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 Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 2:07 pm
Chase landed heavily on the branch of the impressive tree producing a loud thud that echoed through the lower level a bit more noisily than he would have wished. As his host suddenly left his side, he wondered if would seem rude to follow him deeper into his home.
“With your permission.” He muttered, slowly entering the hollow space. He sent curious glances at the apothecary’s quarters looking for any leftovers of his new friend’s projects.
For some reason he didn’t really feel comfortable down there… alone… even though it was a closed safe place he felt almost nervous, like he was being watched…
“Drywood…” he started cautiously “Do you mind if I follow you up there?”
He could swear he heard something quietly lurking in the shadows.
((no problem, I was curious, too XD ))
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Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:20 am
A noisy one, this was. Did it think that the tree was a drum, perhaps? Hidden away, Longtail slowly but surely drew closer to her target. It seemed fidgety, which was fine by her, and looked around the room nervously. However, it didn't think to look back at the opening from which it had come - following the master - and therefore missed the slender shadow as she softly lowered herself from her favourite hiding perch just above the doorway.
Drywood's cheerful voice rang out from the upper level: "Hm? Oh yes, but of course! Now where was that... ah! There!"
It would pay for the noise, but since master seemed quite content, even happy to have it here, she would not give it her all. A long, forked tongue slid out and deliberately flicked the visitor's ear tuft from behind, only a split second after her master's voice had quietened again, following up with a soft hiss that was sure to be heard only by her target.
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Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 3:51 pm
At the affirmative answer from Drywood, Chase spread his wings with visible relief. But just as he was about to lift himself up in the air, he felt a slight tingle in his eartuft accompanied by a long hissing sound. His heart pounded within his chest missing a couple of beats and the adrenaline instantly flooded every vein in his body as he whirled around on the spot, wings pointing forward, talons scratching the bark firmly and head lowered, beak pointing upwards, clacking angrily. The wide open eyes examined the entrance looking for an invader as every fiber in Chase’s body readied itself for the struggle. He didn’t know what he was expecting to see. He just reacted. And he certainly wasn’t expecting the long slithering creatures that appeared before him. Truth be told, if it wasn’t for the fact that some serpes were deadly poisonous, he would surely had used his beak to teach it some manners.
As such, he merely gave the creature a small push with his will before the possibility struck him. The deep blue eyes narrowed slowly without losing the austere expression and his voice pierced the sudden silence, tentatively. “Tails?”
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Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 2:56 am
The serpe flicked its tongue at the Shadow sentinel, but whether it planned to answer or not, it didn't have time to do so before Drywood's head poked out over the ledge of the upper level.
"What's the ruckus? What's going on down there?" He saw the long shape against the pale doorway and immediately his face lit up. "Oh, there you are, Tails! You little rascal, you. Did you hide from me?"
He disappeared for a moment, but only to push the gatherer's pack over the ledge and then follow it down. He gave CloudChaser an apologetic smile. "I do hope she didn't bother you, she can be quite playful sometimes. What were you doing to CloudChaser, Longtail?"
The serpe gave her master an expressionless look, and started to lazily pour down onto the floor.
"Ssssay 'hello'," she hissed, and sent the Shadow sentinel a long sidelong glance with her black, cold eyes, almost as if daring him to contradict her.
"Saying hello, huh? Well, that's good then." Drywood turned back to CloudChaser again and grinned. "Companions, eh? Now, did you say you wanted to have a look at my... laboratory, before we are off?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:58 am
Chase listened to Drywood’s words without so much as looking at him. His eyes stared firmly at the lengthy companion but he shifted to relaxed stance as soon as he heard his host’s lively voice. At the kind invitation, he finally managed to break the stare and turned to Drywood with a pleasant smile, perhaps not as wide as usual but still quite cheerful none the less. His heart was slowly returning to its normal rhythm.
“If you don’t mind the intrusion, I would be most grateful.” As he ended the phrase, Chase’s eyes drifted back to the serpe, with what could be best described as a defiant gleam. For some reason, he didn’t really think the large companion was nearly as inviting as her master. “I better stay close to Drywood.” he thought to himself apprehensively making sure he didn’t leave any openings. Just in case.
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Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:19 pm
The serpe kept her expressionless, black eyes steadily on the visitor, even as she slowly coiled around her own massively thick and strong body in order to "lay down". Occationally she flicked her forked tongue at it as well, almost hoping that it knew that she could easily attack from this position by shooting out like a bolt of lightning to deliver a crushing blow to that thick, downy body.
Drywood, however, was completely oblivious to his companion's stealthy scare tactics and happily chattered away as he propped the gatherer's pack up against the side of the doorway:
"Alrighty, then I'll just... take this... and... put it... here. So that we won't risk to forget it when we leave. There we go." He looked up at the other sentinel, eyes aglow with something much resembling excitement. "Well then, if you are still interested, just follow me!"
With that, he flew back up to his "upper level", hopping a bit further in to leave room for CloudChaser. He was happy that he had actually thought to clean out most of the dead mus bodies, as they tended to give the place a very untidy look - as well as an unfortunate smell, despite the ventilation - when they happened to be left lying about for a while. There were only three left, whereof one was not technically dead yet but would very soon be, judging by the shallow and uneven heaves of the tiny chest.
Ten parus sat in their small, woven cages and looked out at him with frightened, hopeless eyes, and he gave them an amiable smile as he passed them. He kept his treasures hanging on the far wall: his most deadly poisons, ground down into a fine dust and kept in small mus-leather pouches, to the right, and his identically packaged, extraordinary - not to say revolutionary - medicines to the left.
He was actually quite proud of the meticulous order that he kept, up here. Not a speck of dirt on any of his workplace areas, and every pouch, every herb and vial, every mortar and pestle in its own place. A beautiful, neat, logical structure.
He turned to face CloudChaser, puffing out his chest in a gesture that should have made him look like a successful craftsman who took pride in his job, but somehow he ended up looking more like a fledgling expecting praise for having cleaned his minder's nest.
"It's not much, I know, but what do you think?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:05 am
Chase followed Drywood with heartfelt relief. He wasn’t one to comment on other Sentinels’ companions, but the way that serpe stared at him made him feel like a little mus trapped under the Brigadier’s gaze. He thought to himself that he would never enter the tree without the owner’s presence, something he wasn’t planning on doing anyway.
His first impression was rather pleasant as he noticed the impeccable cleanliness that Drywood kept up there. Still, no matter how interested he was on all the little containers that surely held all sorts powerful exciting medicines, he found the tiny cages and the little mus in agony a bit too depressing for his own taste. A quick look at Drywood however told him that any kind of negative comment at that precise moment would deeply hurt him and he realized that his first words would have to be nothing short of enthusiastic.
“It’s great! So this is where you work. I really like the way it all looks so organized!” Chase meant what he said but a part of him couldn’t deny that maybe… just maybe… there was something slightly off with his new friend. The mus that was barely holding on as life drained slowly from his small body was bothering him almost as much as the quiet paruses… when had he ever seen a live silent parus…?
“I have to say I admire you greatly for being able to do this kind of work.” Chase stated keeping a close eye on his host’s expression, trying to judge his reaction as accurately as possible. “I can see that I would never be able to do it and don’t really mean it just on an intellectual level.”
Actually, the fact the little animals misery didn’t seem to affect Drywood, bothered him quite a bit. But Chase had already decided that he liked him and he wasn’t one to go back on such a decision easily.
Taking the apothecary’s pride of his work into deep consideration, Chase hopped around, commenting all sorts of things, complementing what he saw as fit and ignoring what he believed was not worth discussing. But as he passed in front of the tiny birds once again, he just couldn’t stay quiet any longer.
“I have to admit, I am very impressed, Drywood. Say, is this where you keep all your… projects? I’m a bit curious. I wonder if the results of your experiences haven’t been affected by these accommodations. My teacher was a former keeper and he told me that companions who are kept under stressful situations are more susceptible to sickness. I’m assuming that these wild mus and parus, that don’t really have an opportunity to practice their normal behaviors and are forced to be in the constant presence of their natural predators, have different physical reactions when compared to their free counterparts.” He tried to speak in a matter-of-factly way, completely deprived of any kind of emotion but wondered with a large degree of worry if he wasn’t going too far. Perhaps Drywood would resent this kind of intrusion.
“I mean, they actually settle for less than one would expect. To a mus, a small hiding place inside the cage and some small leaves and dirt so they can dig a bit, would surely suffice. As for the parus, a slightly bigger cage with two or three levels of different heights so they can hop around and maybe a small branch with some leaves for a bit of coverage and they do rather well. Easily eliminating a nasty factor…”
This time he definitely had gone too far. But the words had escaped from his beak before he could stop them and now he avoided Drywoods eyes, afraid of his reaction and dreading his response. Telling a sentinel of science how to conduct his experiments, really… No matter how much reason he felt he had, maybe it didn’t even matter… after all, these creatures might not be alive long enough to feel the effects of such an environment.
(sorry, way too long... sweatdrop )
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 9:21 am
((No problems at all! ^_^))
Drywood glowed with the first truly genuine emotion that he had displayed this night as CloudChaser praised his neatness, and fluffed himself up even more - he even closed his eyes for a moment as he basked in the glory of a job well done. He continued to beam proudly as he followed Chase around the laboratory, nodding with an enthusiastic "Yes, yes!" or "Isn't it?" every now and then, always ready to try to explain in case the Shadow would have any questions.
But then CloudChaser breached the subject of his 'projects', and the apothercary's smile evaporated almost instantly. As the younger male went on, a frown gradually appeared in it's stead and deepened noticeably the further into the subject they ventured. Still, he did not once try to interrupt the Shadow, and kept his eyes firmly locked on his.
As the larger male finally looked away and fell silent, Drywood unmovingly let the silence drag out a little before he realised that CloudChaser had nothing more to say right now. He looked off to the side, examining his test-subjects' accommodations with an almost curious look.
"I see," he said, pensively. "I actually hadn't thought about that at all. And you think it might have influenced my results? Well... that's not good at all, now is it?" He made a concerned, clicking noise and hopped a bit closer to the cages, making every parus nervously edge away, as far as they could go. "A large cage... or no, two! One for the parus and one for the mus... or maybe several slightly bigger cages for the mus, instead... Hmm... dirt and leaves, I can easily fix myself, but cages..."
He glanced over his shoulder back at the Shadow. "Well, there's no helping it, is there? I can't have something so trivial put my experiments at risk." He added, with a hopeful note in his voice: "You didn't happen to be a crafter yourself, were you?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 3:05 pm
Chase took Drywood’s words first with apprehension and then enthusiasm, immensely relieved that they were still on good terms. His worries vanished at once and he found himself looking back on Drywoods eyes, avidly listening to his future plans.
“Crafter? No, I’m afraid I’m not. I don’t think I know any either, only an aspiring one.” He was happy for the little creatures as well, that kept watching the two predators with sad eyes filled with fear. Yes, the small enclosures might affect the experiments but that wasn’t the main reason that made him take such a great risk with a Sentinel that had invited him to his own home. He decided he wouldn’t mention the subject again and readied himself to get back to the lower level.
“I’m really grateful you brought me up here. I can only imagine how may medicines you’ve been able to create… Fascinating. Well, let’s go catch some mus, shall we?“
Chase bobbed his head with excitement waiting for Drywood to make the first move. After all, one should show respect to an older Sentinel and… well, that serpe would probably still be down there.
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 12:22 pm
"Oh, I'm very glad that I invited you too, CloudChaser!" Drywood gave his cages another quick, thoughtful once-over. They were a bit small, weren't they? Say, perhaps that was why his parus always seemed so quiet, unlike every other songbird he had ever met. A novel, fascinating thought. "There are so many things I don't... Ah well. I am very grateful for your insights!"
He beamed at the younger sentinel and hopped past him, to the ledge. "Yes, let's," he said, before jumping down. A few flaps saw him safely to the lower level, and he threw a quick glance about the room. Tsk tsk. It seemed as though Tails has gone and hid herself again, the playful little creature. He hopped over to the doorway intending to pull the gatherer's pack up so that it would be easier for CloudChaser to put it on, only to find a long, red tail hanging out on one end.
"Tails," he chuckled, "What are you doing? You know that you are far too heavy to be carried around anymore! Now get out of there, you silly little girl!"
The flat head emerged grudgingly from the other end of the pack's opening and flicked its tongue once at the brownish aberrant. Then, without a word, she slipped out - a process that took impressively long to accomplish - and slithered off with one last, long look at the visitor, almost as if she was saying 'Why didn't you look in there first?'
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 2:15 pm
“She is very… “Chase landed as close to his host as he could possible do without being considered rude. “…interesting. Did you carry her around when she was smaller?”
The serpe’s gaze did not go unnoticed and Chase hopped around making sure he always had Drywood between himself and the large reptile. But there was really no point in denying that if the companion really did intend to attack, it was unlikely that he’d be fast enough to escape. As such, he had to trust Drywood and so far, it seemed Tails would not do anything in his presence. Probably. “Oh, and do call me Chase.“
With any other companion it would have looked cute to have the creature’s tail hanging from the bag as if hoping to tag along with the dear master. But somehow he could only look at it as a carefully laid trap he had just missed and while his inner fledging was desperate to take the opportunity to tease the slithering creature with his unwanted presence, another part of him felt that would be a betrayal of Drywood’s trust as well as the easiest way to lose a chunk of his wing.
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:22 am
Drywood affectionately watched his companion slither away to rest in a more comfortable spot, blissfully unaware of any animosity between his guest and the serpe.
"Chase, is it?" He said, repeating the nickname a few times, as if to work it into his memory. "Chase. Chase. Yes, very good. Doesn't sound so much like someone with an inapproprite obsession with the above. Chase... Short, to the point. Very good."
As he propped the bag up for the benefit of the Shadow, he sent another affectionate gaze over at where his companion had disappeared into her own soft bedding. "Longtail? Yes, she is special indeed. I have had her since I was barely even fledged... Oh, I remember when she was small enough to fit in a pouch..." He heaved a nostalgic sigh. "They grow up so fast."
Tails, easily large enough to wrap her muscular body around a full grown sentinel and squeeze the life out of him, poked her blunt nose out of the bedding and jealously observed her master and his guest get ready to fly off together.
Well, at least the visitor would be leaving.
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:23 pm
Drywood’s comment broke the exchange of stares between the shadow and the serpe rather brusquely. Unsure if his new friend was serious, he couldn’t help but feel slightly offended. He decided to laugh it off, after all he did partially agree with him but… well… “…obsession with the above?” he chuckled, perfectly aware that he had left out one word from the previous statement “That would be my mother. “
He shifted his talons and preened a few flight feathers, pondering on his willingness to elaborate on the matter. “She’s a scout, you see. And she does have an unusual interest in… heights. She flies around the forest’s canopy, near the tree tops. According to her, the marks on the back of my head are a reminder to always keep my eyes on the sky. I believe I disappointed her greatly when I didn’t grow up sharing her enthusiasm. Becoming a gatherer might have been the finishing blow. That’s what I used to do, by the way. I’m currently a watcher.”
He was relieved to return to the previous subject, eyeing the companion with playful grin tempered with a mix of fear and displeasure. “Yes, sometimes we wish they would stay that way forever. But that wouldn’t do, would it?“
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 8:38 am
Drywood interestedly craned his neck to get a better view of the back of Chase's head as he spoke, making a small, happy sound when he found the markings.
"Ah yes! I see! Well, that explains it, then." He returned to looking Chase in the eyes - his real eyes - with his usual amiable smile. "A scout, eh? Well, those sentinels are more or less expected to have an unusual interest in things and places that any other sentinel might find rather horrifying, aren't they? And Notcus keep them for that, so that someone remembers to - what was it? Keep an eye on the sky?"
He nudged the gatherer's pack and added, with a chuckle at his own little joke:
"I dare say you do make an excellent watcher, though, with two pairs of eyes to commit to the task!"
Tails flicked her tongue at the Shadow repeatedly, in silent scorn of his wish to have had her remain small and easily manageable forever, and Drywood apparently heard the subtle sound that her forked tongue made as it cut through the air, because he turned around and gave her a surprisingly iron-edged smile that actually made her shrink back slightly into the bedding. His voice was perfectly normal, however, when he spoke to her:
"Now, make sure to keep an eye on Mr CloudChaser's trinket here while we are gone. Be a good girl - and don't eat the parus."
The flat head sunk entirely out of sight to the two sentinels, and from the depths of the soft bedding came a slightly muffled "Yessss."
The apothecary turned back to Chase with nothing but friendliness in his features and nodded, finally answering the other's question:
"We do indeed, but alas, that is not the way that nature works. However, there can be no denying that she is a lot better as nestwatcher in this format, don't you agree?"
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:20 am
Chase chuckled, immensely relieved after losing sight of the slithering creature. He hopped to the landing platform and grinned back at Drywood.
“Oh, yes. I’m sure that few would dare to come here in your absence.” Chase tilted his head slightly and added to himself “… or in your presence for that matter.”
Two blue eyes narrowed slowly as the cold breeze played with shadow’s feathers and his grin grew wider. “It’s a perfect night to go hunting.” Chase hooted pleasantly hopping back too Drywood’s side. “Which one of us will take the gatherer’s pack? I really don’t mind taking it, after all I used to carry one every day.”
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