot out of her den, diving down the tower like circular common hallway. Most of the others were already awake, and after her rude awakening, she wasn't too bothered by the noise she made on her way down. "Zoooom~"
She glided down another hallway, looking out between the large rib bones of some long dead monster at the coral and fish beyond. Judging by the light filtering down from the surface, she was late..... Again. The dining hall was surprisingly full, and not many of the other dragons noticed as she grabbed herself some food before settling at her usual seat. There was the cursed eel, sticking next to her mother as usual.
"You're up late." Was all she said, calmly looking over some tablet she had brought with her.
"I was having a good dream." She grumbled, starting to eat without paying much attention to the others. Maybe if she was lucky she could finish her breakfast and leave before any of her snobby relatives deigned to grace her woth their superior intellect.
"You shouldn't wander off today. Not with the report that came in this morning." Okay, maybe she had been naive to hope she'd be lucky this morning. Her wake up call should've given her a hint. With an exaggerated groan, she looked at the pearlcatcher who had spoken up. She preened briefly, taking her time knowing that Kailani couldn't exactly leave without getting in trouble, or miss whatever news had come in.
"Someone came back from patrol along the trench this morning rather injured. His partner was nowhere to be seen. He came bearing the news of a siren that had managed to sing his friend into stupidity. The injuries came from trying to stop them from swimming down to find it." Kailani was immediately silent. The occasional maren was easy enough to slip away without a guard. But a siren? No way was she going to be able to get out today. She had a few moments to think of possible escape routes before the pearlcatcher snorted.
"It's not going to work. Every entrance and exit is being closed off, and guarded to make sure no one does anything stupid until the thing is destroyed. So be a dear, and don't make a fool of yourself trying to get out." Kailani glowered, simmering in anger as the snooty dragoness stood.
"Of course, you'd know this if you actually could see. For someone who's the child of two great prophets, you fall dismally short."
The table was quiet as she left, a few sympathetic looks passed towards Kailanis mother. She knew better than to think the sympathy was for what had been said, oh no, she'd learned that ages ago. They were pitying her mother for producing a child who had hatched at the worst possible time and had no talent in divination whatsoever. So, without a word, Kailani left, her half finished meal behind her.
The day was so boring. Within no time, she found herself nearly in knots as the day passed at a crawl. She groaned, flopping down like a limp noodle, and staring at the ceiling. The rock had little coral growths, something a fae or some scholar might find endlessly fascinating. No such luck for her. A frustrated sound came in a forceful exhale, little bubbles trailing upwards. A snout suddenly burst into it, startling her. A concerned creaking sound made her smile slightly, lifting her head to look at the Cloud chaser. It bumped against her gently, whistling in a manner not unlike some coatls. It swam around her small den, grabbing a starfish and dropping it into her hands. "Sorry bud, no games today. We aren't allowed outside." Kailani said with a soft sigh. It simply whistled at her again, bumping into her. Then it swam towards the small circle in the stone wall, easily darting through
The window was high up, and looked out on a sloping shelf of coral. Only a fae could ordinarily fit through, but if she slithered and tucked her wings, she might just fit. Filled with renewed enthusiasm, she squeezed her way through, grinning triumphantly at the dolphin. She then immediately darted away, eagerly playing with her familiar. The reef was quiet, which was a miracle to her. She chased after fish, raced the cloud chaser in the currents, and explored the areas created by the broken bones from another age.
The angle of light shifted, but Kailani was only dimly aware of the passage of time. It was when she stopped to catch her breath on top of a rise that she realized just how eerily quiet it was. There wasn't the usual splashing, chatter, or calls from adventurous dragons. There was just, quiet. The water grew darker a bit farther away, but that didn't mean it should be so- wait.
The warnings of the siren suddenly returned. And here she was, a stones throw from the leviathan trench. The place where the beasts lived. She turned to head back home when a soft, haunting voice drifted her way. It was faint, ever so faint, yet, it was definitely there. She only heard a few words, but, the song was so strange. It was creepy. And yet, Kailani found herself swimming closer to the trench drop off to hear it better. It sounded almost like a lullaby, and as she peeked over the edge, she saw only darkness. But, there was a light?
Despite all warnings she'd heard, she dove, curious about the gently bobbing light far below. The song grew louder, and she could pick out the individual words. "Come wiiith me, and taaaake my haand. I'll wash your paaain, with the waaater and saands. But wiiill you come up, as you slip to your death, as you go un der with your last, dying breath~." She shuddered, almost turning back when a small light moved along something. Intrigued once again, she allowed herself to sink farther down.
Then there was nothing. The light blinked out. She looked around, confused. The darkness was so murky it was hard to know where anyone or anything was. The singing was softer now, and, drawing closer? A bulb bobbed closer, and she swam towards it briefly. She frowned, noticing how big it was. Surely she would've seen it by now? If a fish was this close-
Then came an earsplitting shriek, and something surged towards her. She caught a glimpse of huge eyes, sharp teeth, and then there was pain and a bright light. She blindly thrashed, darting upwards as soon as she could. Was she going upwards? She had no idea. She was too disoriented from the light and pain and suddenness of the attack. She breathed out in a panic, and, why were the bubbles going sideways? Kailani was confused before remembering "they go up!" Reoriented, she swam upwards as fast as she could, hearing the enraged shrieking of the siren. Something bit her wing, making her shriek herself in pain. Now she had to get it off while trying not to sink. She turned, thrashing desperately before the sight of the monster made her squeak in terror
The beast was hideous. A long bulb hung over its face, illuminating it too well in such close quarters. Huge, milky white eyes, stiff fins along the sides of its face. Long, crooked, and frighteningly sharp teeth stained slightly with red. Little patches on its face glowed randomly, and along the long sinuous, disturbing body similar lights flashed. It's sharp talons raked her sides, making her squeal and cry out loudly. Just when she was resigning herself to her fate, and angry chattering grew closer, and something slammed into the monster. It shrieked itself, as stunned by the new arrival as the young spiral was.
The dim light made it hard to see, but in the struggle between the two creatures, Kailani realized her opportunity to escape. She weakly began swimming upwards, leaving the sound of the conflict behind her. Then, a shriek, and a nudging. She felt like she was about to cry as something with teeth closed around her tail. Then she yelped as suddenly she was being pulled, upwards. She looked up, seeing the outline of a familiar shape. Something so comforting that she might've started crying.
She looked back down, seeing the sea witch closing on them. It was such a scary sight, her heart pounding and blood roaring in her ears she almost missed a different roar. A huge shadow blocked the light, and the siren was stopped by a large guardian diving at her. Familiar figures closed in around her, and Kailani couldn't help but closing her tired eyes in relief. The exhaustion was setting in and suddenly a nap sounded like a good idea. She felt something familiar coiling around her, before her suddenly leaden eyes closed.
-ake......... oon."
"She............... diot. What...... thinking?"
"........ moving!"
With a groan, Kailani blearily opened her eyes. The shapes of three fuzzy outlines slowly came into focus.
"She lives!"
"Oh my gods, what were you thinking!" She winced at the loudness of everything.
"Calm down?" She asked, lookig up at them before something was thrust into her hands. It was cool, metal, and, she looked to the side when she saw a blue spiral looking back at her.
"Kailani, tell me what do you see in that mirror?"
"...... Myself."
"Describe yourself."
"Blue."
"Your eyes?"
"..... green."
"Yes. Light green." Her mother leaned towards her, looking furious. "You, a wind aligned hatchling went off to fight a monster that has every advantage over you! Size! Strength! Elemental magic!"
"I didn't-"
"Think, we know. You just ran off without telling anyone! Your familiar had to come get us!" Her mother, and the physician, looked very upset with her, but she was too busy trying to get past the 'you fought a monster'.
"Hold on, I, what?"
"I'm stunned you managed to survive, much less hurt the thing. You scared us so much! Especially when your cloud chaser was dragging up your limp noodle trailing blood from your wing." Kailani by this point had stopped trying to understand most of what was being said.
"You were worried about me?" Dead silence.
"Of course we were." The incredulous voices chorused after their shock wore off. It took her a while to process that, but once she had, she was lovingly coiled around her mother. The woman huffed, but fondly patted her head.
Kailani of course, was grounded. And forbidden from going near the trench. And possibly from ever having fun again. The terms weren't clear. She didn't mind it much however. She had a steady stream of visitors asking for her to describe the siren, and her fight with it. The clan seemed to think she had sought it out to fight it, and Kailani wasn't about to correct them on it.
Quote:
Username: casuallySleepy
Prompt: Fisherman's Friend
Entry:
(Art entry: posted on page 7)
Quote:
Username: casuallySleepy
Prompt: The Floating City
Entry:
One lone Pearlcatcher sat in the gondola, her eyes watching as the orange light dances across the water surface. She has been waiting far too long.
(Art Entry: posted on page 7)
Quote:
Username: casuallySleepy
Prompt: The Depths
Entry: Long after battle of the bay ended, the creature still lingers. Replaying moments of its life that is left in its hazy mind, it wept whenever its slumber was disturbed. With what little magic it had, the last memories of its family soothe its mind.
(Art Entry: posted on page 7)
Quote:
Username: Fallencrow
Prompt: Fishermen's Fiends
Entry:
(Art entry: posted on page 7)
Quote:
Username: Amaranth41
Prompt: Started out for Depths, but i think it fits in more with Fisherman's Fiends. I guess I'll let you make the final decision??
Entry: Danger
Mati sat on the rocking fishing boat, looking warily down at the calm water. Itzamna was several feet away, tying Mati's lifeline to the deck. She sighed and bit her lip, shifting on her stocky legs. Today it was her turn to go down into the Leviathan Trench and fish for the elusive delicacies only found at the bottom of the sea. Mati knew it was her responsibility as Itzamna's fishing partner, but she never liked having to do it. The darkness scared her, and she never knew what she might encounter.
"Estás lista?" Itzamna called from his position down the deck.
"Ready as I'll ever be." Mati responded. She flattened her wings against her back and waddled over to the area of the deck where they would dive off. It had a gate instead of a true railing so they would'nt have to jump over anything. Mate pressed and held a silver button, and a beep was heard. Abernathy's genius (and waterproof, thank Stormcatcher) electromagnetic lock disengaged and the gate swung inward. Looking down at the peaceful waves, Mati took a breath.
"Lifeline secure?" Mati asked, turning to Itzamna. She trusted him, but it was their protocol. Itzamna fiddled with the rope around the anchor on the deck, tugging on it to make sure that it was sound.
"Sí, lifeline is secure." He responded, nodding his head. He took the rope in his talons, worn by years of doing just this. "Ready to dive."
"Diving." Mati responded reluctantly. She took a deep breath and tensed her muscles. She leapt off the side of the boat, falling maybe three feet before plunging into the water.
Rays of sunlight pierced the surface, giving it a surreal look. From the whistles and clicks floating through the nearest current, there was most likely a pod of cloud chasers somewhere nearby. Either way, they weren't the prey Mati was looking for. She blinked and shifted her gaze down to the depths beneath her. She tapped the blue bulb on her head, which lit up the water around her. It wasn't exceptionally dark right now, but Mati knew it would get darker. Reluctantly, Mati swam downwards, the sunlight steadily fading away. She passed a school of octoflyers, grabbing a few before continuing down into the depths. Mati continued swimming, her wings pushing hard against the darkening water.
Eventually the sunlight petered out, the only light sources being Mati's bulb and the occasional vampire squid. Creatures became rarer to spot, and most were either too small or too dangerous to catch. As she swam further into the trench, Mati could feel the water becoming warmer, a sign she was within several hundred feet of the volcanic vents at the bottom of the ocean. Feeling this warmth, Mati stopped swimming down and decided to look for more prey. Pulling her trident from her belt, Mati swam parallel to the trench walls. She glanced down to see a flickering light, its pulsating colors strangely attractive. Fingering the trident, Mati recalled the lore surrounding the rare Mantarune.
Those traveling the depths of the ocean may see a glimmer in the distance.
Avoid it.
Quote:
Username: Amaranth41
Prompt: Wild Card
Entry:
Just by the way, Asteroid is a Spiral and Messier is a Bogsneak
Rawan traced through the white, immaculate hallways of her ship, alarms wailing and red lights flashing. The night sky flashed by as Rawan passed windows, one with spiderweb cracks in the outer layer of glass. Rawan reached a clear door and paused long enough for the scanner to register her markings, then the door slid open. Rawan walked onto the bridge, polycaudal tail held high.
"Captain on the bridge!" A crew member near the door cried.
"What in Ramma is going on, Marei?" Rawan exclaimed.
"It seems as if the other orbiting battlecruisers have been disabled." Marei, the crew member manning the scanners, said as she bent over a control panel. "A wormhole-like anomaly opened in the beta sector, and the electromagnetic pulse took out their electronics. Two ships have come through the anomaly, unknown configuration. We don't know if they're hostile, they appear to be disabled as well."
"Let's go check them out." Rawan replied. She wove her way through the few crew members between her and her chair and leapt into it. "Elwa, take us through beta sector." Rawan commanded, gesturing with with her tail to a small tom with pulsating green markings.
"Beta sector has been contaminated, it'll knock us out just like it did the rest of the fleet." Elwa responded after taking a moment to look at Marei's map.
"Then I guess we have to take the long way through gamma sector." Elwa nodded in acknowledgement of the command and pushed a silver lever forward. A low rumble resonated through the bridge, which danced with light from glowing markings. The planet visible out the large viewport seemingly slipped off to the side as the ship moved. The planet was mostly lush jungle green and bright ocean blue, with a snowy white covering the single visible pole. The planet was covered in wispy white clouds, which could be seen moving if one looked hard enough. Beneath the clouds the jungle was broken by a few huge, perfect circles that glowed with the billions of lights from the city within.
The ship inched forward, the pace agonizingly slow but necessary so that they would have adequate time to react to any hostility from the alien crafts.
"Beta squadron entered, Captain." Marei said after a few minutes of silence.
"Acknowledged." Rawan responded. "Once in range, kill everything except scanners and communication." Marei nodded in response and tapped the engineer next to her with her tail to make sure the order was understood. They flashed their markings twice, the sign for "yes." The ship trundled on for maybe a minute, long enough to see three fleet battlecruisers out the viewport.
Rawan's ship stopped a decent ways away from the disabled fleet, and then the bridge went eerily silent. The thrumming of the engines died away, all chatter had ceased, and no one had their markings glowing. The silence was broken by five pings from the scanner. Three were the normal warble of other battlecruisers, but two were shorter and higher pitched, indicating much smaller ships.
"Begin transmission to unknown vessels." Rawan said. Someone standing behind Rawan's chair flashed a marking in acknowledgement and a click could be heard.
"I am Captain Rawan of the Battlecruiser Melorn. You have entered our space and I demand you identify yourselves." Rawan flashed the signal for "end" and another click sounded. Moments later, a garbled transmission came in. The video appeared on the viewport, showing two strange, long-necked creatures. One was pudgy with glittery purple and shiny blue scales as well as giant pink frills, while the other was skinny with giant horns. It had shiny ivory scales and bright magenta stripes on its spine. Rawan vaguely wondered if they would glow, but she pushed the question to the back of her mind. The pudgy one spoke in a strange language filled with hard sounds completely alien to Rawan and her crew. The creature on the screen appeared worried, and Rawan tore her gray eyes from the screen to turn to the linguist behind her.
"Translate." Rawan said simply before turning back around. The linguist pushed a few buttons and jumbled text covered the video. The text cleared and robotic voices speaking in the crew's native tongue replaced the alien voices of the creatures.
"Captain Rawan, my name is Captain Messier of the Wanderer. This is my linguist and architectural analyst, Asteroid." The pudgy creature said. "We were caught in a wormhole on the edge of Lightning Fleet space and transported here along with another ship. We are a Lightning Fleet civilian explorer ship and we mean no harm. We are requesting assistance for ourselves and the other stranded ship, we both seem to be losing power, and I don't how how much longer our life support is going to last."
"Just letting you know, we have no idea who the other ship is." The tan creature, apparently named Asteroid, interjected. "Please don't hold is responsible for what they might do! We've never known them before today, we just want help for both us and them. Please send assistance!" Asteroid paused for a moment, seemingly to read something offscreen. When she spoke it was in Rawan's tongue, but it was halting and strangely accented.
"Save us." Asteroid said. She opened her mouth to speak again, but the transmission was suddenly cut off in a wave of static.
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Username: Hanelli
Prompt: Wild Card
Entry:
Stay with Me (warning: some swearing here and there, and just. Feels?)
Quote:
Username: Hanelli
Prompt: Edge of the Sea
Entry:
I Can't Swim! (when someone ashamedly admits he can't swim)
Quote:
Username: Hanelli
Prompt: Fisherman's Fiends
Entry: It’s said that the legendary C’thulhu lives in one of the deepest points in the human world—somewhere near Point Nemo, specifically. Even though the place itself is referred to as the Spacecraft Graveyard by everyone else, there’s just something rather…unsettling whenever someone mentions it and calls it by its other name: R’lyeh.
What exactly happens when someone mentions R’lyeh (and its accompanying chant)?
C’thulhu itself is said to be a mytho, a figment of the imagination; but for those who do heed the Call of C’thulhu, well… it exists. Likened to a giant octopus attached to a human body said to be even larger than the Earth itself, those loyal to its call patiently wait for the time when their savior will rise from its eternal sleep…
…and bring destruction to the world!
Quote:
Username: andreaissy
Prompt: The deep
Entry:
The water was cool. Probably cold, but Lumen hardly noticed it. His focus was on a group of diving mirrors, their focus on some objects that had sunken far below the usual reaches of the divers that usually tried to salvage treasures. Unfortunately, they were salvaging something others had an interest in. It had made him uncomfortable in the past, but the only ones willing to dive this deep, dive into the Leviathan Trench, were either working for some group like he was, or scum who were fully aware of their actions. He studied them, deciding that it was probably the first option. The group wasn't particularly careful, but had signs that they were fighters. Hired muscle to do the dirty work. He felt something akin to pity, then swam towards the wreck.
Avoiding them was simple enough. He could sense everything well enough where they were, a privilege they didn't have. He briefly stayed still as one such mirror started up her partol, then darted to the side of the wreckage when her gaze was elsewhere. He pressed against the surface, cursing at himself as he sensed the cloud of debris left where he had been. As she looked over, presumably with a light, she grew alarmed.
"There's something here!" She called, gaining the attention of every one of her fellows. It was almost amusing, how they all rushed into a pack formation while scanning for danger.
"There's nothing here!?!" He could hear their confusion easily. He simply slipped into the wrecked hold of the ship through a gaping hole in the side.
"Maybe it was a mantarune?" Their voices were still so audible through the wood, and he paid attention to them even while trying to figure out where the old ship might've been hiding it's most important artifacts. They began spreading out right as he found a panel that had something behind it. More, he could sense the space behind it briefly. He had opened it when one of the mirrors moved towards the whole where he'd enterered. They looked inside, and he stayed still.
"See anything?"
"No." They called back before making a lap around the ship. He chuckled slightly, thanking his naturally low body temperature for making him near invisible in the cold waters.
He had just opened the panel and moved the artifacts when another mirror returned to the hole in the side of the ship. "What the- hey!!" Their shouts immediately drew the others closer, making him curse.
"He's nearly invisible!"
"It doesn't matter! Get 'im!" Lumen sighed as they scrambled towards him, turning to face them before sweeping his wings out and creating a cloud of fine sand in the air. They skittered to a stop, looking around as he swiftly disabled the few lights they had. In total darkness save from the little flitering around the wreck from their work lights, they moved about blindly.
""Where-?!"
"That thing, it, where is it?" His body temperature was so low that they couldn't see him. Most mirrors weren't used to actually needing to pick out specific shapes with their heat vision. They used their normal eyes to pick up the prey, then if that prey tried to hide, looked for their heat signature. They'd only get an idea for his location if he blocked their sight to another mirror. And with so much junk in the room, that was unlikely.
In the mean time, his abilities provided him a very strong advantage. He could see them, and the objects in the room. Now for more confusion. He smiled, then his form glowed blue in the darkness. The light was only for a split second, but sent them rushing at him. They simply rammed their skulls together. Tey looked around blindly, seeing a green flash from hi outstretched wings, and yellow on his face. One squeaked, jumping back before the others charged again. He dodged easily, digging his claws into the decrepit rotting planks and moving quickly along the ceiling. More phantoms appeared, his luminescence wrecking what little vision they had, and leaving what seemed like many different foes, of various sizes. They kept chasing the after images, crashing into and through things even. He simply continued a watchful eye on the rest of the ship, briefly pausing to grab the odd object that looked valuable that was kicked up in the scuffle.
"Gotcha!" A mirror slashed at his side, making him curse as the slightly glowing substance spilled from him. He glowed as intensely as he could, and, combined with the eerily glowing blood, it startled the dragon back. Scowling, Lumen knew that the mirrors would be able to trace him so easily now. So he kicked up as much as he could as he ran off, swimming towards the surface. Soon enough, the water would dilute his blood, and who would believe the mirrors about a glowing assailant with blue, glowing blood deep underwater? An invisible foe until he chose to be?
".... I'm starting to sound like a cocky comic villain." He mumbled, swimming up through the changing pressure, escaping from his latest job site easily.
Quote:
Username: Fabro
Prompt: Wild Card.
Entry: Gleam and Glow
"Hey, you ready?"
Jay looks up to Cole, his fingers still tangled in feathers. "Does it look like it?" he retorts.
"Considering you only've done half of that wing, I'd say no."
Jay sighs, removing one hand long enough to scoop up some more of the dye. He works it into the next patch of feathers, wrinkling his nose at the smell. "C'mon Cole, my wings are still dark enough from last time. Can't I just skip it once?"
Cole scowls. "Jay, iridescent blue isn't exactly a subtle color." His wings twitch on his back, a clump of black that blends right into his stealth robes. "And it's poking through- see? Just finish up already!"
"Fine, fine." Jay covers the rest of his primaries. He arches his back and flexes his wings. "I'm done!"
"You missed a spot."
Cole's hand presses against Jay's back. He tenses. The earth ninja doesn't seem to notice, however, as he works dye into the mantle feathers. Jay fights the urge to collapse under his touch. Wings are sensitive, and his are extremely so. And generally, only someone's partner or family members will ever touch their wings.
Jay wonders which one Cole considers him.
"You two ready?"
Cole steps away and considers his handiwork. Jay tries not to whine as he leaves.
The other member in the room nods his head. "Whenever you are."
"Yeah." Jay ignores the phantom touch still lingering on his back. Its mission time. He's got to focus.
Cole inspects them both, nodding shortly. "Let's get going then."
He steps to the window and jumps, the wind catching his wings and carrying him up. Zane goes next, then it's Jay's turn. He leaps without looking back.
The night air is cool and refreshing. Jay lands on the outer wall, stumbling only a little. They skim across the rooftops, closing in on their destination. He ducks through a trapdoor, revealing the target.
Jay waits for Cole's signal before he drops down. They encircle the boy. Three pairs of wings arching high in threatening posture should make anyone terrified, but the boy looks angry, not worried. His wings arch too, right before he jabs at Zane with his toothbrush.
Before anyone can react, he's sneaking out through the rafters.
Jay leads this chase, flying into the rafters and using his wings to help him go faster. He curses the dye which stiffens his feathers. He could go faster without it. He's almost tempted to pause and claw it off, if he were able.
They come out into the courtyard and halt. Jay scans the area for any sign of red. He finds it. The boy activates the training course, and now he's dodging dummies and axes as he tries to fulfill his mission.
They tackle the boy, being careful not to break anything as they tie his arms and wings down.
"Let me go!" he shouts. "Sensei! Help!"
Jay pauses.
"He's bluffing," Cole says, but he's hesitating too. "Sensei said that we needed to capture the imposter and find the real master of fire."
The boy smirks from beneath them. "Oh, is that it? Then you're in luck, boys." He struggles to his feet and they let him. He presses his fingertips to the ropes, and soon they smoke and burn away.
"I'm your master of fire."
Jay considers him. The evidence matches up, but he needs to be sure. Only descendants of elemental masters will have iridescent or gleaming wings. That's why Jay's are faceted like a gemstone, Cole's shimmer with a bright copper hue, and Zane's practically glow in the sunlight.
He calls up his lightning, managing to summon tiny sparks to his fingers. He brings his hand close to the boy's wing. They looked dark red in the dim lighting of the bathroom, but the section lit up by his hands doesn't lie.
Red, orange and yellow.
The colors of fire.
(Notice: Yikes. There's apparently too much stuff here for the post to handle! When I tried to add more entries, it cut off the last one and refused to show anything past it... I'll try to find a way around this, but for the time being I'll just say that I left off just after the first post on page 8. Sorry for all of the problems!)
