The day was overcast and everything was damp from recent rain. The earth smells were strong, mixed with that particular fresh smell rain seemed to have. Cyclone loved it and felt especially invigorated after traveling a long way from the Grandfather Tree. He stood still a moment, breathing in the atmosphere and enjoying the silence. It had taken him some time but he had arrived at the ruins of Erli finally. It felt like he stood on the brink of adventure. Ever since his visit to the Grandfather and his alarming yet weirdly fulfilling vision, he had been consciously trying to slow down and enjoy life. In that dream he had found ways to cope with his tempest nature, had seen himself grow old as years had passed, and had discovered that through harnessing an inner peace he could actually have patience. That was not to say he always was successful at any of that though! The buck snorted loudly, reared and kicked his hooves through the air, then bolted! He wasn't able to run far though as the green belt made way to clustered walls and rubble. The ruins closed around him and he slowed to a trot, then a walk as he had to pick his way through increasing trip hazards. He knew he should be more cautious, he had heard terrible things lived out among the overgrown structures of the Others. Havoc had described the great bone crusher beasts he had fought on his adventures recently and that they may now be roaming the ruins too. As if feral catbeasts and wild dire rats weren't problem enough, he thought. But the buck was enjoying his exploration and was feeling lively. He tried to focus but there were many distractions.
There was a noise, some distance away perhaps, it was hard to tell. His ears perked forward as he tried to decide what he had heard. Statue still, he waited for several breaths then heard it again. What a strange sound - was that a creature? It was a whining sound almost. But not very animal-like. It could be a bird call he supposed, but not like anything he had ever heard before. He wasn't sure if he should go look, but then shrugged to himself. That's what adventures were for. At least he had briefly thought about it instead of going with straight impulse. Quietly he wound through the debris and overgrowth toward the location of the noise. It continued, somewhat methodically. Scree.... scree...
Havoc approached a ...dwelling? A ruined and crumbling structure with a completely caved in wall. The buildings made no sense to him so it was hard to decide what he was looking at. Standing just outside he peered into the dim interior while his eyes adjusted. A strange circle hung from a ceiling, a long linked rope of that metal stuff hung down from it. The breeze was making the rusted pulley rock back and forth, the old metal bits causing the creaky sounds he had heard. Not a dying animal anyway, that was a relief.
There were many things inside the building and it sort of reminded him of the dream he had seen when he gained his new power. Only fewer walls to trap him, so he stepped in, curious to examine some of the Other rubble. Another step. There was a rustle and a weird slithering sound. Fear shot through him and Cyclone froze, not even daring to breathe. Two perfect orbs reflected bright green light, just a glimpse, then a dingy creature waddled into the half-light where the buck could see it.
The rat was rummaging around the ruin, sniffing at things, whiskers working a mile a minute. The leathery scaley tail dragging behind it had been the noise that Cyclone had thought must be a snake. Suddenly it lifted its twitching nose, turned and looked cyclone right in the eye, and squeaked loudly!
Startled, Cyclone backed up a step, nearly tripping over the rubble there. It hadn't known he was there apparently. Collecting his wits, he stood his ground. He was far bigger than it, and it appeared to be alone. His instinct was to lash out but he was being a more thoughtful noul now. In theory.
That rat hunkered farther in on itself, starring beady-eyed at the unicorn creature. They were rare out here in the ruins, but more had been around lately. He just had been careless and allowed this tricksy one to sneak up on him. The rat snorted at the noulicorn and narrowed its eyes.
"Shoo." He said, not moving as he stared shrewdly at the noul.
"What?" The buck was taken aback and a little confused. Had it told him to shoo??
"Go on... nothin' to see her pretty pony." The rat said in its slightly raspy voice. Seeing the buck's hesitance, the rat took a shuffling step forward.
Cyclone was still confused, and it was weird to see a talking rat. He knew they were sentient and had even seen one or two around... but never really up close or heard any of them talk. It was disconcerting. But it was clear the rat wanted him to leave, and he didn't want any altercations. Nodding he backed the last step out of the building, not wanting to turn his back on the shady character. It grinned after him and winked. What a little creep.
The buck made his way back the direction he had come, glancing over his shoulder occasionally in fear that the hairy little troll might be following him. He needed to find a safe place to shelter for the night, but the ruins were giving him the heebies already and he was beginning to question the wisdom of exploring out here alone. At the very edge of the ruins, he found an overhang mostly sheltered by dense brush. Cyclone decided to shelter there for the night and collect his thoughts for what he wanted to do with himself or if he wanted to go home and end this self-discovery quest altogether.
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