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 Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:36 pm
The long, slim creature climbed higher, higher, until the opening that the two sentinels had used was within its sight - and then it turned, going around on the outside. It would have to suffer the cold winds for a little while, because first of all, the intruders would have to pay for the noise they had caused. The creature knew how to make noise, too.
Another lightning bolt lit up the huge, muscular serpent as it wrapped its massive body around a strong, dry branch. Then it reached out and wrapped its tail end around a slightly smaller one and began to constrict. The old branch started creaking, and the creaking rose to a groan as if the ancient tree was actually feeling the pain of a limb being slowly crushed - and then the battle was over, and the wood lost with a loud and resounding crack.
The snake looked up, flicked its tongue, and resumed its climbing.
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Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:27 pm
With the sounding of the crack, and the vibrations it sent, Agro hunched down and opened her beak hissing. She backed further away from the entrance until her tail feathers were pressed hard against the wall behind her. Mørk himself was crawling across the roof making his way to the back of the shallow hollow. A deep protective hate burned in Agrowind's eyes. She found herself shaking with anticipation.
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Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:28 pm
The crack had sent a ripple of thrill through Stonecast's feathers. Perhaps the Shadow was foolhardy, taking a small step forward when her companion was pressing back. The closer she was, she figured, the faster and more accurate the strike. The very idea of whatever-it-was climbing into their shelter when they were cornered enough as it were was not a pleasing thought either.
She could feel Mørk's unease prickling against the very base of her feathers. Agrowind's defensive guard pumped adrenaline through her. Whatever it was had better enter soon, or else the usually timid hunter was going to go out after it.
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 5:49 am
The thing about dead old trees is that they tend to be full of holes. The good thing about this one was that it was Longtail's tree, and she knew every single hole in it. Instead of showing herself in the large opening that the two sentinels had used, the large serpe's blunt nose poked out of one of the holes in the "ceiling" that kept letting a steady trickle of rain in. It was just large enough to fit her bulk, should she decide to enter the hollow this way. As she had suspected, the two intruders were highly alarmed. Maybe from the fierceness of the storm, but probably because of her noise. They knew they weren't welcome here, and they looked ready to flee or fight. Longtail wasn't particularly worried - she knew she could kill these two if she really had to, but to fight both at once might become inconvenient. Better to try to scare them away. Sliding back a little, she lifted the part of her tail that was still hanging down the side of the tree, and whipped it once against the hollow trunk right behind the two visitors. It echoed like a giant drum, and Longtail herself winced sharply at the reverberations.
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:27 pm
Agro hunched low and hissed sharp and loudly. He talons were digging into the wood of the tree. Her feathers were puffed up and she was issuing a trill of noises.
She looked over at Stone.
"If worse comes to worse, we make a run for it. If we have to, I'll go first and distract it. Please though, do me one favor. Take care of Mørk for me."
Mørk looked at them. He was scared and cold. He didn't want to be here, but he didn't want to tempt the storm.
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:31 am
This time Stonecast did gape her beak and hiss as well, a long low-pitched noise that ended in a screech. Her wings pushed out a little more, her body straightening and the dial of her face swiveling to peer hither and thither around the shelter. It were as though the Thunderbird was perched right on top of the tree, casting His loud cried from where He sat. For a brief, piteous moment, she wonder why He had chosen this tree - was this a test? A trial to overcome?
Her body ducked down, wings arching. Eyes bright with thrill and worry and fight fastened onto Agrowind.
"I will not let you sacrifice yourself alone," she said, soft voice laced with a surprising amount of certitude. "If the two of us cannot handle this, then the two of us will leave. Jumping along into one battle and then leaping into another...." The Thunderbird beat His mighty wings.
The hunter edged around the hollow, tufts flattened.
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:10 pm
Longtail was pleased with the distress she was causing the intruders, and even more so to hear them talk about leaving. She felt very clever, too, since neither of the sharp-eyed but oh so distracted feathery creatures had noticed her yet.
However, the rain was very unpleasantly cold, and she was still mostly exposed to it, so if she couldn't drive the intruders away with the next tail-whip, she would have to regroup and try a different approach. She wouldn't want to be too sluggish if the matter came down to a direct confrontation.
Again she drew back a little, braced herself, and smacked her tail against the dry old trunk once more.
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:09 pm
Agro tensed up again with the second thump.
"It's not making a direct assault. Do you think it's trying to drive us out?" Agro asked Stone.
"If that's the case, perhaps we would be better off trying to find another place to bed down, But... with the weather like it is. I don't know. Either way we are in a bad place."
Her tension and anger was growing. She directed her anger towards their mysterious assaulter.
"Go fall off a tree and die!!!"
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:40 pm
"I think so."
It was all she said for a while then, listening hard to the vibrations. They were coming from somewhere, and for all the brain-wracking Stonecast did, she could not fathom where. The source was trying to drive them out, she was aware of only that much, but the buzzing of each thump...it should be like a ripple of water, she told herself. The Shadow peered around the hollow, her eyes sharp in the gloom.
The vibrations were pitter-pattering like rain from the Thunderbird's wings. The young hunter blinked. That would mean....
Stonecast looked up.
The Shadow thrust back and hissed loudly. Her heart leapt into her throat, dropped and thumped incessantly in her chest. Tangling with a Serpe was not what she wanted to do right about now. Great nostalgia swept over her for her missing companion.
"Agrowind, we may have to face the storm." She hated saying it, but there really was very little choice. What if the serpent was venomous? This gave no say in the matter. With her eyes fastened on the Serpe, she edged towards the hollow's entrance - that is, if Agrowind did not argue and wish to fight.
"I will follow behind you."
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Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 8:30 am
Longtail flicked her tongue disgruntedly. She had been found out. Oh well, it was about time to get out of the rain anyway.
"You die!" She hissed, pouring quickly down from the ceiling and coiling her long, muscular body up in a defensive position. She was a huge serpe, and her massive bulk glistened in the light from the lightning strikes.
"Tree mine! Vissssitorrrssss leave!"
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Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 4:11 pm
Agro puffed up as Mørk flew straight behind her. This was no fight that they were prepared to handle.
"We meant no intrusion. We were caught in the storm and did not know that this tree was in ownership to anyone."
She slowly inched her way to the exit way.
"Had we known, we would have asked permission before settling in."
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Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 6:32 pm
Stonecast darted as far back as she could when Longtail fell with down to their level, a long, thick coil of scale and muscle. Her feathers bristled wildly in response to the Serpe's size, eying her and trying to measure the mass of her bulk in vain.
The Shadow tailed Agrowind, though her gaze never once tore away from the Serpe. She - at least, she believed it to be a she - belonged to someone. She had to. Summoning her voice, calm despite her display of defense, she asked, "Who do you answer to?"
Any more stalling and she felt the serpent would attack, but if she had this one piece of information....
"Be ready, Agrowind," she said quietly. Tired, fearful, and hungry, Stonecast was not going to duke it out with someone's over-protective companion.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:58 am
Longtail merely stared at Agrowind with cold, unreadable reptilian eyes, but Stonecast's question seemed to hold her attention for a moment. She coiled a little bit further around herself, flicking her tongue repeatedly.
"Masssterrr..." she finally hissed, by way of reply. "Not here. Nessstwatch." She lifted her head a little bit and her whispering voice gained a slightly sharper edge. "Visssitorrrsss noisssse! Visssitorrrsss leave! Nessstwatch!"
Despite her renewed attitude towards the two sentinels, Longtail found herself - irritatingly enough - experiencing the first stirring of a doubt. Being reminded of her Master had led her to think of what he would say if he were to find out how she had been behaving. Well, so what? The Master had a lot of strange ideas and stranger requests, like... 'Don't eat the parus' or 'be nice to the guests'... And he wasn't here anyway. What he didn't know, Longtail could get away with. So there.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:02 pm
Suddenly, there is a peal of thunder as loud as any earlier, but this one seems to roll on and on and on. The serpe flinches and seems very distracted by the noise. If anyone was thinking of bolting, now's the time!
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Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:22 am
Agro noted this opportunity and bolted through the small opening, Mørk clinging tight. She spread her wings and leaped out into the night sky. The weather had seemed to slack up enough for her to maintain steady flight. Once she had gotten out of the tree, she turned around and wen back to the tree to make sure that Stone got out okay.
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