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 Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 8:30 pm
I wonder if he ever noticed I won't eat the fish he catches... I just don't like them, at all. Embri shook her head and scampered after Lachtna, nodding.
"I'd like to see more of it too, so long as I'm upwind. Certainly we haven't come across anything on land that big... it could be a fish, maybe... a huuuugeee fish. I'm surprised even one piece of it washed ashore, bones are heavy... you'd think they'd all be at the bottom of the water."
As she trots behind Lachtna, Embri half closes her eyes, trying to remember whatever was tickling at the edges of her mind, but nothing came to the surface. With a nearly imperceptible sigh, she gives up and turns her gaze to the scene ahead. The sand dunes tapered off into rockier ground, and the crashing of waves was plain to hear from the unseen shore below. Sticking out from the curve in the shore was a rather unusual looking collection of rocks.
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Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:18 pm
"I dreamed of a big fish once." he murmured vaguely as he continued to lead the way, voice almost lost because of the sudden noise of rocks under his hooves. "It was big. Bigger even than a full grown stallion. And it sang..." The mostly grown colt shook himself out of his reverie and looked back at her, giving an amused snort. "I thought it was crazy until now. Maybe there really are such things..." It might explain the noises he heard at times while he fished, as well... though it certainly didn't sound like song to him.
As they neared the formation that he was most interested in, the one he was reasonably sure held a cave, something flashed just at the edge of his vision. Startled, he reared and turned to face it head on, coming down with a clash, horn lowered, entire body tense and ready for a confrontation... until he realized that the movement was happening in the water. He blinked, then straightened casually before straining his head forward, trying to see farther without stepping away from his spot.
"Hey... Embri? Can you see that too?" he asked, wanting to verify what he thought he saw. Something was cutting through the water at a swift speed, moving the way snakes did through the sand, ripples and waves left in its wake. "I mean... you do, right?"
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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:31 pm
"Singing fish... " Embri closed her eyes, lost in memory fragments. "Did it sound... sad? Like the wind, and yet not the same."
Wingtip catching a wave, whitecaps breaking over hooves. Cold.
Big. Bigger. Biggest. Gray phantoms beneath the surface.
His abrupt stomp and change of stance startled the filly, and she rolls her eyes in alarm, ears pricked. "Wha? What's wrong?" Blinking rapidly, she follows Lachtna's gaze towards the water, head tilted in curiosity. "Hey... that's neat... I wonder if it's the singing fish?"
The little filly scampers up several slick rocks coated in slimy green algae, leaning out over the water to get a better look. "Songfiiissshhhh! Are you down there? Hm.... Maybe it's shy?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:04 pm
"Embri!" he cried out, sounding genuinely alarmed and concerned for her well being when she started forth - the thing could be dangerous, or she could slip and fall... hundreds of horrible scenarios, each worse than the last, ran through his head. He started after her, movements rather awkward as he slipped over the rocks she'd managed with such ease.
"You don't... you don't know it's a SongFish!" he panted on reaching her. "It could be anything! Maybe even whatever killed the thing that bone belonged to! You need to think! You're still only a f-f-f-..." The stuttering had come about because of the things newest actions, and Lachtna had now practically collapsed, knees trembling. Still, he tried to position himself so he could protect her, horn lowered, eyes wide with the whites showing.
The thing had raised up slightly out of the water and was revealed to be a Sea Serpent. While it was by no means fully grown, it was still very large, especially to someone who'd never seen anything like it before. It was at least twice as long as Lachtna himself, with frills crowning it's head to make it look bigger and more frightening. Apparently, Embri had caught its attention, for it was now making a b-line straight for her.
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:52 pm
"Oh... my... " The little filly's eyes went wide, and she scrambled back from the water's edge, slipping and sliding on the wet algae covered rocks. Whatever it was, she was pretty sure it was NOT a songfish... the pointed head rose from the water, water droplets falling from the fan-like frills that ringed the beast's head. Wide set black eyes fixed on Embri, the sea serpent darted closer, sensing prey. With a hiss, it made a pass at her, jaws snapping.
"L-Lachtna? Lachtna! Now is NOT a good time to be taking a nap!" Her words were scolding but the tone of voice was clearly alarmed. Embri scrambled out of the way as the serpent lunged, barely keeping her footing on the precariously slick rocks. The predator moved in closer, languidly taking its time, ignoring Lachtna in favor of the fast moving filly. Its frills spread as it opened its mouth, showing off sharp hooked teeth. The serpent makes another lunge, this time more purposeful.
"You're not a nice fish at all!" Embri stomps one of her delicate hooves and rears, snapping her wings open and forward, matching the serpent's tactic of making herself look bigger. The serpent hesitates but doesn't seem to be fooled, slithering closer and driving the filly farther from her companion.
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Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:24 pm
Once he realized his friend was in danger, Lachtna pulled himself out of his stupor - no one was going to hurt his filly on his watch! He didn't pause to question the thought, or the slightly possessive streak that gripped him for a moment; he didn't have time. Instead, he charged forward, earlier awkwardness gone without a trace.
With a low bellow, he raced towards Embri and managed not to slip on the precarious, green-slimed rocks; as he sprang over one batch, he noticed that some of the rocks looked... different. Strange, more regular, round... "Embri, we need to get away from this spot! There's a nest... this one must be guarding!" he called out as he neared the little filly, valiantly trying to convince the serpent she wasn't worth the trouble it would take to catch her. She would be, but... he could make the thing work for it's meal.
With another loud noise, he jumped, flying over the filly and hitting the water with a splash. For a moment, he was pushed under, and he was lucky that the creature was too startled to strike. When he bobbed back to the surface, however, Lachtna's opponent was rearing back to strike. "Embri, get to the beach!" the older male commanded, then surged forward in the water, attempting to gauge the creature before it struck him.
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Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 6:35 pm
"What are you doing in the water? Stop thrashing around, it'll see you!" The filly tried bolting for the mainland, but the nest was between her and the sea serpent now, and it didn't seem very keen on letting her go past. It's pointed head wavered between Embri and the swimming Lachtna, hissing menacingly. Again, the serpent lunged towards the filly, fangs barred. "Look, I don't want your eggs! I just want to leave!" The angry serpent did not seem to understand her words, or if it did, showed no acknowledgment. Its mighty coils churn the water, slapping the swimming stallion with waves as it prepares for another strike.
"Lachtna! Get ready to move, I'm going to spear it!" A determined set to her eyes, the filly crouches against the smooth, sea battered stone bluff that rose behind her, biding her time. The serpent throws itself forward, jaws wide. Half rolling and half slipping, Embri thrusts her sharp spiral horn upwards as the sea beast's head passes above, stabbing into the soft skin of its throat. The serpent lets out an angry hissing roar, tossing its head side to side, knocking the prone foal off the rocks and sending her flying into the waters below. Alright... maybe that wasn't the best of ideas... The skyline pinwheels and a feeling of deja vu settles over Embri's mind as she plunges into the cool salty water.
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Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 7:13 pm
Why did she always have to do that, he wondered when she shouted out. She couldn't ever let him be the hero, she always had to - wait, spear him? "No"! he shouted, but it was too late, and the deed had been done. For a moment, a sick feeling of guilt ran through him, even as his body moved without him consciously making it do so. The thing had only been protecting it's young. They'd no right to be here, they shouldn't hurt the thing at all...
But Embri...
He wasn't sure if the serpent was dead, dying, or simply still thrashing about in pain, and at the moment, he didn't care. Much as he disliked her actions, he wasn't going to let the little filly drown; there was no chance of that at all. Paying no mind to the scaly body churning the water white except to avoid it - and having mixed success - he swam quickly for where he'd seen her disappear beneath the waves. He took a deep breath, then dove after her, hoping he'd reach her before her body started to try breathing again.
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Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 7:27 pm
Water closed over her ears, muting the sounds to mere gurgles. Thin flickering beams of sunlight scintillated through a trickle of bubbles, and strands of mane swirled past her wavering vision, dancing like seaweed. Brown hooves churned into view, and something grabbed her by the scruff and jerked painfully. Her head broke through the surface of the waves. The seawater stung as Embri snorted, clearing her nose, blinking against the now too-bright light.
"W-we... *cough* better move... " For all it's thrashing, the filly knew her stab had been little more than a pinprick to such a big creature. It was probably very surprised that she had fought back at all, and certainly angry.
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Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 8:48 pm
"Shut up." he growled a bit roughly, though the fear in his voice made it almost excusable. "Be quiet and swim, you little idiot. We're going... we won't hurt your eggs." he couldn't help but call to the serpent, then clamped his teeth down on Embri's scruff again. Oh, was she ever hopeless... but then, maybe he was too. Maybe everyone was, in their own way...
Much like a dam moving a foal whose legs weren't strong enough yet, Lachtna towed Embri along, longer, stronger legs carrying her faster than hers could have, even if he was moving their combined weight. "Ne'er shcare ee 'ike 'a' 'gain! he mumbled to her around his mouthful, giving the serpent a wide berth, careful to stay away from the eggs as well. It seemed content merely to watch them now, but that could change at any minute, and so the young stallion continued to kick as hard as he could, wanting to get back to the beach as soon as possible.
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 8:18 am
~I should not be in the water. Dangerous.~
~What danger? It didn't make any sense.~
~Water was to be feared. Why?~
Banishing the confusing thoughts and half memories from her mind, Embri concentrated on kicking towards land. "Ow, Lachtna, let go of me, I'm fine!" Dragged along by her scruff the filly rolled her eyes indignantly. "I do know how to swim, you know." Why does he seem so concerned about that ugly beast? It's the one who was trying to EAT me, not the other way around! Her hooves scrabbled on the pebbly bottom; they had finally reached land. The hot sand had never felt so wonderful. Water logged wings dragging along the ground, she took a few steps and proceeded to shake off as much of the salty fluid as possible.
Wet, sore and annoyed, the little filly started her tongue lashing. "You are so stubborn! What kind of feckless idea was it to jump in the ocean deliberately? You could have been swamped by that... thing and drowned! In case you hadn't noticed, it was the one trying to kill me!" Her little frame shook all over, not entirely from the breeze that whipped moisture and heat from her fur and feathers.
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 3:52 pm
"It thought we would hurt it's young." Lachtna told her quietly, standing with his hooves still in the water, peering at the sea serpent, who hadn't followed them. "Or the young of one of it's kind. We shouldn't have been over there. That was my fault." he nodded, then shook his head before rounding on Embri, eyes narrowed.
"If you're going to yell at me, young miss, I get to yell at you. What were you thinking, hurling yourself at the thing like that? I was trying to distract it to get you safe. You aren't whatever you used to be! You're a Kirin, and not a very old one at that! I know that it's hard to remember, but..." he stopped a moment, trying to get a reign on his temper.
Stepping forward, he gently nudged her shoulder, sighing. "I worry when you do things like running to the ocean and calling for song fish, or when you hurl yourself at creatures more than three times your size. I want to take care of you... why won't you ever let me?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:09 am
"Then it is stupid, to think we were a threat." Embri flicked her ears back, soggy feathers trailing through the sand as she trudged up the beach for higher ground, away from the water. "What did you expect me to do? I was pinned against the rocks, you were down below in the water, and that thing was trying to turn me into lunch. I wasn't about to wait to be rescued."
"For the last time, I'm not young... I don't... know... how old, but older than you, by a lot. Let's face it, I'm not very good at being Kirin. " Her voice was weary, as if the weight of the ages had suddenly settled on her shoulders. "You don't have to worry about me. " His nuzzle irritated her more than it comforted, though it was meant kindly. The filly resisted the urge to snap her teeth at Lachtna. He doesn't mean to be patronizing.... he simply doesn't understand. Why... why indeed. Because I'm not the child you think I am. Because I'm not like you. Because I know I belong somewhere else. Because I long to feel the wind through my feathers, the land far beneath my hooves. She said none of these things, simply turned away in silence, unwilling to utter the words that would hurt her only companion. Because I don't want to be here.
Instead she sighed quietly, continuing to climb the beach towards the cooler shady forest that beckoned beyond the sandy dunes. The sun was falling from the sky in its ritual afternoon decent, tingeing the land with palest of golden hues. Soon, all too soon, they would deepen into copper and crimson, and then the cloak of night would settle over forest and sea alike.
"We need to find somewhere to spend the night, before it's too dark to see." Embri avoided Lachtna's last question and focused instead on more practical matters. "You're welcome to spend your evening wet and sandy, but I plan on being more comfortable than that." Eying various plants and trees speculatively, the filly sets to work pulling down thick sheets of carpet moss from the lowest hanging branches, arranging them into a nest within the embracing twisted roots of a large tree.
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Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 1:00 am
(( Sending Helki in. Felmino directed me here to continue. ))
Helki had arrived back at the mainland's stretch of beach around the same time as yesterday as her and Embri agreed. She had gone home after her meeting with the winged filly feeling more alone than she did before and spent the day high in a tree watching the mainland quietly. Only leaving the safety of the pine tree to find more appetizing forage.
Now here she was again on the beach. She could have sworn she came at the right time and was fairly in the right place. Helki could see well enough up and down the beach and a bit into the forested area to know if Embri was coming or not.
But as the sun traveled across the sky and the day grew later and later, Helki grew more nervous about being in such a open place and a place that she didn't know at all too. But it was when colors began to paint that sky and there had been no sign of Embri that she began shift and grow restless. Did she just go back to her island home now or wait just a bit longer? Maybe Embri was just running late. Yeah....really late at this point....or maybe she....forgot....The thought was a blow to Helki. A new friend and already they've forgotten her.
She stared into the forest wondering if maybe she'd need to brave it to find Embri. Where did her and Lachtna live? Or did they move around? Was there anything lurking in the forests of the mainland that would snatch Helki up before she had a fighting chance? Maybe she'd need to fly overhead and get a better look. But what if they where in a place that she couldn't see into from the sky?
Sighing Helki made her way slowly up the beach towards the thick forest. Her brilliant pink eyes scanning around her for signs of danger or even Embri and a stallion. She sniffed the air a bit testing it for any signs of Embri or another kirin nearby. So far nothing. Still not feeling brave enough for the forest Helki continued parallel to it hoping for a sign. Any sign.
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Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:35 am
The little filly settled down miserably in her makeshift nest, ignoring the magnificent view of the lowering sun speckling the waves with color. Soggy, wet... ugh, the white stuff is crusting in my fur... She knew well enough not to bathe in the ocean, for it left little gritty crystals behind clinging all over her skin. What about Lachtna- she paused mid-thought, with a sour turn. He's a big strong stallion, he can take care of himself. Doesn't need me.
Something nagged at the back of Embri's mind.
With a sigh she put her head down between her forelegs, stretched out like a young foal, closing her eyes. Something... I've forgotten something. It bothered her, having forgotten so much already, when she could not remember the thoughts nagged and harried at the corners of her brain.
Morning... something I was supposed to do- Her eyes go wide and she lets out a groan of dismay. Helki. I was supposed to go meet Helki this morning! Lachtna and his cave... the berries... I was so annoyed I forgot all about it. Embri's ears droop unhappily. Helki probably thinks I didn't want to come back... The filly looks out across the sea towards the setting sun. Too late to go back now. I'll have to try at daybreak. I'm sorry, Helki... I hope you come back.
Embri curled up, salty, soggy, and altogether feeling quite sorry for herself, glaring half-heartedly at Lachtna on the beach.
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