Welcome to Gaia! ::

Rawiya tilted her head to the side slightly and clicked her beak at Kala. She was at least glad to get a greeting for this aerandir! Even if the other one failed to seem to direct any attention her way. Her attention quickly shifted and her eyes went right to the strange item that Alyosha had handed to Ari. For some reason it looked like it would be a lot of fun to her...so she did the most logical thing she could thing of. She tried to snatch it from her mommy's hands.

Ari squeaked slightly as Wiya made a thrust at her in order to try and take the item she had been given. She quickly twirled her hand out of the way, looking surprised, "Hey~! Ok, ok, just w-wait a sec Wiya! Let me get the other things!" Knowing she could never hold off the large aerandir for long she quickly moved over to the cleared space and dumped the contents of her back onto the floor. She then dropped Wiya's gift as well and scooted out of the way.

Wiya bounded over just as Ari got out of the water. She bent her head and curiously nudged the items around on the floor with her beak.

Alyosha watched as the pair took to their items, each in their very individual way. Rawiya's enthusiasm seemed to carry on into her transformation - her zebra striped and bright blue body spilled jubilantly into the transformation, whirling blue tendrils grasping out at each item as if hungrily devouring it into her form. Her front legs morphed into arms, hooves became hands and feet. A small mohawk sprouted on her head as her small face started to become humanoid - a tiny nose protruding out where a beak had once been. The colourful gryphon became a colourful child with her green headband now wrapped around her forhead.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/Aerandir/Aerandir/Rawiya/photo_child_rawiya.jpg

Blanche's transformation, on the other hand, seemed like a wrench by comparison. It was as though the gryphon was wary or did not want this transformation to go ahead. Her beak, which had so gently touched the items, was the first thing to turn a soft, frosty white. The rest of her body followed, the black of her wings dissapearing into the glow. Something akin to an icicle seemed to be suspended in the air for a moment before the gryphon's form began to shift to something more humanoid.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/Aerandir/Aerandir/Blanche/photo_child_blanche.jpg

Blanche became as whole as Rawiya, the two girls forming almost at one time. Even Aloysha, who had seen the spectacle of this transformation many times, was somewhat taken aback by this double-whammy. He grinned, leaning back against a handy chair and watched the faces of the owners. Sometimes they went through their own interesting transformations when seeing this.

The changes hadn't been so instant for the other. A rush of invisible snow tendrils of Aerandir magic and lore soared over her beak, covering her head, body, fore paws and even her tail within that single moment of apprehension. The frosting took it's time, zapping each feather and fur particle to mould into one. It truly was a sight to behold, a magical rush spiraling, smirking, molding it's very way into Blanche. Her dark black tipped feathers were the last to disappear, folding back into that readily changing body.

Once the frosty white coloured appeared satisfied, a sparkling icicle danced around above. It twinkled under the light for just that brief moment, twirling its face around to send the white frosty Blanche below changing. Forearms became hands, paws elongated, her beak disappeared, and under a frenzy of Aerandir magic the items around her were readily devoured into this mix.

Then, as quickly as it had happened, the transformation ended. There, before Emi, sat a pristine white little girl. Her long hair was tucked back with the orange hair band, one ear held two small earrings, and in one hand she held those baubles. Except, they had merged with the ribbons held in one white furry hand.

Throughout it all, Emi had found herself leant back: metallic blue eyes as wide as the vast ocean that lapped up against the shore only a few meters away. Her ears had pinned right back to her head, long tail nervously lapsing around her paws. The woman hadn't ever seen a magic, and this sight gave her the best insight possible to a new creation. She barely made a word throughout all of it, eyes pinned to the forming child in front of her like a kids might have been to sweets in a corner shop.

Her mouth opened like a fish as it ended, finding herself at a loss for words. Just like Ari, water stung at the edge of her eyes, threatening to slip down her cheeks if she wasn't careful. Emi was just at a loss, her ears slowly drooping back from the sides of her head.

The little girl didn't make a sound, large golden eyes blinking slowly. Everything seemed so much larger now...Gradually, her fingers curled around the item held in her hand. Wait - FINGERS? Eyes wide, Blanche glanced behind her, her tail was still there, so were her wings.

Everything was so alien: so surreal almost. Golden eyes wide, the white Aerandir turned to her guardian, looking more like a deer in the headlights. She could see her better now, far better than she ever had done before. Extending her arms, Blanche twitched her ears as the sound of Rawiya toppling over on the other side of the room hit those furry astute appendages. Even that slight twitch was odd, the way her earrings clinked together upon that subtle moment.

Without a second, Emi snapped out of her state of awe, shuffling the last of the way to wrap her arms securely around the small child. Furry brown fingers enclosed the baffled Blanche close, a smile set right in stone on her face.
"It's alright," Emi whispered, her first words to the Aerandir child since changing.

Blanche seemed to settle against her mother, her strange new fore arms extending to wrap back around Emi's waist. Her ears twitched again, now she was safe within Emi's grasp curiosity took over, large golden eyes glancing around the room from Kala and then up to the man leant up in the corner.
It was only then that Blanche realized her beak had gone. Opening her mouth ever so slightly, the girl promptly shut it a moment later: she wouldn't be able to make any noises without a beak, right?

Kala, split between the two, had watched both of the bonded girls grow at the same time. But now they were all busy: they were all wrapped up. And Blanche was big! Horror, they couldn't do their circus tricks. Feeling rather bewildered that she hadn't grown at the same time as the other, the giraffe Aerandir bolted to the only person that wasn't wrapped up in a child: Alyosha.

Sinuous neck stretched out, she skidded to a halt before the man, pressing her black beak into his dark trouser leg. Her tail seemed to swish slightly, like a puppies might when their owner had just gone. What was going on? Maybe this man would be able to give her all the answers she needed.

Doris Merriweather was out for a walk, enjoying the fresh island air that she had been missing for the last two weeks. She had recently run out of sugar, and decided to head toward the Lodge to get replacements. She wanted to try a new recipe, but couldn't without at least three cups of sugar.

Tayte perched with bird-like grace on her shoulder, talons and paws delicately digging into her shoulder just enough to keep him upright. Ever since Doris had returned from her daughter's wedding that morning, he'd been watching her like a hawk, screeching in alarm if she even left the room without him.

Doris reached the Lodge and pulled the door open with the arm opposite the one Tayte had claimed. Cool air washed over her, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn't realized how warm she had been getting from her walk. Tayte blinked delicately as his eyes adjusted to the darkness, shifting his position on Doris's shoulder.

Doris noticed a tall Aerandir that she thought she recognized, but not quite. She squinted, trying to recall, but the name of the Aerandir still evaded her. "Good day!" she chirped pleasantly. Tayte cocked his head and cheeped.

The Aerandir stepped aside, and Doris pulled out her reading glasses and skimmed through the notice, her already bright face becoming radiant. "Oh, a quest! How delightful!" she cried happily, startling the griffin perched on her shoulder. Tayte rustled his wings and chirped condescendingly.

When the Aerandir identified them, she turned to her and beamed. "Why yes we are!" She squinted, but the identity of the Aerandir still evaded her. Tayte cocked his head at teh mention of his name and peeped inquiringly.

"How exciting for you!" Doris gushed enthusiastically. Her smile faded as the Aerandir explained how few of the items they had found. "Well, maybe I can help." She volunteered after the Aerandir had voiced that she ought to go. "What can I give you?"

Tayte, still perched regally on his Doris's shoulder, shifted uncomfortably as the Aerandir scowled at him. He ruffled his feathers a bit. After a moment of fidgeting, he stood, stretching his delicate limbs, walked across the back of Doris's neck, and sat on the opposite shoulder. Maybe she'd stop staring at him, now. He dug his talons into her shirt in order to stay on, poking matching holes in both sleeves.

"Oh, I'm sure he wouldn't mind!" Doris chirped naiively, turning and unceremoniously plucking a choice feather from her gryphon's wings. Tayte squawked in alarm and leapt from Doris's shoulder onto a nearby table, scolding her with hisses, yowls, and chuckles, the most vocal he;d been in weeks.

Doris put her hands on her hips. "Well, now, young man!" she admonished. "It was loose, anyway! You've been fussing with it all day." Tayte yowled pitifully before running his beak through his beautiful wings, straightening them out as though he were licking his wounds. Shaking her head in amused exasperation, Doris turned back to the Aerandir and held out the beautiful blue feather.



"There you go. I do wish you good luck on the remainder of your quest! I'm pretty sure I have some beads at home, if you'd like those as well." She offered in a friendly manner.