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 Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 4:27 pm
A Day In The Sunshine
As the sun peaked over Ar'Idil, and flooded into the cabins, Karma sat up and stretched her arms up skyward. As she rolled out of her futon on the ground, the girl felt something crinkle under her weight. "Huh?" Slightly confused, she pulled the object out from under her body. "Oh, the calendar!" She grinned, and stood up, quietly pacing the room, looking for somewhere to hang it up before deciding that it was better just being propped up against the wall. "There. That'll work for now." Karma gave a slight nod, and began to walk towards and down the ladder, headed to the lower level.
With a high, drawn out chirp, Faust lightly shook his body, and jumped to his hooves. It was morning, and with a new friend, there were so many things left undiscovered. Trotting around the upper level, the gryphon's hard hooves clopped on the wood floor. He peered at the low, empty bed that his keeper usually slept on and tilted his head to the side, a slow, deep questioning whirr coming from his beak. The lady wasn't there, she usually was. Padding over to the ladder, the young Aerandir stepped down the steps, using his parted hooves to grip the dark wood.
Naima purred contentedly, somehow managing to sleep through the noise that Faust had made my clopping around the upper level. Her dark wings flinched gently though, as the larger gryphon began to leave the attic, a slight wind coming from his movement and swirling around the smaller, sleeping one.
Having climbed down the ladder, and already unsuccessfully raided the pantry for food, Karma plunked herself down on the couch. She really needed to go shopping more often. Perhaps she could go sometime today? That would be a possibility, wouldn't it? The guardian pondered the thought for a short while, until her small charge walked down the ladder, giving a small jump to the ground at the last step. "Morning Faust." Karma said as she smiled, reaching a hand out to pet his soft tan fur. The guardian giggled as he nudged her legs gently. "Hey, how about we go to the Lodge? Possibly get some more food? It seems like every time I get more, it just runs out again."
Faust chirped happily, quite glad that he'd be able to get out of the cabin, it was far more fun outside than in the cabin. Turning his body around, the young gryphon bounded around a bit, then made his way to the door. The 'L' shaped door handle was easy enough to learn how to use, and so when Faust reared up and pressed his hoof against the long part of the metal, the wooden door swung open with a squeak. It barley took Faust five seconds to dart out onto the porch, and trot down the small set of stairs, anxiously waiting for Karma.
A light laugh escaped Karma's lips. She really hadn't gotten used to Faust's energy and excitement in anything and everything. It was odd, and Karma supposed that she should've already gotten used to all of her young Aerandir's habits. But the girl had only just gotten acclimated to her new home and taking care of a charge that wasn't completely human-like, and waking up at the crack of dawn everyday. Shaking the thought out of her mind, Karma followed Faust out the door, and carefully shut it behind her. Quickly jogging down the steps and slightly ahead of Faust, the keeper headed towards the Lodge. "Well, this time we'll get the necessities, and a few basic ingredients." She said as she looked down at her gryphon who was trotting just a little bit ahead of her.
Faust clicked as Karma passed him, and soon gave chase to his caretaker, quickly 'beating' her and trotting at an even pace ahead of her. The Lodge was only a short distance away when Karma began to speak to him, wherein he responded with a deep chirp. Fluffing his white and crimson feathers in the slight morning wind, the young Aerandir gryphon took notice of all of the things around him. The sky was painted with pale pinks and oranges, Faust admired it for but a second before staring at a daffodil growing out of the lush green grass. He nudged it gently with his beak, then trotted onwards to the Lodge, still slightly ahead of his keeper. When the fair-sized building was right in front of the gryphon, he carefully padded up the small set of stairs like he had with his own cabin's steps. Pausing for a brief second, Faust looked behind him at Karma and let out a stream of assorted clicks, once again waiting for her.
Karma grinned and nodded as she reached the Lodge, stretching her hand out towards the round doorknob that would open the door. "There we go." She said quietly as the knob turned, and with a gentle click, opened the door. Making her way inside the Lodge, Karma looked around her. She hadn't really been in the Lodge since the earthquake. Since then, it had always been quick re-stockings of food, and not really taking any time in the building. Maybe this time could be different? "Hey Faust." She called to her charge softly as she sat down on one of the comfortable chairs.
When the door to the fairly new building was opened, Faust quickly slid inside. The gryphon recalled being in the Lodge, but only for a brief while, he hadn't really explored the place, and he desperately wanted to. "Nyuur." Trotting over to Karma, he pushed his feathery head up against her hand, then bounded off, having quite a bit to explore while he still could. Just as the young Aerandir had reached his first discovery, a strange looking flimsy, papery thing, his keeper called to him. "Wrak!" Confused, and hesitant to leave the many new things yet undiscovered, Faust called back to Karma, a deep sound coming from his beak.
Karma peered over the back of the chair, and giggled at Faust?s dilemma of deciding between coming to her, and prodding at more new things. Thinking for a moment, Karma shrugged and sauntered over to her charge, peering at what was holding his attention.
The young gryphon chirped happily, and as soon as Karma was within range, nudged the strange leafy object -which had turned out to be quite heavy- over to her feet. Giving his keeper, then the object a curious glance, he awaited some sort of an explanation.
Karma grinned and peered at the object at her feet. "It's a book, Faust." The young Aerandir stared at the 'book' as Karma continued. "It's where people write things, like stories, or notes, or lots of other things. Then, other people can read them, and sometimes learn from them. They're very useful." She smiled and sat down beside her charge, gently flipping through the pages of the book.
Faust looked up at his caretaker once again, then back down to the book. He gave a quiet deep click, and turned his head around is as much of a circle as he could, searching the Lodge for something new. As his black eyes reached the kitchen, an open cupboard door caught his curiosity. What was in it? Standing up, Faust trotted over to the cupboard, his four split hooves clopping against the floor. As he reached his destination, the gryphon gently pushed the cupboard's door wide open with his beak, staring at the mass of ingredients he had uncovered. Proudly, Faust sounded a 'Wark', excited that he had discovered something new.
Holding back a giggle from Faust's sudden distraction, Karma bore an amused look. "What've you got there Faust?" Pushing herself up from the ground momentarily, Karma scooted over beside Faust and peered into the cupboard. "Hey! Faust, good job! This is just what we needed!" The girl smiled widely, and plucked out a few select bags and containers, put a few back in their places, and picked out a few more boxes and bags.
The young gryphon stared intently at everything that Karma touched, and then some. There were a few substances that seemed familiar, a poofy, fluffy one, 'flour', and a kind of shiny one, 'sugar', though it was a different colour. There were also a few other ones, ones that resembled some things he had seen before, but just didn't seem the same. Giving a curious chirp, Faust trotted to the other side of Karma, and examined that side of the cupboard's contents. After a fairly short amount of time, The Aerandir carefully tapped Karma with his hoof, wondering what the strange and interesting new materials were, and why they were there.
Karma automatically responded with the appropriate explanations, and a soft grin. "My family always had this one tradition. They'd always bake a cake, well, sweet bread, around this time of year. And I kind of figured that, since I really like cooking, and you don't seem to mind it at all, that I could continue it." She shrugged, as if it showed something she hadn't said. Moving onwards, Karma pointed at each of the items in the cupboard, explaining what each was called.
For the next thirty minutes or so, the duo searched. Well, more like, Karma searched, and Faust explored most of the Lodge. When Karma had collected almost everything she needed, she called over Faust, telling him that it was time to go, and that they could come back later for more exploration.
Trotting over to his keeper's side, Faust chirped in some sort of perky agreement. As Karma opened the door, Faust bounded outside, and raced over to the cabin. It took him almost no time at all, and within a few minutes, Karma caught up with him and arrived at the cabin as well. The gryphon excitedly paced around, and then bounced in the front door when it was pushed open.
Perhaps it was the cool refreshing air, or maybe it was because it was a beautiful day like yesterday, but Karma decided to sit out on the porch instead of retreating inside. She sat down on the wood floor of the porch, and leaned against the wall of the cabin. Gently placing the few small containers down onto the ground beside herself, she stared up at the sky. It was a bright blue, and was clear of any clouds, almost like the day before, only it was earlier on in the day. After the first few minutes of relaxing, Karma scooped up the food around her and slid inside the cabin, making quick work of storing the food away into the pantry for later use and darted up the ladder to the top floor.
Faust was gently nudging a sleeping Naima, whom seemed determined to take at least half of the day for her beauty sleep. However, after a solid three minutes of prodding his newly found playmate, Faust chirped and trotted over to his guardian who was scooping up the writing supplies- a feather that he had seen her write with before, a pot of shiny purple liquid, and one of those 'books' that she was telling him about before. Tilting his head to the side, he carefully opened one of his wings halfway and tapped Karma's right arm that was cradling the supplies. "Wyar?" He tossed her a curious glance, and pulled back his wing as he trotted along side her. What was she 'writing'?
Karma gave Faust a quick stroke on his wing as it made contact with her arm. Smiling at her charge, Karma climbed down the ladder and waited for him to do the same. "Well," She started, walking out onto the porch again. "I figured that because it's such a nice day, and it's not too late, I might as well spend some time out here and write a letter or two." She explained, sitting herself down in a ray of warm sunlight.
Faust chirped quietly and nodded, then jumped onto the dew-ridden grass below the porch, happily running around, exploring the area around his home. Perfectly content, the young gryphon paused briefly in his prancing, letting his wing stretch open in the slight breeze that wafted through them, rustling each feather eagerly in it's quake.
Giving a smile and one last glance at a cheerful Faust, Karma adjusted the journal on her bent knees, dipped the quill into the ink, and began to write. {See next post for letters}
~:.I.:~
As Karma drew the last stroke in her letters, she looked up towards her charge and grinned. It seemed that the younger gryphon, Naima, had woken from her slumber and had somehow managed to sneak outside and was now contentedly playing some strange form of tag with Faust. Deciding that she'd send them later, she folded up the letters and placed them neatly halfway inside the journal. With a small hop, she jumped off the porch and greeted the two gryphons with a scratch behind the ear and a stroke between the antlers.
Naima purred happily at the pleasant feeling that came with being scratched behind her ear. As Karma"s hand left however, she wriggled her speckled body, and pounced on her larger playmate, a soft, playful grow coming from her beak.
Faust started to sound a contented, deep chirp, but was stopped midway by Naima's pounce. Suddenly distracted, Faust clicked and trotted in a circle, successfully dropping and giving chase to his friend.
Karma laughed at her charges' amusing antics, and sat herself down against the tree steps that led up to the porch, watching as they continued their little game.
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Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 4:30 pm
The LettersLetter 1 Dear Karia, Riyo, and Percival,
Wow, you guys have no idea how wonderfully, weirdly amazing the past few weeks, months, have been. Just wow. The adventures started as soon as I arrived, and since then, it's been like a whirlwind of fun. The people here are terribly kind, and the Aerandir, they're just precious. I wish you guys could come over here for a while, though I'm not so sure how Percy would like it, well, that's a lie. He'd most likely hate it, but that's not the point of this letter.
I've missed you all so much! I so sorry for not writing sooner, but after setting up my cabin, there was an earthquake, and I had to re-set up the cabin, and then my artifacts (I'm sure at least Riyo remembers them.) turned into a gryphon when I was talking to a few other inhabitants of the island! And it doesn't stop there. My little Aerandir is quite a handful, so I've been pretty busy.
Anyway, I'm hoping to go to the mainland sometime soon, you know, pick up some stuff, a few extra notebooks (So I can do some creative writing and drawing), my big binder of easy recipes, and some more books, I've read most of the ones I've brought already. Plus, I think I might end up getting a few seeds, possibly herb seeds? (Always good to have a nice supply when you're cooking.) But I'll have to attempt to find someone who can garden, I'm not too good at it myself.
But now that that's all over and done with, how are you three fairing? I want to know every single detail, so I won't be TOO lost when I come to visit, okay? I love you all, good luck with everything you're doing, and try to write back to me quicker than I wrote to you.
~Karma Letter 2 Dear Air and Oleo,
Hi, I was just sitting on my porch writing a few letters when it occurred to me that I hadn't seen you in a while.
So how are you Air? I recall that Oleo was still two jars when I first met you, but that was a while ago, how is he now? (I'll bet he is or will be a very handsome gryphon.)
Anyway, duty calls, so goodbye for now.
~Karma
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Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 4:31 pm
Sending Out The Letters
With a large stretch, and an equally large yawn, Karma slinked out from under her halved futon's blankets and padded her way over to her clothing boxes, loosely gripping the letters she had written yesterday. Making sure to be as quiet as was humanly possible, she pulled out her clothes for the day, and slid down the ladder, and into the washroom to get changed and to go through her morning routine -wash face, brush teeth, brush hair. With that, she stretched her arms out again, and pulled something out of the pantry before exiting the cabin.
It didn't take terribly long for her to travel over to Air and Oleo's cabin and to slide the letter beside their door, and soon she was on her way over to the Lodge where she could send out the letter to the mainland. Opening the Lodge's door, Karma creeped inside, and carefully dropped her letter off before darting outside again. "Ahhh," She sighed happily, gazing out at the steadily rising morning sun, it looked to be a warm day that day. Taking her time, the guardian lazily strolled back to her cabin, and slid back upstairs into her bed, falling victim to the wonderful temptation of re-reading one of her favorite books. As she was pulled deeper and deeper into the story, Karma didn't even notice the soft tapping on the ceiling and the walls of the cabin.
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Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 4:35 pm
When It Rains, It PoursSeveral hours later, Faust?'s long ears gently twitched as they picked up the quiet drumming all around him. Carefully sliding one eye open, then letting the other follow suit, the gryphon searched the area he could see for the source of the noise. After his search being unsuccessful, however, Faust raised his head and peered behind himself. He found Naima, curled in a graceful little ball purring contentedly, a small strange 'book-like' object propped against the wooden wall, and, taking his gaze higher, the Aerandir spied one of the windows, covered in small droplets of water that were weaving their way around one another in a race to the pane. Rain.
Faust gave a quiet whirr, and balanced himself on his four hooves. Cautiously, so as not to wake Naima, he made his way towards Karma, under the window, who was engrossed in a book. As he plopped himself beside his caretaker, the small Aerandir gently nudged her arm with his beak.
As Faust's weight suddenly fell onto Karma's futon, she was torn away from her book with a small jump of surprise. "Oh!" She said in a loud whisper, "Good morning Faust." Giving the Ptarmigan head a series of affectionate ruffles and strokes, Karma placed down her book and stood up, off the futon. "You certainly surprised me there." She smiled. "Well, now that you're awake," Karma started, walking towards and down the ladder, "You should probably get some food." She paused a moment to grin at Faust before continuing her way downstairs.
Faust's head lazily rolled out of his keeper's arms as she stood, and- tilted itself to one side, not really wanting to leave the comforting warmth of the futon. Watching Karma's body slowly disappear down the ladder, Faust clicked and bounced to his hooves again, trotting after his caretaker and down to the cabin's lowest floor. As his hooves clopped on the bottom floor, Faust walked into the pantry and ate a few berries. Pushing his head out from inside the small room, the gryphon eyed the space around him and as he spotted the couch, he happily bounced out and onto the soft piece of furniture.
Smiling, Karma sat down beside her charge, and laid her hand to rest on his tan fur, scratching him lightly. She gazed out one of the many windows and sighed as the rain continued to attack the cabin. "It's still raining. Well, that greatly limits the things we can do." The keeper pondered the thought of baking something, but she tossed that idea aside on the pretense that she still wasn't fully awake. Plus, if she fell asleep when she was baking... Well, that would never turn out well.
Faust chirped happily as his keeper scratched his back, and curled his body into a vauge ball. Batting his eyes closed, the young gryphon fell victim to the temptation of sleep that was hovering over him with the pleasant scratching on his back.
After a moment of deep thought and involuntarily continuing her scratching, Karma glanced over at Faust when she noticed how quiet he had been. A smile spread over her face as she saw how peaceful her young charge looked while he was sleeping. Carefully standing up from the couch, the keep her stretched her arms in the air. "What to do, what to do?" She thought for a moment, when an idea popped into her head. "I could write another entry! It's not like I've been neglecting it, but on the other hand, the more the merrier, right?" With a quick shrug, she made her way up the ladder over her futon, and back downstairs where she propped herself up against the wall beside the couch where Faust had sprawled out on. Flicking out her quill and ink pot, she opened the journal to the next page and began to write.Journal Dear diary,
Since the last entry nothing much has happened. I went to the lodge with Faust and got some more food -it turns out that Easter is just around the bend, and I explained a few more basic ingredients to him. He's such a curious gryphon, always wanting to know more and more, and it seems like he doesn't mind getting his hands, well, hooves, dirty and getting involved in doing things.
Right now he's sleeping, it's still fairly early and I don't blame him, it's raining and there isn't much that one can do when it's raining. We'll have to do something about that, maybe make a list of things that we can do? Anyway, he looks like such an angel, so cute. I'll feel bad when it comes time to wake him up, if I have to wake him up. It's almost like Faust has a built-in alarm clock that lets him wake up on time every morning. He always gets up early though, so he's up before me, and he enjoys taking the place of my alarm clock (Which I don't think I brought... If I did it's still tucked away in one of the boxes.) and likes to either drag me out of bed, or nudge me until I wake up. Journal Well, it seems like the rain is starting to let up so I think I'm going to go and scavenge around for something to do. Who knows, maybe I'll find something.
Faust's sleep had lasted only a few minutes before he had once again awoken. The gryphon had peeked over the edge of the couch when his ears picked up the familiar sound of his guardian's quill. The Aerandir had stared at the strange scribbling that Karma had drawn on the paper, and as she left he fluttered his wings and softly jumped off of the couch, succeeding in hovering a short distance and making a loud 'clop' when he landed between the table and the fireplace. Faust warked and trotted up to Karma, curiosity in his eyes.
Karma's head spun around and her eyes rested on Faust, landed a few feet away from the couch with his wings outspread. "Faust?" He warked and looked at her curiously. "Do you know that, you just flew? Sortof?" She asked, bending down on her knees and petting his soft crimson plumage, as his head shook gently. "Well you did! It was more of a hover, but it was wonderful! I'm so proud of you!" Karma happily wrapped her arms around Faust's neck, and hugged him carefully, making sure to keep her face away from his hard, bruise-inducing antlers. The gryphon gave a few assorted chirps and clicks before he was released. "You flew! Like the birds that you've probably seen outside, and like Naima, when she flys out of the cabin!" Grinning from ear to ear, Karma began to talk about flying, and aerodynamics.
Faust stared blankly at his keeper. He flew? He didn't know he could fly. Well, he did -he had wings, but, he hadn't really thought about it since he had jumped off that tall ladder-thing. And that had really hurt. Staring at Karma for a brief moment, Faust quickly decided on attempting to fly once again, and ran towards the couch, jumping onto it's springy seat. Looking out at the rest of the cabin, Faust clicked happily, and spread his wings, readying himself for another flight.
It took Karma a little while to realize that Faust had wandered off in the middle of her explanation, well, it was more like a tangent than an explanation, but that wasn't the point. Turning around, she immediately eyed Faust getting himself prepared to hover once more. After instinctively moving the table out of the way, she quickly dashed over to the side of the couch and smiled encouragingly at her charge, hiding the nervous, maternal voice in the back of her head."Faust, are you ready? Okay, I'm right here." She spoke softly, offering encouragement for the both of them.
Faust watched as his guardian darted beside him, and gave her a happy click. Focusing once again on the area in front of him, the young gryphon re-spread his wings, and walked on the spot on the couch. A few short seconds later, and Faust launched himself off of the couch and into the air. He traveled a small distance -it couldn't have been more than three or four feet, then hovered for a moment before landing on his hooves with a loud clop.
Karma smiled excitedly and ran over to Faust, petting his large white and crimson wings. "You were wonderful Faust! You flew again! It was a short distance, mind you, but you flew!" She pulled her charge into another hug and gave him a few strokes when she released him.
Faust whirred excitedly. So he could fly! As much as he already knew that, it was nice to have the extra reassurement that it was true. Looking at his guardian he chirped happily and nudged her gently with his antlers.
"You know, it may be raining now," Karma started, glancing towards the still rain-sodden window. "But it has to stop sometime, and I'll bet it'll be dry and sunny tomorrow." She looked back at Faust and gave him a smile. "What say, we go outside then, and you can practice your flying there? Where you won't have to worry about accidentally flying into something." She gave a fleeting look at the table that she had moved out of the way, and the chairs stacked beside the fireplace, before stroking Faust a few more times. "How about that?" Faust nodded his Ptarmigan head and chirped as Karma presented her ideas. Karma smiled, "Well, then that's that."
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Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 7:43 pm
A Quick Reply Brings Forth A MeetingLetter from Air Dear Karma and Faust,
Oleo's a wonderful hyper griff at the moment. I just got told he's ready to grow to his next stage so I'm not really sure how much longer he'll be a gryph.
Maybe we can get together before he actually grows up and have Oleo and Faust meet each other.. of course it all depends on your time and toughts. Please reply, or knock on my door.
Air Song Karma and Faust Karma smiled as she opened the reply to the letter she had sent to Air, it seemed like they were around at the time so why not drop by? Standing up and moving over to Faust who was ingaged in a game of 'catch the gryphon' with Naima, she called him over. "Hey Faust!" She grinned as her charge energetically bounded towards her. "What say we drop by Air and Oleo's? Air says that Oleo's a gryphon now, just like you!"
Faust bounded over to his keeper, and chirped happily as she enlightened him on her thoughts. He remembered Oleo and Air! Air was the nice lady who pet him, and the last he remembered, Oleo was only two artifacts, but now he was like him! Excited by the thought of having a playmate his size, he galloped towards the door, leaving Karma to follow him as he sounded several enthusiastic "Wark!"s.
"Heh, I'll take that as a yes!" Bending down to give Naima a quick scratch behind her ear, Karma jogged after her charge. She opened the door so he could dart outside and begin his journey towards Air and Oleo's cabin, and made sure to catch up to him quickly. When she arrived at the cabin, and took a deep breath, raised her hand up to the wooden door, and knocked a few times in a harmonic 'dun dada dun dun'. Air and Oleo Air seemed to be waiting at the door, she flung the door open as soon as karma stopped knocking. "Hello there!" she was smiling widely "I was hoping you wouldn't take too long".
A small white and black gryphon was standing by the door. He was standing on his back paws with his ears perked up, Upon seeing Faust he chirped in excitement and went running inside, Getting lost from sight somewhere on the first floor.
"Come in, come in" said Air motioning them inside. "Hi there Faust!" she said as she petted the gryphs head. Oleo probably just went to get some toys. Karma and Faust Karma was surprised when the door seemed to materialize from under her fist, and looked up to see Air. "Air! So you are home! Hi." Smiling, she let her eyes wander down to Oleo and cooed as she saw the cute gryphon. "Oh! Is that Oleo? He's adorable! Congratulations!" Letting one of her hand rest on Faust's head she gave him a reassuring grin, and lead him as she walked inside, nodding to Air in thanks.
While Karma was busy conversing with Air, he had managed to spot Oleo much more quickly. Tilting his head to the side in curiosity, he directed a soft "Nar?" at the new gryphon. He was just about to nudge him when a familiar hand petted his head. Chirping happily, Faust looked up at Air, and gave her a gentle poke with his beak. He hadn't seen her in a while! As the gryphon was lead inside by his keeper, his attention darted back to the small gryphon who had just ran off. Where'd he go? Curious, Faust walked a little bit away from the two adults. Air and Oleo "Can I offer you something to drink.. I only have natural lemonade and water tough" she said as she walked towards he small fridge in the kitchen corner "and would you like some peanuts? .. do you like peanuts" she smiled sheepishly.
Oleo appeared all of a sudden from behind a box, dragging with difficulty a plush toy that at least doubled him in size. He dragged it all the way towards Oleo and stood on top of it, shirping loudly.
A minigryph appeared flying down from the second floor. completely ignoring Faust and Karma as it layed down to sleep on top of the table.
"And that's Keen, she takes a nap around this time" she said looking at the mini-gryph. Karma and Faust Karma nodded, "Yes please, lemonade sounds wonderful, thank you." After a moment of thought of whether peanuts and lemonade would go well together, Karma nodded a second time. "Oh yes, I do like peanuts." As she finished her sentence, Karma's eyes travelled around the cabin, and landed on a very familiar gryphon. "Keen?" She asked curiously, "Wow, she looks almost identical to Naima back at home." Looking back at Air, she added, "Strange, don't you think?"
Faust's head turned around as he suddenly heard an odd dragging sound. "Wyur?" Staring at Oleo as he moved steadily closer to himself, and then sat on his plushie. When Oleo shirped, Faust cocked his head to the side, and clicked curiously. Did he want to play? After a short moment of staring another thought popped into Faust's mind. Perhaps this was Oleo? The lady had told him that he was a gryphon now, and his wings did resemble the feather he had seen in that jar the other nice lady was carrying... Pushing his head forward, Faust gave Oleo a gentle nudge. Air and Oleo Air placed some lemonade in a clear glass for Karma and some for herself in another. Looking at Keen she replied to karma "Well, maybe they're related or someting, I found Keen by the forest edge.. well, Oleo did actually" she smiled, now looking at Faust and Oleo.
Oleo ran away as soon as he was nudged, jumped of the opossite wall and and ran back t be on top of the bear plush once again. His ears wiggled back and forth in excitement, still not sure who the new gryphon was. He nipped Faust's left ear in a friendly manner, and then started jumping up and down. Wondering how fast the other was on a race. Karma and Faust Lifting the glass up, Karma replyed before she took a sip of the lemonade. "That would make sense, they have the same colours and everything." Pulling the glass down, Karma continued. "So you said that Oleo was going to grow again soon? How'd you find that out?" She was quite curious of how one was supposed to tell. Last time Faust had grown, the only warning she had recieved was a momentarily glowing jar.
Faust chirped happily, glad that Oleo was up for some fun. Trotting in a circle, Faust excercized his gangly legs, and suddenly bolted to the left, only to turn on a dime, and bold back, past where he previously was. The gryphon paused for a moment, but then quickly zoomed back to Oleo and prodded him playfully with the edge of one of his antlers. Stopping a few feet away from his new friend, Faust chirped happily, glad that he had someone to play with. Air and Oleo "Ah, I received a letter from Anthony saying he was the right age now, that it was better to do something about it before he went into wisp stage" said Air nodding. "I didn't get much of a warning when he popped out either, he gave me quite a surprise. Said Air smiling remembering that it had been an unexpected surprise.
Oleo was excited now, he could play even while Keen was sleeping. He jumped turning around in middair the full 360o only to fall nicely on his paws, right over the plush. He jumped down and ran in circles around it, stopped right in front of Faust and chirped 'c'mon race me!' only half expecting the other to understand. Karma and Faust "Yeah, it was pretty unexpected for me as well. Faust just came out when I was meeting with Chao and Sanar, it gave us all a pleasant surprise." Karma smiled, remembering the amazing moment that Faust had burst free from the jar in which his artifacts had once been combined. "I had kind of figured it'd be the same thing for growing into the child stage. I had no idea Anthony could tell when they would grow." She thought about it for a moment, "So it's just a letter telling you that your Aerandir is ready to grow? Wow, that's kind of useful." Karma grinned, and looked over at Faust and Oleo playing together.
Faust clicked enthusiastically at Oleo. It was so cool that he could turn in a full circle when he jumped! Watching as he ran about the plush and stopped in front of him, Faust responded to his challenge -which he vaugly understood by Oleo's excitement, movement and himself having the same train of thought, with a happy click. Poising himself for a race, Faust gave his reindeer body a quick shake, and glanced down at Oleo, "Nyar! Wyur?" was he ready to run? Faust certainly knew that he was, and he was excited to be able to run around with a new friend. Air and Oleo "The latter actually said something closer to, get some items before he does grow" she laughted. Taking some peanuts from the platter and slowly munching them she looked over at the two gryphs on the floor. "Well, they seem to be getting along just fine" she smiled.
'Oh yus! he did get it' though Oleo jumping to place himself besides Faust in a ready position. He looked up at him and chiped, one, two, three times. Dashing at three towards the wall like he had done the first time. There was no way he would loose a race, or so he tought as he watched Faust. Karma and Faust "Oh, I see now." She laughed lightly, wondering what sort of items would be required. Taking another sip of lemonade, Karma looked over at Faust and Oleo running around. Grinning, she replyed, "Yes, it certainly seems like it."
Faust looked at Oleo as he chirped, a sudden competitive look in his eye. Lowering his head slightly, he waited for the last chirp, then bolted forward. Faust didn't even get a chance to see in Oleo was ahead or behind himself as he darted to the opposite end of the cabin. Pausing as he reached his destination, he noticed Oleo standing not too far from him. Had he won? Or had Oleo won? It looked like the small rabbit gryphon had had time to wait and watch him run, but he wasn't sure. Lifting and dropping his hoof that was closest to his friend, Faust 'Nyark?'ed, and nodded his antlers towards where they previously were before the race. Was Oleo up for a rematch? If so, Faust would be able to tell who was faster.
Karma plucked a few peanuts from the platter, and popped them in her mouth as she silently observed the two gryphons race each other. Smiling, she looked over at Air momentarily, "Well, it looks like they've found something they have in common, they both seem to enjoy running." Air and Oleo "Ah well, Oleo likes racing, playing tag and things like that. Poor Keen can't keep up with his pace all day" she smiled. "It was much worse when she wasn't here." she said all of a sudden looking at her broken kitchen window. "That was an accident tough, or I'd like to think it was".
Faust was not as fast as he had tought, or maybe he got caught off guard. Even tough Oleo wasn't sure, by Faust's motioning he supposed he wanted to race again. He went towars the start point and waited to see if Faust did the same. If he got into racing position again he would do the same. He chirped with his ears perked waiting for the other's reaction. Karma and Faust Karma's eyes widened slightly as she took notice of the broken window. "Wow, how'd-?" She stopped herself mid-sentence, perhaps it was better she didn't ask. Nodding towards Faust she made an agreeing 'mmm' sound, and continued. "Faust likes to run as well, though I have to say that he likes to learn about things more, he's very curious. That doesn't keep him for playing chasing games with Naima though." She tipped the remaining lemonade out of the glass she held, and into her mouth, and proceeded to watch the second race.
Faust clicked, and trotted over to the starting point as well, and readied himself for another race. This time he'd make sure to see which of them were faster. Pulling his fluffy white wings closer to his back, Faust chirped inquiringly to Oleo, wondering if his playmate was ready. Air and Oleo "Oleo's hyper, very. If it weren't for Keen keeping him busy lately who knows where he might be" said Air lowering her voice at the end of the phrase, she had managed to keep it a secret that she had lost Oleo for almost three full days. She did as Karma and looked towards the gryphs to watch the race.
Watching the other gryph Oleo got into teh ready position once again, this time with his ears drawn back to get more speed. He knew he wasn't going to catch Faust off guard again. He chirped once more, one,two, three times and dashed towards the wall. Trying to see were Faust was without getting his eyes off the racing floor. Karma and Faust Karma nodded, she knew how useful a playmate could be with hyperactive Aerandir gryphons. She remembered all of the things Faust used to do because he was curious, and didn't have anyone to play with, things like jumping off of ladders, and getting covered in toothpaste. She shuddered slightly, and continued to watch the two gryphons.
Faust took a breath, and lifted his left hoof, and bent his three other knees. When the three-chirp count down began, his ears also pushed themselves back instinctively. As the last chirp sounded, Faust shot forward, keeping one eye on Oleo who was not beside him, but slightly ahead of him. The reindeer gryphon's parted hooves cloped furiously on the wooden floor as he pushed himself to go faster, but Oleo was still ahead. Air and Oleo Oleo dashed away, watching the Faust lagging behind by only a small bit. He was sure the other gryph was trying his best, last minute he started to slowly slow down, tirely. He wanted to make the other one happy, so he tought he'd at least let him win this one race. Slowly he let faust catch up so as not to make it obvious, he would touch the one a second later. Karma and Faust Faust stared at Oleo in confusion when he began to slow down, or was it him catching up? He couldn't tell at the time, but he wasn't about to stop trying his hardest, he knew Oleo wouldn't, right? Pushing himself just slightly faster, Faust could feel himself speeding up, and catching up to Oleo. Air and Oleo Oleo looked at Faust, they were exactly at the same distance from the wall. He ran just a bit more to catch up with him, Faust was looking confused at him. He was looking back at faust, they would tie, there was no way he could go slower, they were gonna tie.
Or so he was thinking when all of a sudden he hit himself against the wall. There was a loud "BANG" as he bounced back a bit. He was looking so much at Faust that he forgot to actually watch the wall. He layed down on his side looking at the roof trying to figure out what had happened.
Air watched, eyes wide open, in shock, but she quickly reacted. Without standing up from her seat she asked. "Oleo, are u ok?" Karma and Faust Faust had no idea what happened, at least until he stopped and turned to look at his friend. All he knew was that one moment they were running side-by-side, only a little bit away from the finishing-wall, and then there was a loud BANG.
As the gryphon stopped, he realised that he was only a few millimetres away from the wall, and looking over at Oleo, he soon pieced together what happened. Letting out a long, worried cry, Faust darted the short distance to Oleo's side, and stared at him from above. Was he okay? Slowly moving his head, Faust carefully, and extremly gently, nudged his friend with one of his antlers, and cooed deeply.
Karma jumped as she heard the loud sound, and stared, worried, at Oleo. "Oh my gosh..." She automatically whispered to herself and pulled one of her hand over her mouth. Karma had almost stood up to check on him, but did as Air did, and stayed where she was. Air and Oleo "Don't get so scared karma", she said smiling at her, yet looked a bit worried, "this is not the first time he hits the wall" she motioned with her hand that it was allright. She then turned towards Oleo "You hit the WAAaaall! get up already you're getting your friend worried" she said calmly, yet there was a tone of worry in her voice.
Once it was all into place, once he knew he had 'hit the WAAaaall' he stood up and shaked himself. Stretching his wings his nipped at one to take out what was now a terribly bent feather and shook himself again, fluffling up and then returning to his normal self. He turned towards at Faust and nipped his ear gently chirping 'I'm ok, nothing happened, you did not see a thing just now' feeling a bit ashamed. He jumped up and down to show his new friend he was fine.
"See? he's fine" Air sighed, she was so happy he was all right, always worried he might not stand after one of those hits. "Come here!" she called her Aerandir who immediatly walked towards her.
Oleo knew that Air liked to do a full checkup after things like that happened and immediatly walked towards her. Motioning Faust with his head to follow. Karma and Faust Karma looked over at Air and managed a nervous smile, noticing the worry that was faintly shown on her face. Looking back over at the two gryphons, she let out a quiet, relieved sigh as Oleo got up.
Faust stared at Oleo. He was getting up as if it always happened, like it was a regular, everyday thing to accidentally slam into a wall... Was it? He hoped not, it couldn't be that good for anyone. Faust was about to nudge him, and ask him again if he was hurt, but Oleo chirped first. Clicking back to his friend in amusement, he asked 'See what?', then gave him a playful nudge as he jumped -he wouldn't tell anyone, no worries there.
Karma nodded and let the nervousness fall out of her smile. "That's good, I was worried for a second." She said, stating something that was quite obvious. Watching as Oleo made his way over to Air, Karma motioned to Faust -not noticing Oleo doing the same, and silently called him over.
Faust clicked happily and trotted over to Karma, Air and Oleo. Rubbing his head against Karma's leg, he looked up at her curiously.
Letting one of her hand rest on Faust's feather-covered head, her eyes darted to Air and Oleo, then the door. "I'm glad he's alright." Faust intergected with a chirp, and Karma continued. "I think we should probably go now, and let you make sure he doesn't have any minor injuries. It was nice seeing you again," She paused for a moment, andthen added something else as it fluttered into her mind. "And good luck with finding all of the items you need for Oleo's quest!" She smiled.
Faust looked up at Karma curiously once again. Finding items? For a quest? What was that about? He nudged her leg, wanting to find out, but his silent questions were dismissed with a look from Karma that told him 'Later'. Air and Oleo Air took Oleo in her hands. She started to pet his head, going around most of his body. "Ah it was really nice seeing you too!" she smiled "Don't worry, I'm sure he's fine!" she said reassurengly. "Thanks for the luck! I sure need it!" she said as she accompanied them to the door. "And please come back again!"
Oleo was now resting on Air's hand, he felt a bit numb and his head hurt a bit now. Karma and Faust Karma nodded to her friends, and smiled. "Don't worry, we will!" Walking out the door, she started towards her own cabin, cabin number two.
Faust chirped happily, and, before leaving, gave both Air and Oleo a gentle nudge, his way of saying 'Thanks, see you soon!'. Trotting happily out the door, he followed Karma and made his way back home, excited to have a new friend.
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Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 6:44 am
Flying 101 It had taken two whole days for the rain to cease, but it finally did. As the sun shone pastel rays onto the clouds, and sent warm gleams of light into the cabin, a certain young Aerandir stirred on his star-shaped bed. Letting a soft whirr exit his beak, Faust carefully lifted his head, curious of the strangely pleasant feeling that was covering his back. After a short search, his dark eyes quickly came to rest on the window that was situated above his sleeping spot, and the gryphon soon realized that the warmth was one that he hadn’t felt for two whole days. Pausing for a brief moment to relish the feel of the sun’s rays on his back, Faust stood and stretched his body, working out all of the small kinks and knots that he had aquired while sleeping.
After he had readied himself, the young Aerandir took a quick glance to his left, and trotted quietly over to his peacefully slumbering keeper. A small tilt of his plumed head showed that the young gryphon was curious of how one could manage to stay asleep on such a warm, beautiful morning as it was now. Bringing his head down beside Karma’s, Faust gave her a few gentle nudges with his antlers. To his disappointment, Karma just groaned and rolled over. So, determined to get his adopted mother up, Faust nudged her a few times again, this time they were slightly harder. However, the new set of nudges proved to be less useful than the last. But, taking in a rather large breath, Faust quickly found an effective way to wake Karma up. He let the captured air out as he opened his beak to sound a loud, “Nyaaaar!” in his keeper’s ear.
Karma’s body shot upwards, narrowly missing hitting her head on Faust’s antlers. “Wha-?” She looked around herself, wide-eyed and worried until she saw Faust sitting beside her bed, innocently fluttering his wings. She took a deep breath and let it out as a sigh, knowing that it was Faust who had woken her, and the reason that Faust had for waking her. A promise she had told him a few days before rang in her mind as she felt the warm glow of the sun fall onto her skin. Yawning and stretching her arms outwards, Karma pulled Faust into a hug and ruffled his feathers, only to stroke them back into place. “I know, I know.” She said tiredly, smiling at Faust, then looked over at the window. As the bright sun shone into her eyes, her free hand blocked out most of the light, “It’s sunny, and that means flying lessons.”
.:~I~:.
Faust quickly trotted up the three small steps that lead to the top of the porch. He had just managed to recover from a much less than… graceful, landing from his past attempt at flying. Four times already had the gryphon attempted to do what he had done only a few short days before; that is, hover off of the couch, but in this case, it was the porch, not the couch.
Faust stared down at the large, wooden contraption. He had always like the porch, not so much it’s stairs, but that was a different story. Perhaps the porch didn’t like him? Maybe it was getting back at him for something that he didn’t know he did? Well, if that was the case, Faust certainly didn’t like the porch that much anymore. Silly thing it was, really, not letting him fly because he accidentally did something that he didn’t know he did. Honestly, porches.
Lightly shaking out his Reindeer body, and his Ptarmigan wings, Faust poised himself for another attempt at flying. He opened his wings to their full size, and after two experimental flaps, jumped off of the porch at the same time as his third flap. Faust’s cream and crimson speckled wings caught the air that rushed past his face in their slight curve, and easily carried his body over the edge of the porch, and about six feet forward. Pushing out his then bent legs, Faust carefully landed on the soft grass as he pulled in his wings. While the young gryphon may have landed far more gracefully than last time, he still felt rather awkward as his legs spread themselves out to balance himself.
Pulling his legs back into their regular stance, Faust darted the short distance to the porch and Karma. As he reached the porch, Faust stared at it for a brief moment, letting out a deep, but quiet “Nyuur”. He hadn’t liked the thing a little while ago, but that was when it wasn’t letting him fly… Now it had let him, so… Faust chirped happily, and trotted up the steps, then over the porch to Karma –he supposed that since the porch had let him fly, it wasn’t that bad afterall.
Karma grinned as her charge made his way over to her. “Good job Faust!” She gave his head an affectionate ruffle before she pulled it into a hug, then released it. “You finally flew off of the porch, huh, that’s great! Maybe after a few more goes, you’ll be able to try flying off of flat land.” Karma gave Faust a nice, long stroke up, through his crimson feathers and through his antlers. His feathers were so soft, it was practically a compulsion for her to pet or stroke them whenever she could. She gave him another stroke before sending him off to practice some more, a request that he seemed more than happy to follow. Karma smiled, and picked up the journal that she had brought with her, opened to a new page, and began to write.Journal Dear journal,
I would’ve written in you the past few days, but Faust has been keeping my hands full. It was raining for three days straight, and during those days Faust decided to attempt to learn how to fly, and when he wasn’t learning how to fly, he was playing with me or Naima.
Well, it has been going rather smoothly with the flying so far, he knows how to glide off of raised objects. It may not be much right now, but he has to get used to the feel of flying, and the feel of landing, which I figure is probably harder than actually flying.
He’s practicing gliding right now, and soon enough I’m going to try to help him fly off of level, flat ground. I’m not sure how easy or hard that will end up being, but one can always hope for the best!
Anyway, about three days ago, I sent out a few letters. I suppose that Air and Oleo were in their cabins when I sent them out, because later that day I received a reply! Faust was thrilled to know that Oleo had become a gryphon, and so we popped over at their cabin for a visit. It turns out that Air has a little gryphon as well, it looks identical to Naima! We figured that they must be related. While we were talking and catching up with each other, Faust and Oleo were playing together, well, they were actually racing each other. I can only imagine how happy Faust must’ve been to be able to play with someone new.
Well, that’s about it. I’m planning on making one, (Maybe it’ll be more… Hmm, it depends on the pans and time we have.) babka, as a be-lated celebration for Easter. It was a tradition in my house before, and I just can’t seem to get rid of the feeling that I’m breaking a promise if I don’t make one. I’m not sure if Faust will actually like it –it is a sweet bread, afterall, and he doesn’t like bread, but I do know that he’ll enjoy making it, he seems to like cooking quite a bit.
Giving a ‘Nyar’ of recognition, Faust quickly moved his attention back to the task of landing. He had just landed from his tenth flight, and this time it wasn’t so awkward. The gryphon’s wings had pulled themselves completely against his body, and his legs had straightened out as he touched the grass once again, letting his long legs flow into a run, gradually slowing him down. Faust had found out sometime during his seventh flight, that if he attempted to run, rather than to just land standing, it was much easier and graceful to land.
The Aerandir slowed to his regular trot, and made his way back over to the porch -this time, he was going to try to fly from level ground. Reaching the porch, Faust turned around, and stood a few feet away from it. He looked at the long stretch of grass in front of him, and let out a determined click. Faust stretched out his wings like he had done before, and gave them a few flaps. After a moment, the gryphon jumped in the air, and at the same time he gave his wings a powerful flap. To Faust’s disappointment however, he only managed to jump a little bit higher in the air, rather than actually fly. “Nar!”
Shaking out his body, the gryphon prepared to try flying from flat ground once again. Just like before, Faust stretched out his wings, and as he pushed his body off the ground in a jump, he beat his wings down. There was a loud ‘Fwump’ as his wings were forced upwards, and he landed back on the ground, a surprised, high-pitched chirp exiting his ebony beak. This was not going well.
Jumping to his hooves, the young gryphon walked on the spot for a second, before shooting off towards the porch. As the wooden object drew nearer, Faust practically turned on a dime –almost falling, but catching himself first, then darted back to where he had previously been. As Faust fluffed up his wings, preparing them to be spread, he let out a surprised ‘Nyark!’ when he felt a sudden pressure in his antlers.
Naima let a soft, drawn-out meow as she pushed her body up with her two front paws. Stretching out her dark brown wings, the mini-gryph pounced onto an invisible piece of dust, darted to the ladder, jumped, then fluttered into the air. Naima pushed her wings out to their full span, and flew through the first level of the cabin, only to make her way right out the open door. As she soared through the air, the small cheetah gryphon caught sight of Faust. Changing her direction of flight, the small gryphon made a crash landing in her playmate’s hard antlers, emitting a slightly pained mewl as she did so.
Faust shook his head lightly, and bounded in an excited circle around his friend as she fell from his head. “Nyar yar!” Nudging her lightly, he silently inquired about their favourite game of tag. Faust took a few backwards jumps, and looked back at the smaller gryphon, waiting for her to start the game.
Naima stared at Faust, confused as to what her friend was attempting to relay to her. Though, as he assumed his usual tag-playing position, Naima quickly caught on, and released her own happy meow. Letting her spotted tail swish from one side to the other, she shot towards Faust, and pushed herself in the air with a powerful flap of her wings. Gliding smoothly around in the air, Naima made a quick landing, playfully tackled the other gryphon, then pushed off into the air again.
Faust stared at Naima in amazement, momentarily distracted from his game. How on earth had she managed to fly so easily? As she made light contact with his tan body however, Faust returned to his normal state, and quickly snuck a tap onto Naima’s feathered head, chirping in delight as she fluttered back into the sky.
Karma pushed open the cabin door, and carefully snuck back outside and onto the sunny porch. Gazing over to where Faust and Naima were playing, a smile drifted onto her face. Apparently, the temptation to play was greater than the temptation to conquer the art of flying. Karma seated herself on the edge of the porch, and let her legs dangle, swinging to and fro.
The cheetah gryphon’s red eyes darted over to the cabin when she noticed Karma come out. Spreading her dark wings, Naima gave Faust one last playful tackle, ran through his legs, and pushed off the ground into the air. As she came near Karma, Naima fluttered down, and landed in the lady’s lap with a light ‘plop’.
Faust let a slightly disappointed ‘Wark’ exit his ebony beak as his playmate left. Though as she bolted away then flew into the air, something in his mind clicked. Shaking out his body to loosen his muscles, Faust stretched out his wings, and began to run away from the cabin, gradually getting faster and faster. Then, as he had seen Naima do before, he jumped into the air, and beat his wings. Faust could feel his body leaving the grassy ground, and he instinctively pulled in his legs, holding them against his stomach, but in a few seconds, his body began to rapidly descend from the height he had gained. The reindeer gryphon immediately pushed his legs out once more, just in time for him to manage a rather awkward landing that he quickly ran off.
Karma beamed as her charge finally pushed himself into the air, and managed flight. Mind you, it wasn’t very high, it couldn’t have been more than five feet that he flew into the air, but he flew from flat ground, and that was the important thing. Karma gave Naima a few scratches and pets, before she carefully slipped her off of her lap, and padded over and down the porch’s stairs. “Hey Faust! That was amazing! You flew! Great job!” She held out her arm to the young gryphon who was steadily approaching.
Faust’s cream ears perked as he heard Karma’s voice. He wasn’t quite sure exactly what she was saying, but it sounded happy and encouraging, so he assumed that it was. Responding with an exuberant chirp, Faust bolted over to Karma, happily whirring as she stroked his head.
Realizing that Karma had finished petting her, Naima flew over to duo and gave Faust a playful nudge. As his head flicked around to face her, she slipped behind him, and into the air, giving her playmate occasional gentle tackles or nips.
It didn’t take long for Faust to give Karma a goodbye nudge, and then trot off of the porch. Happy to be able to play with his friend again, Faust returned Naima’s nips and nudges, with his own pokes and prods. Soon enough, Naima had seduced an unknowing Faust into a game of catch-the-gryphon.
Karma smiled as the two gryphons played around in the sun. Sliding back onto the main part of the porch, she scooped up her book, and opened it up to the page she had last finished at. Leaning against one of the beams holding up the porch’s roof, Karma began to read, occasionally looking up from her book to catch a glimpse of the two playful gryphons.
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Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 6:46 am
**Reserved for the ongoing RP with Emiko and Blanche, it's occurring in the Ar'Idil thread, currently only on page 17.**We Meet At Long LastKarma and Faust As the sun spread it's warm rays over Ar'Idil, and rose higher and higher into the sky, Faust chirped excitedly and pushed his keeper out of the cabin with his antlers. "Nyuuur!" It was a beautiful day, and the gryphon desperatly wanted to go outside and play, who wouldn't? Finally succeeding in moving Karma from the couch inside, to the warm outdoor air, Faust bounded off of the porch. He fluttered his wings, making his body hover for a moment, and landed awkwardly on his legs with his wings spread out. Giving a slightly surprised 'Wark', Faust managed to regain his composure, and began to prance about the green grass happily.
Karma giggled, and sat down on the porch's edge, letting her legs dangle and sway. Faust had acted as if they hadn't been outside in ages, and, she supposed that it must have felt like that, but that didn't neccisarily mean it was true. Sighing, and watching her charge run around in the seemingly endless field in front of Setone, she recalled that, while it seemed like a lot longer, they had actually gone outside a few days ago. Karma shrugged, and looked at her surroundings, then back to Faust. They hadn't really met that many people and Aerandir, only -she took a moment to count the few they had met, they had only really met four: Chao, Sanar, Air and Oleo, and Faust didn't really get that much of a chance to actually meet Chao and Sanar, just get aquianted. "Hmmm..." She whispered quietly to herself. "We really should get to know more people and Aerandir." Karma thought about that for a while, wondering how one was supposed to go about meeting people. She couldn't just walk up to a random cabin and knock on it, could she? Emiko and Blanche As the morning had dragged on, and the new premise of lunch had arrived - Emi and Blanche had been out on their porch. Except, with the new promise of lunch, the furry woman had disappeared into the house in search for whatever rations she could find - mainly another slice of bread and some marmite which she'd salvaged from the kitchen the previous evening. Even if she had gone inside, Toby and Blanche had stayed out.
There, sat on the porch was a rather un-pristinely white gryphon. Splattered in various shades of blue and yellow, Blanche happily walked over the strips of white paper in front of her. They too were now covered in paw prints, various smears, and Emi's clean hand writing depicting "Blanche's Box" along the top.
It was obvious she had no artistic flair at all where paint was involved, but the Arctic Aerandir was having a fun time all the same decorating the various sheets with paw printed, beak tapped and tail swishing patterns.
Enough fun that she hadn't quite noticed next door creep out from their home. With another jaunty walk, her front paws slid down onto the paper - creating a rather smudged yellow paw print.
Astute ears flickered as Emi returned, slice of bread in hand (presently smothered in the sticky marmite). Putting the slice of bread back down onto the sideboard, Emiko Pallone peered around her door. Was that Karma? Glancing back at the pile of letters piling up on her coffee table, Emi inhaled a deep breath, stepping outside. It was now or never.
"Afternoon?" Stepping cleanly over the painting Aerandir, and the dog perched on the edge of the rocking chair, Emi smiled over towards Karma. Her tail flicked behind her, twining around (in pure nervousness) around one ankle. Well, they'd talked before in writing, so what made this so different? Then again, Karma wouldn't take offence to a quick hello, would she? Karma and Faust Faust's ears perked as he heard the voice. It didn't sound like Karma's voice, or the voice of anyone else he had met before. Pausing his prancing, Faust turned his feathered head behind him so he was facing Emi. Did she speak? The gryphon curiously 'Wark'ed at the new person, and gave Karma a quick glance before he happily trotted over to Emiko, Blanche, and Toby's cabin.
Karma too, had heard the voice, and she looked over her shoulder to see who it was. "Oh! Good afternoon," There was a brief pause as a smile found it's way on her face as she noticed who it was. "Emiko!" She remembered what she looked like from when the met very briefly during the eruption. Pushing herself off of the porch, and jumping to the ground, Karma checked behind her for Faust, only to realize that he had already made his way over to Emiko -he was probably extremely excited at the prospect of making and playing with new friends. As she drew nearer to her previous pen pal, Karma began to raise her right hand, offering a welcoming handshake. "It's nice to finally meet you." She smiled at Emi and stopped walking forward when she arrived beside her.
After Faust had sufficiently 'introduced' himself to Emiko via a quick, excited click, he pranced over to the cabin?s porch, and at the same time, Blanche. Faust laid his head on the edge of the porch, and tilted it as he stared at what he thought was defiantly the most colourful gryphon he had ever seen. He opened his beak and let out a curious 'Nyar?', then straightened out his head so that all that could really be seen was his crimson Ptarmigan head, his cream ears, and his tan antlers. Emiko and Blanche So she wouldn't mind after all. Shifting from one paw to the other, Emi passed the last step between the neighbours, catching Karma's hand with her own dark chocolate fur covered one. Shaking the woman?s hand, Emi smiled herself, overly large ear twitching against her hairline - dark brown tips faltering back against her hair.
"Nice to finally meet you too, it seems to strange that we've not actually met properly when we only leave walking distance away," The older furry commented, glancing back towards the house. She almost grinned, watching Blanche pause half way between printing another paw print. Well, she could get some chairs from indoors...
Blanche stopped in her tracks, one paw lingering mid-air. She turned full circle, watching her mother introduce herself to somebody new. That must mean that lady had an Aerandir, now where was it...Her tail twitched, doing her best to stop herself from bolting on the spot.
It was then that she saw Faust.
Looking more like a stone statue than anything, Blanche's golden eyes panned down to meet with - antlers? Swishing her tail behind her, the arctic Aerandir tilted her head to one side. Small ears flicking back against her head, one back paw slid backwards - swiftly followed by the other paw. Apparently Blanche wasn't as up front as Faust had been.
She didn't even get a chance to study him when he spoke. Static, the gryphon let out her own welcoming croon, consisting of a few strange clicks slurred together. He didn't look that bad, that and his beak wasn't sharp at all. The tip of her tail twitched, a slither of yellow paint (which had been residing on Blanche's furry covered pads) slipping down and onto the paper.
"How would you like a drink? I can drag some chairs out from inside so we can sit out, if you like?" The prospect seemed good enough, that and Emi had just recently made some juice up with some ice cubes she'd put into the freezer from the night before. Entwining her tail from around her ankle, Emi seemed to slowly relax on the spot. It appeared Emi was gradually getting used to this meeting-people business again., Karma and Faust "Yes, it does seem strange." Karma agreed, releasing herself from the handshake. "I'd have thought that we would have already crossed paths, like now, earlier." Her eyes followed the same path as Emi?s, and landed on Blanche, she smiled. The Aerandir looked so cute, covered in various colours of paint. Then again, it'd probably take a while to wash out, Karma silently wished Emi luck with that endeavor before she spoke, "So is that Blanche?" She hoped that she remembered the name correctly.
Faust watched as Blanche slid backwards on her paws. Odd, he had never had that effect on anyone before; she looked almost, scared. The gryphon pondered the meaning of her actions curiously, coming to no real conclusion other than it must have been a strange reason. While it might not have been that much of an answer, it was good enough, and Faust proceeded to 'introduce' himself.
To Faust's delight, the paint-covered gryphon responded. Giving her an excited chirp, Faust was about to attempt to jump onto the porch -something that would have most likely ended in a painful failure, when he noticed the yellow smear that had come from her paw. He stared at the smear, then Blanche's paw, the smear, then back to her paw. How'd she manage to do that? He voiced a questioning 'Nyar', quieter than his greeting one, and then motioned towards the smear with his antlers.
"Oh, yes that sounds wonderful, would you like any help?" As the word drink came from Emiko's mouth, Karma felt slightly relieved. It was a hot day, at least it was in her standards, and her throat was beginning to get dry. Emiko and Blanche The smear? Golden eyes slowly tilted down towards her liquid coated paws, so he wanted to know how to paint? Could have said so before. The tip of her tail flickered, slowly and almost cautiously moving back, nudging a large pot of what had been a painting tray over. Now, in each of the dips in the plastic sat a large blob of paint: each one indented slightly. In one was a blue splodge, which hadn't apparently been touched by anything yet apart from the paintbrush, another housed a splodge of yellow, one had light green, another had red, one had a tiny minuscule spot of pink (as if the owner of the paint hasn't had much pink to speak of) and the final had a large splatter of white.
Pressing one paw before the other, Blanche's beak pushed the paint a little way from the porch. She stopped just before the paint was going to topple over the side, lifting one paw up. Now, to show him. Placing one back paw into the previously un-touched blue, she pressed her paw back down onto the paper: and true to form a splodged mark sat on the clean sheet.
"That's Blanche - she's normally white," So was that Faust? Flicking her tail against her digigrade ankles, Emi glanced back over towards the pair. Ears flicking against her hairline, the twenty three year old furry started to melt under the heat of the direct sunlight. Fur was not a good idea on a tropical Island.
"No no, it's fine. If you like, as long as you don't mind Faust getting paint covered, I can get out a few new pieces of paper for painting?" Emi questioned, turning to head towards the house. She hoped Karma would follow, lingering on the porch beside Faust. Then again she also hoped she'd remembered the correct name for the gryphon tagging down by her heels - she could have sworn it was Faust. Yet she still couldn't help but smile in the face of adversity - he was a handsome little boy with all those red plumage and those creamy white ears.
"I won't be long," With that, Emi moved up the steps to the porch and dived into the house. Little was heard, apart from the creaking of chairs from the inside. From out of some cupboard or nook of the house, the woman appeared a moment later complete with one kitchen chair. Actually, whether they we're kitchen chairs was a debatable matter, they looked more like the wooden step backed chairs from gardens.
Yet, soon enough, both chairs were on the porch: on the opposite side to the wooden rocking chair. Finally, after one last visit, Emi appeared with a large glass jug of apple juice - quite a few smaller cubed ice cubes floating on the top of the mixture.
Could he not get up the porch? Tail flicking too and fro behind her, Blanche watched Faust's every reaction to the brief demonstration. She clicked, nodding her head in the direction of the steps. Maybe he would like to play with her? Karma and Faust Faust chirped, confirming Blanche’s actions, even though he knew that she knew what he meant anyway. Staring at the strange pot that the fellow gryphon had just nudged, Faust pushed his feathered head higher up, so that he could peek over the top edge of the tray. Letting a slow, and fairly quiet whirr exit his beak as said tray was pushed his way, Faust was washed over with the realization that it was, in fact, the strange blobs that were letting Blanche colour the paper. That was still really cool.
Faust watched intently as the other gryphon gently pushed the tray even closer to him. Though, when he saw Blanche demonstrate the new, and apparently entrancing phenomenon of painting, Faust found himself slightly surprised. Somehow he had thought that it would’ve seemed much harder than simply pressing something down on the blob of colour, and then doing the same onto the paper. Of course, that wasn’t to say that he was disappointed, no. For some strange reason, he was actually rather excited. Faust was filled with the urge to try to do it himself, it seemed like fun.
Moving his head so that he was once again looking at Blanche, Faust’s ears twitched as he heard her question. Yes! Of course he’d like to play! Faust chirped excitedly to her, and promptly trotted over to the stairs. Oooh, if it had been a while ago, then he would’ve been tripping over himself, but now… Now he knew he could successfully conquer all the stairs that would stand in his way. The gryphon made quick work of jumping up his previous arch-nemesis, and walked over to Blanche, his hard, parted hooves making a soft clopping sound as he came.
“She’s adorable.” Karma interjected, then giggled as she heard the rest of the statement, “Ah the wonders of paint.” Involuntarily wiping the back of her hand against her forehead, Karma pushed up her long sleeved shirt. Thinking back to the morning, Karma couldn’t quite remember why she had chosen a long sleeved shirt, but she dearly regretted it now. Her attention drifted back to Emi, and she felt a pang of pity for the poor girl. While she only had a shirt and she felt hot, Emi had a fur coat, and she could only imagine how well that mixed with Ar’Idil’s weather.
As Emiko began towards the house, Karma followed suite, walking up the stairs, onto the porch, and stopping beside the door, unsure of whether it’d be very polite just to waltz into someone’s house uninvited. “Well I suppose that I’ll have to give him a bath either way, anyway.” Karma stated truthfully, it had been quite a while since Faust’s last bath, and he wasn’t getting any cleaner by himself. “So if it isn’t too much trouble, I’ll bet they’d both enjoy it.” She continued, smiling as she glanced down briefly at the pair of gryphons, Karma nodded at Emi. “Alright then, I’ll wait here.” Leaning against the house as Emi slipped into it, Karma enjoyed a warm breeze as she waited for her friend.
After a short while, Karma peeked into the house, and, seeing Emi walking towards the door with two chairs in her arms, Karma pushed (Or pulled, depending on the door.) the door open wider, and attempted to help Emi set them down, if she needed any help, that is. When Emiko exited the building for the final time, Karma sat down on one of the chairs, “So how have things been going for you, lately, Emi?” She asked curiously. Emiko and Blanche So he could get up the stairs? Rather eloquently too. Pressing one paw cautiously before the other, the smaller gryphon carefully trod over towards the edge of the newspaper dividing the porch and the paint. Her tail flicked behind her, astute ears flicking back against her head. His 'hooves' we're just like Kala's: only they were larger, and parted. Quite a few gryphon's had hooves, and those without had more defined (or in the case of Oleo) bouncy paws.
Turning her head around to glance at the door, Blanche watched the pair of adults conversing, watched Emi drag out the chairs before turning her attention back to Faust. By now he'd fully gotten up the stairs of course. Padding the last bit of the way, Blanche extended her head- maybe he would nuzzle as her and Kala had done? Clicking her beak, Blanche gazed up towards him with those spherical golden eyes.
"Thanks, Faust really is quite handsome himself," Once the chairs had been set down and the drinks brought out, Emi almost collapsed into the nearest chair. Luckily, she'd managed to be a little bit more dignified as not to completely collapse, but her ears drooped as soon as her skirt hit the wooden arched chair. Hot? Was it just her or was it warm today?
"Oh, of course, I just hope there's enough paper," Luckily, there was no need to go in for paper, as would have it she'd brought a load earlier. There, sat on the porch, was a neat pile of clean white paper. Without even moving, Emi etched her rather long tail out, pushing the wad of paper forwards. Admitting they didn't arrive in spot in a perfect heap, but it meant Emi didn't have to etch around for the paper - rather, she delivered it right to the spot before the paint without having to lift a fingertip. Sometimes fur really could be a good thing...
"Help yourself," Motioning towards the jug and glasses on the floor, Emi smiled over towards her neighbour. The silence, even just for a moment, was actually rather welcoming after the conversation had become hectic for a second in time. Her tail curled back around once she'd asked her final question, resting her arms onto her lap.
Be polite and take a drink after her.
"Everything's been fine actually, Blanche recently received her growth quest. I'm just after a few gemstones now, its just been mightily warm as of late. How have you been?" Turning the conversation back around, Emi kept one eye on the pair of them: watching Blanche slowly etch up towards the larger gryphon.
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Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 7:02 pm
Good God, There’s ANOTHER One Sitting down on the soft sofa, Karma looked at the scene before her, and sighed. How on earth did these things happen? Only yesterday the inhabitants of cabin number two had included herself, Faust, and Naima. However, things had changed, and now, the cabin had somehow aquired yet another resident.
Flipping a dark chocolate book over in her hands, Karma traced the gold designs that creeped their way around the corners of the book’s cover. She let a slight smile slide onto her face. “Well,” she whispered to herself. “It seems like I’ve been writing in you a lot more lately.” Karma paused so she could open the journal to a new page, and dip her quill into the sparkly purple ink that had become something of a trademark for her. “Ah well, I suppose this is what you’re for anyway, and besides, I am supposed to keep a weekly log of things that go on, aren’t I?” She shrugged, and pressed the quill to the paper.Journal Dear journal,
Wow, I just wrote in you a few days ago. I guess that’s because so many things have been happening lately.
Anyway, a long while back, it was just Faust and I who lived in trusty cabin two, then we found Naima in our garden, (Which has yet to be fixed up. Maybe I should post a small note in the Lodge asking in anyone would help me with it?) and now, we have another resident. His name is Dimitry, and he’s another gryphon. He’s completely blue, different shades, yes, but he’s still all blue. Strange. I think he might be part bluebird, or blue jay, I’m not completely sure, but his tail definitely looks like a fox’s tail.
How though, did we end up with another gryphon? I’m not so sure myself, actually. Faust and I had just gone outside for a bit, he had wanted to practice his flying some more. We walked a bit farther than the Lodge, when he began to run, jump, and occasionally fly. I had situated myself on the ground against a fair sized rock, and made sure to keep an eye on him. I guess I hadn’t been watching him well enough, because in what seemed to be a split second, Faust had seemingly disappeared.
You could only imagine how frantic I was, searching here and there, I was positively relieved when he fluttered out from behind the Lodge. I suppose it might’ve been because I had thought I had just lost Faust, or perhaps it was because the little critter was so much smaller than him, but I didn’t notice the small blue gryphon that had come out with Faust.
We had walked all the way back to our cabin, and only when I turned around to close the door did I seen the little blue gryphon staring at me with his big black eyes while he sat just outside the cabin. I must admit that I was sold on the thought of taking him when Faust joined in the silent pleading. I also must admit that I wouldn’t act any differently if I were to relive the moment. But… It’s amazing the amount of damage that can be done by such a small little gryphon!
He already pulled out several tufts of thread from the various rugs around the cabin, and somehow he managed to collect several nuts and bolts from the rafters. (I haven’t the foggiest of ideas of how the cabin hasn’t fallen down yet.) Anyway, he’s now hoarding the things he found in a corner of his in between the fireplace and the far left side of the sofa. (I think he has some feathers, nuts, bolts, coloured clumps of thread from the rugs, stuffing from the sofa, some wood chips from the fireplace, pieces of brick from the fireplace, and a few of my shirts, or parts of a few of my shirts from my boxes upstairs.)
Faust and Naima seem to be a little bit annoyed at the little gryphon –probably because he stole a few of their feathers, and now they’re sleeping together on Faust’s giant stuffed star that he got from Emi, Blanche and Toby. However I imagine that Faust’s probably a little annoyed at his new ‘friend’ because he was taunting (Though I doubt he meant it to be seen as that.) him while he flew around his antlers.
Well, I should probably try and see if I can reclaim my shirts, I’ll need them for tomorrow. Oy viey, I can just tell that this is going to take a while to get used to.
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Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 7:49 pm
Silent Night
It was dark, the navy sheet of night pulled across the sky above Ar'Idil, only to be quickly speckled by the bright, burning, gargantuan balls of gas that appeared only to be minuscule dots on an ebony canvas. A deep croon wavered through the thick night air as a lonely owl searched for another of it's kind. The mass amounts of lush green grass quietly rustled, one of the few signs that skittish deer were carefully feeding on the succulent plants. And as small, almost invisible, green insects dragged their strong legs against their delicate wings, a soft chirping kept the steady beat for the often unnoticed rhythm of the island.
Soft cream ears flickered as they picked up on the trace noises, leaning gently forward against the hard brown bone that surfaced through small, deep crimson plumes. Comparatively large white feathers fanned out from the thin few layers of skin that held them in place. They were sheltering their body from the bothersome, buzzing insects that deviously plotted to pull the sweet red liquid of life from any unsuspecting veins. Faust’s small body shivered slightly for a moment -his screen had let one through.
Letting his dark eyes drift away from the small puncture mark under his tan coat, Faust gazed up and out of the open window. The quiet snoring that was being gently emitted from his keeper’s mouth, (Or is it the nose?) made a soft melody with the smooth purrs and legato trills that found their way out of his fellow gryphons. The fact that his three ‘house-mates’ were sleeping at the same time was a sign that it was quite late, but the young gryphon could not bring himself to become tired. He had napped away the whole afternoon that day, not wishing to have nothing to do if he were awake. However, that action had granted him quite a bit of energy to waste, and so now, he sat comfortably, gazing up at the stars twinkling above.
After but a few brief minutes, Faust carefully pushed his Reindeer body off of his soft star that was dubbed his bed, and ever-so-cautiously placed his split hooves down on the wooden floor, one-by-one-by-one. Trying his hardest not to disturb the trio who were peacefully slumbering, the gryphon spread his wings out for balance as he took large steps forward with each advancing hoof. Eventually, the young Aerandir made his way to the stairs, retracted his wings, and warily padded down each separated step, keeping his motions as silent as possible. His spread hooves now gave the small gryphon balance as he quietly walked off of the ladder, and over the long strips of wood towards the door. Faust stared at the door, a gentle pale blue-ish light was slipping through a barely visible crack. Taking the two remaining steps forward, he pulled the heavy wood entrance open with his dark beak.
The cool night air excitedly rushed through the high trees to greet the newcomer. Playing with his feathers, and weaving around and between his fur, the slight breeze invited Faust further into the darkness. The gryphon silently complied, and fluttered the wind out of his wings as he padded towards the edge of the porch.
Letting his light body softly fall down on it’s side, Faust looked out at the island before him. Letting a soft and elongated ‘Wark’ come from his beak, the gryphon let his head settle down on his folded front legs. He felt so strange at the time, Faust felt as though he wanted to be running around and doing something –making something. Yet, at the same time, the young Aerandir felt as though now was the time to be still, quiet, and gentle. He had never felt a combination of feelings like that before. It was kind of confusing, because on one hand, the island was calling to him to explore it, and do something with what it had produced, but on the other hand… It was almost like the island was telling him that now was a special moment, one that he should remember, because the island itself was a fragile mixture, and if but one part was off by even the slightest amount, the island would break.
Faust’s eyes roamed about the grassy ground as he instinctively chose to stay quiet. He took in the calming breeze, the soft, melodious hum of trace sounds being emitted from all around the island, and the soothing stillness around him. Then, out of the corner of his eye, something moved. His dark eyes quickly zoomed through his sockets until they landed on the thing that had broken the previously still scene. Strangely enough, the thing also seemed to look up, and it locked gazes with Faust. The gryphon stared at the thing, and studied it as much as he could in the dark. It did not take far too long for him to realize that the thing that was staring at him, and that he was staring at, was much like himself. However, it did not have wings, in fact, it had no feathers at all. Instead, it bore a plain, smooth back of what Faust assumed to be fur, and had an elongated head with a mouth instead of a beak.
Opening his small beak ever-so-slightly, Faust let a deep, wavering whir of curiosity come from his vocal cords. As the quiet sound reached the upright ears of the animal, it seemed to twitch a bit, then responded with a similar noise. The young gryphon watched as the silhouette of the deer jumped away, then glanced back at him before bending towards the ground –presumably to eat some grass.
A minute passed, each creature continuing their previous actions, and then another minute slowly rolled by. Pulling his fluffy white wings taught against his tan fur, Faust cautiously stood up on the porch, and looked back at the deer –would it be alright if… If he went over to her? Would the careful balance of the island be broken, if he left his silently assigned place? The deer gave Faust a short, almost, knowing glance, and turned back to the grass beneath her hooves. Taking the short-lived glance as a sign that he was welcome, Faust carefully stepped down the three stairs of the porch, pausing momentarily before setting his quartered hooves down on the lush green grass. Slowly advancing, he made sure to move as quietly and as carefully as possible, restraining the urge to dart across the dew-ridden vegetation.
When the small gryphon managed his way over to the deer, he curiously looked up at her, a soft and barely audible ‘Wark’ exiting his ebony beak. The deer looked over at Faust, her head still lowered to the ground, before returning calmly to her meal, carefully ripping up small tufts of grass and pulling them into her mouth. Faust watched her for a brief moment, and then pushed his own head down to the ground, attempting to tear a few small pieces of grass away from the earth with his beak –it didn’t work very well, even after the second try. Letting a slightly frustrated ‘Nyar’ emit from his beak, the small gryphon glanced over the grassy area surrounding him. His dark eyes drifted over the vegetation feeding on the ground until he spotted something that stood out. It was a patch of small pale purple flowers, each thin stem of each plant contained at least ten of the flowers before branching off and growing even more flowers. Picking his hooves up, and carefully setting them down again, Faust walked the short distance towards the small gathering of the purple flowers.
As the young Aerandir arrived, he lowered his beak to the plants, pulling their sweet scent into his small nostrils. Faust waited a moment, inspecting the flowers, before carefully plucking a few buds off of one of the taller stems. A soft and sweet flavour tickled his mouth and throat as he slowly swallowed the flowers, savouring the taste. He brought his head up, and glanced across the area once more, searching for something new in the sea of vegetation. Faust’s plumed head moved slowly in a semi-circle as his dark eyes dragged across the grass and flowers until they landed on a large patch of different flowers.
Repeating the process he had done with the purple flowers, he gently padded over to them, and plucked a few yellow buds from their stems. This time, however, Faust realized that the taste was one that was almost completely opposite to that of the smaller flowers. It wasn’t at all sweet, in fact, it was almost, bitter, with a slight acidity to it. Faust immediately trotted back over to the purple flowers, his head shaking lightly, trying to rid himself of the bitter flavour. He pulled a few purple fauna into his beak, and quickly swallowed them, hoping that the sweet, delicate flavour of the smaller flowers would overpower that of the bitter yellow ones. Faust soon found, however, that neither taste overpowered the other. Instead, they mixed together, intertwining their tastes to create a completely new one.
Faust’s eyes widened slightly. He hadn’t really expected that to happen, yet, he hadn’t not expected for a new taste to appear. Either way, the gryphon found the new taste to be better than either of the original tastes separately. Plucking a few of the flowers into his beak again, he happily swallowed down the new flavour he had found.
Turning his head around, Faust looked back at the deer. She had moved around from where she had been before, but she was still happily eating the flourishing grass. Slowly turning his whole, small body around, Faust noticed a small sliver of light begin to pour over a cabin. Making his way over to the deer, he looked up at her and offered a quiet whir of contented thanks. She glanced over at him briefly, and twitched her ears as she responded with a gentle croon. Her eyes flickered over to the gentle stream of light, and in a flash, she had disappeared -darting off into the forest that was quite a bit away. The sliver gradually grew, letting more of it’s gentle light caress the island.
Faust blinked a few times, confused at what had just happened. Why had she suddenly ran away? He fluffed his wings slightly as the once cool island began to quickly heat up. Trotting back over to his cabin, Faust gave one last fleeting look over the sea of lush vegitation before he quietly made his way inside the small house.
His spread hooves made gentle clapping sounds as he walked up the ladder, and over to his star-shaped bed, plopping his small body down onto the soft yellow plush. Faust pulled his white wings around himself and closed his eyes, letting the soft harmony of trills, purrs, and quiet snores lull him into a light sleep.
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Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:28 pm
Just Another Day
It was in the evening and the entire family of cabin two had curled up on the previously halved futon. While the multitudes of windows usually provided an equal amount of light, on this one day it seemed to be that the waning sun was hidden rather well behind clouds from afar. It didn’t mean rain however, as the clouds themselves were sparse and had actually been dragged in by the wind.
Faust opened a single, tired dark eye so he could examine his surroundings, checking to see if they had somehow changed since he had last looked. They hadn’t. He was still curled up, mostly on Karma, partially resting his head on his star-shaped plush that he had dragged over after Dmitry had attempted to scratch it out of curiosity for what was inside. His eye shut again.
There hadn’t been much to do over the past little while. After going out on his all-night excursion, Faust found that while it was immensely fun to do, it was also extraordinarily tiring. The day afterwards he had realized this to it’s full extent as he didn’t end up waking up until the day was mostly over. Of course, the Reindeer gryphon had no problem with sleeping another eight hours after that.
The young Aerandir’s eye opened once again, surveying the area. Still, nothing had changed. Naima was still in a tight ball. Her dark wings were the only things that protruded out of the seemingly perfect circle she had formed with her yellow body. Dmitry was still sprawled out across Karma’s feet , a section of the sheets from the futon clasped in his beak. Faust opened his other eye, and held in what would have been a long, drawn-out ‘nyaar’, if his playmates hadn’t been sleeping at the time.
Faust shifted his head slightly so that he could glance at Karma. Was she sleeping as well? Before the gryphon could even lay his ebony eyes on his keeper, he knew that she was awake. A familiar hand had rested on his back, gently trailing it’s fingertips across the tan fur, making invisible designs, then stroking them out.
“You awake, Faust?” Karma’s voice quietly whispered.
The small Aerandir nodded, still not wanting to accidentally rouse his fellow gryphons.
“Mmm. I’ve been awake for a while now, as well, just watching the leaves fly past the window, and the clouds swirl in the sky.” Karma explained softly. Her voice almost had a tired ring to it, but one wouldn’t have been able to tell unless they were paying close attention.
Faust glanced up at the window. He too, could see the clouds and the leaves. They were very pretty, it was almost like they were floating, but for some reason they didn’t seem to be as distracting to him as they were to Karma. The young gryphon turned his plumed head towards Karma, studying her for a brief moment, before shifting his whole body’s position so that he lay completely on his mother. His head was resting in the bend on one of Karma’s arms, and the rest of his tan body was curled against her stomach.
Feeling her charge move around on her, Karma peered down at him, curious of where he was going. As her eyes settled on Faust’s new position though, a smile spread across her face. “Yeah,” She whispered, closing her eyes and resting her own head on a pillow that had been propped up behind her head. “I couldn’t sleep before, either.”
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Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:29 pm
This one isn't finished yet, but I'm posting everything of it that is completed. It's just taking a while because it's so long. x-x;Babka, A Tradition To Be ContinuedThe past few days had been rather stressful and eventful, and by what had happened so far, Karma felt as though the morning after was determined to be even worse. She had just broken up a fight between the two smaller gryphons who both seemed to have wanted one of her old t-shirts for their 'nests'. Soon after that, on an adventure to gather a simple glass of water, said glass of water managed to find itself a not-so-comfy place on the wooden floor in the bathroom behind the door. While that accident didn't take much time to clean up, the keeper walked away from it with a slightly sinking feeling that told her that she didn't clean it up properly.
Karma was thankful, though, when no more problems arose after that. So she decided to take some time to read while the gryphons romped about playing some strange game that seemed to resemble both tag and 'piggy-in-the-middle'. Scooping up a book that was laying beside her futon, she chuckled a bit when she saw that it was the journal. She wondered vaguely if someone was trying to send her a subtle message, but shrugged it off as she soon realized that was where she had last left the journal. Flipping open the textured cover to the first page, Karma began to read.
Faust chirped happily as Naima let a soft paw tap his hind leg before darting off in the opposite direction. The simple invitation into a game they had played many times before had been eagerly accepted by the older gryphon. About-facing and running on the spot, Faust's dark eyes searched out his playmate. It didn't take long to find her – what with her bright yellow coat – but catching her would be an entirely different story. Faust's hind legs were immediately put into action, and pushed him out of his previously stationary stance. Zooming around the cabin's top floor, Faust quickly settled into a simple, though slightly wavy, oval to chase Naima in.
As Karma's eyes zipped across the pages of her entries, a smirk appeared on her face. "Huh," She thought to herself, "I never did get around to making the Babka, I did get most of the ingredients, though..." Mentally scrolling through what she would need, the lady soon realized that there were some things that she didn't have, mostly because they would need to be kept cool. Pondering a seemingly important thought, Karma gently shut the journal and stood up, walking out of one ‘side’ of the room and into the other. Letting one of her hands rest on the tall room separators, she smiled as she glanced at the gryphons running around. “Hey, Faust,” She started, waiting for her words to reach her charge’s ears. “Would you like to bake something today?”
Faust was mere centimeters away from being able to tag back Naima –a feat that was not usually accomplished when left to plain racing, when his keeper’s words rang in his soft, cream-coloured ears. They immediately twitched and aimed themselves towards Karma, quickly followed by the rather enthusiastic head and body of Faust, his wings fluffing themselves up in excitement. His previously enthralling game of tag forgotten, a fairly loud, and obviously ecstatic ‘Wark’ exited Faust’s small, ebony beak as he happily voiced his contentment for the proposition.
~:.I.:~
After having visited the Lodge once more to gather the rest of what she needed, Karma had gone about setting the utensils and ingredients up. However, after a bit of pestering from Faust, she had moved the work station from on top of the counter, to a cleared and thoroughly cleaned section of the floor. It seemed to be that that way Faust wouldn’t have to climb up onto the middle of the ladder to see what Karma was doing.
As Karma gently separated the ingredients into two groups, and then four different sections inside the groups, Faust poked around at each new item placed carefully on the floor. He knew most of substances there –flour, salt, water, sugar, but there were also a few that he wasn’t familiar with. One particular new ingredient especially peaked his interest, however. He stared at it curiously, attempting to figure it out himself, first, by very gently nudging the brown object. It likened itself to a long stick of some sort, however it seemed to be better described as a thin layer of, well, something, that had it’s longest edges loosely rolled together so that they met evenly at it’s center. As his darker beak barely touched the surface of the newfound ingredient, Faust soon realized that not only was it’s shape strangely fascinating, but it’s smell was as well. A strong, spicy and earthy scent had drifted away from the small stick, and had easily found it’s way to Faust, letting itself loom in his presence for a short while before dissipating into the crisp, fresh air. Tilting his crimson head slightly to the side, Faust let a questioning ‘Nyark’ exit his beak.
On cue, Karma grinned at her young charge, pausing the sorting and separating of the various ingredients so that she could better explain the wonders of, the cinnamon stick. “That’s called cinnamon, Faust. Cinnamon is a type of spice, one normally uses spices to add flavour to a recipe, or to bring out or complement a separate flavour.” Plucking the stick from the clean floor, Karma turned her body around for a brief moment, only to turn back around with a small metal grater held in her hand. “Normally, one uses powdered cinnamon as opposed to the small sticks of it.” Picking up a small bowl, she gently placed it on the wooden floor, giving Faust a fleeting glance before balancing the small grater on top. “That’s usually because it’s easier to measure and mix in a powder rather than a solid.” The keeper grinned as she heard a few soft clicks that seemed to insinuate that what she had just explained made sense to her charge.
Faust watched as Karma pushed the side of the stick of ‘cinnamon’ up against the metal box on the bowl. His pale ears flicked slightly as he heard the faint sound of grating coming from the spice. Small slivers of the brown solid softly fell through the small holes in the grater, and landed in the glass bowl directly underneath. After a short while of watching the simple process of grating the cinnamon, Faust padded over to the rest of the ingredients and nudged around at them.
Letting a rather confused ‘wark’ exit his hard ebony beak, Faust poked at another new ingredient. It was small, ovaloid, and white –he had never seen something like it before in his life, and yet, somehow, he knew it was an egg. The gryphon stared at it, briefly wondering how he could’ve instantaneously known what it was, before his interest was caught by three substance-filled bowls. His black eyes darted from one to the next, eyeing each of the substances with considerable curiosity as he finally decided on a bowl, and carefully prodded at it with his hard antlers. The four small yellow balls slid around in the bowl for a second, and then returned to their rightful place in the center of the holding device. Faust blinked. Once, then twice, three times’ the charm and the gryphon pulled his gaze away from the slippery yellow balls only for it to land on an opaque, white liquid. Suddenly the bowl was pulled away, and Faust’s feathered head mirrored it’s movement, craning around to see what had taken the intriguing white liquid away.
Pulling the glass bowl towards herself, Karma searched the small area around her and Faust before pulling a different bowl behind Faust over to herself as well. "This is milk," The lady explained, pointing towards the first bowl as she felt Faust's wondering gaze shift between her and the bowl. "It's commomly used as a drink, actually." She stood up, wandered over to the counter, and plucked a small bowl from out of one of the cupboards -Faust observing her movements. "And this over here is butter. It's a sort of byproduct of milk." Karma continued to explain as she sat back down on the hardwood floor. Taking the newly collected bowl, she dipped it into the milk, and filled it halfway with the liquid. "Here," She said, placing it down in front of Faust. "Try some." She said, smiling gently at him as she pulled a few bowls over to herself.
After a deep and happy chirp, Faust obliged, and carefully dipped the tip of his beak into the small container of the white liquid. Opening the hard ebony of his beak slightly, Faust let some of the milk be pulled into his mouth, and recruited it to his memory, that was what milk tasted like –subtle, creamy, and smooth – it was very refreshing.
As Faust drank the remaining drops of milk, he looked over to Karma, the small bowl having been slid over to the now ground cinnamon. His keeper had been pouring warm water over a large collection of tiny beige balls when she suddenly said, “They’re yeast.” Faust gave a click, and peered over the edge of the bowl, watching as the yeast slowly expanded and started to turn into a sort of foam. As the yeast did so, Faust noticed something strange about them –there was something missing. He felt a quick pat on his head, and then his ears twitched around as they picked up the sound of Karma furthering her explanation. “Yeast are mostly used to leaven bread, that is, to make it rise. Though it doesn’t always have to be bread, really. Yeast are actually small living organisms, and because of that, they need certain things to become active. When yeast are still tiny hard balls, they’re dormant –that’s kind of like sleeping.” Faust bobbed his head up and down, nodding as the information found a comfortable spot in his mind. “For yeast to become active, they need three things. One is warmth, and another is water –both of which have been accounted for here, I’ve added warm water.” Faust listened, but let out a low chirp –there was still something missing.
Karma grinned, and gave her charge another pat on his head. “Don’t worry, don’t worry, I just need to find something, that’s all.” The lady turned around, and began to sift through the plentiful bowls of ingredients. For a short while Karma muttered words like, “Now where is it…”, and, “You can come out now…” before she gave up the information that she was apparently going to release after finding something. “Well, the final thing that yeast needs to become active, is some sort of food. It’s usually something like sugar, but…” She trailed off, letting her eyes drift around the groups of ingredients. Where on earth had the sugar gone?
At first, Faust had just nodded and gave an unsure wark, however, as his keeper came to mention the need of sugar, his eyes brightened and he nyarked excitedly. Faust’s gaze dragged across the same path as Karma’s had, but he, too, found no sugar. Craning his head around so that he could catch a glance at the substances behind him, Faust noticed a small trail of something leading to the pantry. His curiosity piqued, the young gryphon pushed himself off of the ground, and padded over to the door. Pushing it open with his hard set of antlers, the Reindeer gryphon’s dark eyes dilated as they landed on the scene before them, a loud squak of shock exiting his beak. Dmitry had apparently discovered how tasty sugar was, and had managed to transfer half of the bowl’s contents all over the floor so it was easier to lap up the sweet treat.
Faust’s loud cry had quickly taken Karma’s attention away from her search. Her eyes darting over to her charge, she gasped. “Dmitry!” The keeper stood up and stepped over to the pair of gryphons, one of whom was pulling the bowl of remaining sugar back over to the workspace. “Dmitry,” Karma began, “There are some things that you don’t do. Taking what isn’t yours, or what someone else is using, without asking, is one of them.” Blank eyes stared back at her, a playful tilt in the blue gryphon’s head. She sighed. Considering his reaction he probably couldn’t understand what she was saying. Reaching her hand out towards Dmitry, Karma gave him a pat on the head. “Just don’t do it again, okay?” The lady stepped out of the pantry, and sat back down in the workspace.
The young Aerandir nudged the sugar all the way back to the bowl that held the yeast and water. He stared at the remaining sweet substance. Would there be enough left? He hoped so, otherwise they might not be able to make anything! Faust’s dark eyes watched Karma settle back down onto her spot on the floor. Using a metal spoon with weird markings on it, she measured out the sugar – thankfully there was plenty. “Now, we need one tablespoon of sugar, and half a cup of flour. Those two things are going to be the food for the yeast.” Faust nodded his head, storing the information for later use. The gryphon stared at Karma strangely as she picked up the bowl holding the yeast, and placed it on the counter. Curious, the young Aerandir nudged his keeper, hoping to gain an explanation – weren’t they supposed to be doing it on the floor so he could see?
“Hmm?” Karma looked down at Faust, then smiled. “Oh! Don’t worry, Faust. It just needs to sit for a while so that the yeast can become completely active, okay? That’ll take a little bit, so I’m putting it up on the counter so it won’t get accidentally knocked over.” She glanced over at Dmitry, who looked as if he was getting ready to run after or pounce on something. She wouldn’t have been surprised if he had, but thankfully he hadn’t done anything since stealing the sugar just a short while ago.
A happy chirp left Faust’s beak as he voiced that he understood. Continuing through the recipe, Faust pulled out the ingredients that were needed, and on occasion would happily add them to the mix. At the time, they were putting together the topping for the Babki (Plural of Babka.) and Faust was adding the flour to the cinnamon-sugar mix that was already in the bowl. Carefully tipping the container into the other, Faust poured the white powder in, and pulled the glass bowl away. He let an enthusiastic ‘nyark’ exit his beak, excited that he could actually help. After stirring the three ingredients together, Faust watched Karma once again put the bowl on the counter for later use.
Pulling two bowls towards her, Karma stood up, and headed towards the fireplace, Faust happily at her heels. “Now what we’ll do is melt the butter and mix it together with the milk. That’ll make up most of the liquids in this recipe.” Setting the two bowls down next to the fire, Karma padded back over to the counter and, opening one of the lower cupboards, pulled out a small saucepan. “This is a saucepan, as the name suggests, it’s most commonly used for sauces, but it can be used for other things. Even though it’s called a pan, it’s actually more like a pot. I’m not quite sure why though.” Taking the final step towards Faust and the fireplace, she set up a metal rack that stood over the fire, allowing her to set the saucepan safely down onto it.
The fire reflecting in his dark eyes, Faust observed as Karma first plunked in the chunks of butter, and then poured in the milk. Stretching his neck as far as it would go, the small gryphon attempted to see inside of the saucepan, but it was to no avail. The metal grate that held the pot above the flames was too high for Faust to see over. Turning around, Faust spread his wings and half-flew, half-jumped onto the nearby couch. Climbing over to the armrest, the young Aerandir balanced himself on it, and chirped victoriously. The young gryphon could now see the pale yellow swirls that drifted around in the white milk as the butter quickly melted, mixing in with the milk as it did so.
While Faust had been attempting to catch a glimpse of what was occurring inside the saucepan, Karma had gone off to find something to stir the mixture with. In a short time, the keeper returned, one hand bearing a large, long-handled wooden spoon, the other grasping a cloth that would serve as a potholder. Dropping the cloth down on the table in the center of the room, Karma made her way over to the saucepan, and after a quick stir, padded over to Faust. “Aw, you couldn’t see, could you? Sorry about that. Here.” Very loosely wrapping her arms around Faust so she could scoop him up, Karma held the small gryphon up so that he had a better view of what was going on inside the pot. Adjusting her charge so that he was sitting on one of her arms, she let the other arm take control of the spoon and stir the butter and milk around.
Faust ‘warked’ in delight, glad that he had a better view than before, and watched the liquids swirl and sway and meld together in the pot. A moment later though, and Karma was moving towards the cloth. With each step she took, Faust could feel a very slight breeze, and as she crouched down to pick up the small piece of fabric, the small gryphon hopped out of his keeper’s arms and onto the table. The Aerandir observed as Karma used the fabric as a barrier between her hand and the pot’s handle, so that she could pick up the saucepan, and transfer it onto the counter. “Now,” His keeper began. “Let’s get started with the egg mixture.”
Karma’s pale hand reached out to the small group of eggs and made to pull the six of them towards herself. But, as she blindly fingered each one, counting in her head as she did so, Her brow furrowed. “Five?” The keeper took a look at the small group of eggs just to make sure. Low and behold, there were only five. She looked at Faust, was he looking at one?
As the small Reindeer-Ptarmigan mix stared happily back at Karma, he noticed that she seemed a bit confused. Padding over to her on his split hooves, Faust tilted his head to the side, and inquired with a curious ‘nyuur’. “An egg is missing.” She explained simply, and began to search around herself. Faust looked at the group of eggs that were beside her, it did seem slightly smaller than when he first saw it in the beginning. Joining into the search as well, Faust looked everywhere he could think of to find the lost egg.
Dmitry fluffed his blue wings in glee. He enjoyed watching the duo that was previously baking, join in on his unexpected game of ‘hide and seek’. After a minute of looking though, it seemed like they were just going to continue without the missing white thing, whatever it was. Dmitry glanced down at the white object. They didn’t want it anymore? Weird. Picking the egg up in his beak, Dmitry pranced down from the second floor, and situated himself behind Faust, ready for a chase.
Faust had been intently watching the large glass bowl that Karma was working inside. There were, as she had explained, two egg yolks, five whole eggs, and one cup of sugar inside the bowl, and as Faust’s keeper beat the ingredients furiously with a metal utensil called a whisk, the mix became very light, and very frothy. While it would make a difference, not having the sixth whole egg, it would not make one that would end up leaving the Babka too terribly damaged. It turns out, as Faust learned, that an egg is comprised of three main parts: the shell, the yolk, which is the round yellow centre, and the white, which is the thick, clear gel-like substance that surrounds the yolk.
Faust was watching as Karma stood up, and made to collect one of the bowls from on the counter, when he felt something soft drag against his creamy wings. The gryphon immediately stopped, and craned his neck so that he could peer over his shoulder, a surprised squak exiting his beak as he did so. It was Dmitry! And clamped carefully inside his beak was the final egg! Faust turned over, and faced Dmitry, hoping that the blue gryphon would just give the egg to him. However, Faust had no such luck.
As Karma picked up the bowl that held the yeast mixture, she about-faced, gasped and almost dropped the bowl as her eyes took in the scene before her: Faust was chasing after Dmitry, who was holding onto a severely cracked egg, and they were both (As was the floor) covered in flour as it seemed that they had run over the bowl that had held it. “Faust! Dmitry! Stop running around! You’ve already knocked over the flour, and I don’t want you to spill anything else!” Letting the unknowingly held air escape her lungs in a sigh, the keeper regained her composure and set the bowl down on the ground before stepping towards the small blue gryphon. “And Dmitry, give me the egg.” The gryphon complied, and Karma proceeded to place the egg in an unused bowl and set it aside on the counter.
~:.I.:~
It had taken a while, yes, but the team of Karma and Faust had managed to finally finish the Babki’s batter. They were now pouring the mixture into three separate containers that they had found in one of the drawers under the counter.
A low ‘wraaa’ rumbled from Faust’s beak as he watched the thick, pale yellow liquid slowly fall from the large metal bowl, and form to the shape of the pan below it. As the pan slowly filled, the young gryphon would take quick glances up at Karma, waiting not-so-patiently for the signal. As the last portion of a third of the batter slid into the pan, Karma nodded her head, and Faust quickly pulled the filled pan away with the very tip of his beak, then pushed an empty pan underneath the, previously stopped, stream of creamy batter. This process was repeated with another pan, and as the last Babka was poured into the last pan, Faust let a rather proud and excited ‘nark wark wraaa’ trail from his beak.
Karma smiled at the elated vocal response from her small charge. As hard and messy as it had been to actually finish the batter on the floor, it was the small times like that, where Faust was so happy with anything at all even if it meant just moving bowls, that made it all worth it. “Kay then. Faust? I’m going to have to head over to the Lodge to bake these. It’ll take a long time to cook – at least fifty minutes, so I want all of you – Naima, Dmitry, and Faust – to behave. Alright?”
Faust nodded and turned his head around to notice both Dmitry and Naima nodding both of their heads in unison as well. Karma smiled, told Faust to be careful and that she’d be back as quickly as she could, then left. The keeper had only barely managed to shut the front door as she carefully balanced the three pans in her arms, making sure not to let the batter inside spill. After a brief pause, Faust turned around and padded towards the fireplace, unknowingly tracking flour and egg all over the hardwood floor.
Dmitry hopped to his feet, and bounded over to Faust, his blue tail swishing behind him. As the small gryphon approached the Reindeer-Ptarmigan mix he opened his beak wide, and loudly proclaimed, “Squaaaak!” in Faust’s creamy ear.
Needless to say, the crimson-headed Aerandir was far from being pleased with this, and so, bolting to his feet, Faust about-faced and stared at Dmitry, his throbbing ears pointed towards the floor. “Nyar… Wrak nyark!” He loudly squawked, making it clear that he had neither deserved, asked for or wanted to have his ear shrieked in.
Dmitry blinked a few times, seemingly considering Faust’s protests. Tilting his blue head to the side, he chirped happily and bolted away from the larger gryphon. With his back turned to Faust, there was no way that the other gryphon could have seen the devious twinkle in Dmitry’s eyes. The small gryphon wanted a chase, and was going to make sure he’d get one.
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Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:30 pm
Reserved. (Because the entries after it are finished, and this one is being frustrating... >>;; Sorry. v.v; )
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Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:31 pm
A Flowery DiscoveryFaust darted over to the door, only stopping when he arrived so that he could check and see if his keeper was coming as well. He tilted his head to the side as he noticed Karma scooping a few things into a bag. Why did it always take her so long? He nyarked impatiently, waiting for her to come and leave with him.
Faust was rather excited. He had been told earlier that morning that if it wasn’t raining, he and Karma could go on a walk. An hour later, anyone could have clearly seen –as Karma had, that a rainy day was highly unlikely. So Karma, intent on keeping her promise, had told her charge that after packing some stuff, they would be free to go on a walk.
So of course, twenty minutes, seven exasperated nyarks, thirty-something decisions, and thirteen laps of the cabin later, Faust and Karma made their way out of cabin two.
“Okay, Faust.” The lady said with a smile, “Where’d you like to go first?”
Karma took in a deep breath of the refreshingly cool air and stepped down the porch after Faust. “The forest, the beach, or do you just want to wander about?” She looked down at where Faust was ‘supposed’ to be, but wasn’t that surprised when she noticed that her charge wasn’t there. “Faust?”
Faust pushed his keeper forward in what would have been a slightly pointy shove, an action which quickly answered Karma’s question about where he wished to go. He chirped gleefully as Karma stumbled forward, and the small gryphon slipped through her legs. Fluffing his wings, Faust trotted over to a familiar patch of small purple flowers and began to carefully pluck a few of the colourful buds from their stems.
After roughly landing on the green grass, Karma glanced over at the slowly growing mound of small purple flowers with a knowing smile. If the rest of the walk was going to be like this, then she was probably right to think that they’d need a basket. “Here.” Karma said softly as she began to scoop the flowers into the small woven basket. “Use this, then we can bring them home more easily.” As the last of the purple flowers were placed in the basket, Karma lightly shook her head. God knows why he’d want the flowers in the first place anyway.
Faust warked, and then stared at the two collections of the purple flowers –the one that he had amassed in the basket, and the small sea of them on their stems. His dark eyes darted from one collection to the other, judging whether or not he should take anymore. As few more buds were popped into the basket, it seemed like the small gryphon was happy with both the amount of flowers he had taken, and the amount he had left behind.
Karma watched curiously as her charge trotted off to another patch of flowers and began the process of collecting flowers again. She raised one of her eyebrows and allowed herself to laugh lightly. It seemed that she was going to have to inquire, somehow, about the importance of the flowers when he came back. Leaning back on the soft grass, Karma pulled three long green strands from the ground and proceeded to braid them, albeit rather messily.
As before, Faust plucked a few of the small flower buds off of their stems, but made sure to leave quite a bit more than he had taken. With the flowers he had collected in a neat pile, Faust about-faced, and happily trotted over to his keeper, earning a curious glance and an affectionate ruffle of his feathers. Returning the gesture with a soft nudge, Faust pulled a purple flower out from inside the basket, and dropped it onto his keeper, warking expectantly.
A smile formed on Karma’s face as it lit up when the flower was given to her. “Oh, thank you Faust!” Cupping her hands around the delicate flower, Karma kept it from inadvertently being squashed when she shifted her position. Sitting up, she held her smile and after studying it in an unsuccessful attempt to put a name to the flora, she looked back at Faust. Her smile wavered slightly –her charge was staring up at her as if he was waiting for her to do something. A hint of nervousness found it’s way into her smile. “It’s really pretty, Faust, I uh… love the colour…?”
Faust tilted his head to the side and gave a slightly confused, deep chirp. Why wasn’t she eating it? Maybe… Maybe she didn’t know what to do with it? He looked from the small flower back to Karma, and firmly decided that his keeper would require a demonstration. Fluffing his creamy wings up, the gryphon strung a few clicks together, and pulled another purple flower from the basket. After popping the delicate plant into his beak and swallowing it, Faust quickly looked back over at Karma, waiting for the confirmation that she had understood.
Karma watched her charge intently as he took a flower in his beak. Perhaps he was showing her what to do with the flower? Faust swallowed the small purple flower, and Karma’s eye inadvertently twitched. Her thoughts immediately changed, and she desperately hoped that she didn’t have to eat the flower. Faust’s excited and expectant look told her otherwise. Reluctantly placing the flower in her mouth, Karma told herself that, really, it couldn’t be that bad. One swallow later, and Karma realised that the flower wasn’t that bad at all. “Hey, yeah! It’s actually, kind of good.” She grinned, and reached out to give Faust a few strokes on his head. “Go figure.”
Excited that Karma seemingly enjoyed the flower, Faust chirruped happily before quieting and leaning into Karma’s gentle strokes. A moment later, however, and both Faust and Karma were arriving at the pile of small yellow flowers. The young Aerandir had decided that it was mandatory for Karma to not only taste each of the flowers separately, but together as well. That goal was easily accomplished, and as it was, the duo set out towards the forest, Faust bounding ahead in the lead, Karma carrying the basket behind him.
~:.I.:~
The front door made a soft click as it was shut. Taking a deep breath of the fresh dusk air that surrounded her, Karma began her short trek towards the nearby Lodge. Faust had fallen asleep after they had spent most of the day in the warm island’s sun, and so she had decided to take a quick trip over to the Lodge while he was asleep.
As she arrived at the door, Karma gently turned the doorknob and slipped inside the building. Walking over to the counter, near the fridge, she gently set down a light brown bag that contained the extra babka that she and Faust had made a few days ago. Fumbling in her jean pocket, Karma smiled as she finally pulled out a small slip of paper, and carefully placed it on top of the bag. With the food and note placed in the Lodge, Karma made to go back out the door, but made a quick stop by the bulletin board first. “Huh? Wow! So they’re both kids now? That’s great!” She grinned as her eyes took in the information about Blanche and Oleo becoming children, and made a note to remind herself to send them each a congratulatory card the next day. Letting her eyes continue to glance over the rest of the information, she noticed a few lists that had all of the items scratched out, but there was one in the forefront that still had a few items remaining. As a grin formed on her face, Karma’s eyes scowered the room for a pen, and as soon as it was in her grasp, the lady copied all of the information that she would need out on her arm. With that task easily completed, Karma returned the pen, and made her way out of the Lodge. “Well, hopefully we’ll be able to take one more item off that list.”
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Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:32 pm
The Finding While Karma Was Writing
Karma plopped herself down on her futon, journal and quill in hand. She hadn’t been writing as much as she would have liked to lately. But now that she was secure in the fact that Faust, Naima and Dmitry were happily playing downstairs, she firmly decided to put an end to her aforesaid lack of writing. Flipping open the delicately decorated journal, she gently placed her quill to the blank page, and let her hand fly across the paper, scribbling out barely readable words.
One floor down, the trio of gryphons were chasing each other elatedly, excited that they had created yet another game to play. Squaking as a soft yellow paw touched his blue coat, Dmitry immediately darted around in a full circle until he had stationed himself where Naima used to be. Eyes shut tightly, the gryphon’s ears twitched and turned after letting out the warning croon.
Fluffing up his cream and crimson-speckled wings, Faust padded towards the fireplace. He was careful not to let a single sound exit his beak–it was his and Naima’s turn to hide, and he didn’t want to be caught after all–but his hooves were a different story. Every time his soft split hooves touched the hard wooden ground, a gentle padding sound echoed through the air, and made it’s way into the pointed blue ears of the ‘tagger’.
Faust headed towards the kitchen as he scoped out a suitable place for him to hide. The young Aerandir was considering hiding in the bathroom when his dark eyes caught hold of the back door. He had almost forgotten about that! Changing his plans, the gryphon scooted over towards the door that lead towards the backyard.
Dmitry’s ears twitched in anticipation. He could hear the soft padding sounds of Faust’s and Naima’s feet hitting the ground, and the urge to attempt to tag them early was building. As the last few seconds passed, the time limit was finally spent. Springing to action, Dmitry’s head spun around behind himself, searching for the first sign of the other two gryphons. His paws made quick work of directing him towards his first ‘tag-ee’ –Naima had been spotted, and he wasn’t about to let her get away.
It was just as Faust had pushed the door open with his hard antlers that he heard the blue gryphon scuffling about after Naima. Fluffing his wings in surprise, the Aerandir hurriedly darted out of the cabin, and into the backyard, accidentally leaving the back door ever-so-slightly ajar.
While Dmitry had seen Naima, it turned out that Naima had also managed a glimpse of her opposition as well. Slipping back into the pantry, the small cheetah gryphon hid strateigically behind the door. Pulling in her claws after balancing herself on the third and top shelf held steady in the wall, she sat silently, poised for attack.
In a sudden flash of colour, feathers and fur, the two small gryphon had begun a chase akin to that of cat and mouse. Naima was bolting around the cabin floor, with Dmitry not far behind, pursuing his ‘tagee’. The blue gryphon spread his small wings and pushed them toward the ground, lifting him up into the air, and giving his tiring legs a short repose.
A glance backwards at the sudden loss of a second pair of paws thumping on wood made Naima aware of the now prominent advantage Dmitry held. Darting around in inconsistent patterns, the cheetah gryphon planned her escape, and within seconds, deployed it. In a flash, she had shot out the slightly open back door, and had ran into a secluded spot behind a large, browning plant.
Dmitry’s eyes followed Naima’s movements, through his body only vaguely managed about half of what she did. As the running gryphon pulled a sharp turn and sped away to the back door, Dmitry pushed his body away from a quickly approaching wall. He directed himself through the door as well, letting out an accidental squak leave his beak, he warned the other two of his presence.
Ears flicking behind him, Faust darted excitedly to the nearest bush, which, though it was alive, was not full enough to fully cover the small gryphon. Waiting a brief moment so that he could pull in his cream wings, Faust peered cautiously through the thin layers of leaves.
Naima glanced across the sunny backyard, and inadvertently locked gazes with Faust. With a playful air, she tossed her head ever so slightly over to Dmitry’s general direction, half-closed her golden orbs, and cautiously receded partially into the bush. With some luck, the small gryphon hoped that her message had been correctly interpreted by her partner in the game.
As Faust’s eyes drifted across the garden, they caught sight of Naima. She tossed her head slightly towards the door before drawing it closer to the rest of her body hidden inside the bush. Faust squinted at his friend, and pushed his head out for the bush even farther. Naima had been motioning at something, and the young Aerandir was curious to know if it was the ‘tagger’, or something else.
This slight movement from Faust was apparently all that was needed to give away his location. In a spurt of blue feathers, Dmitry sped towards his second ‘taggee’ in the hopes that this one would be significantly easier to catch that Naima.
Faust’s eye immediately saw his opposition nearing him and a steadily increasing speed. Jumping to action, Faust’s parted hooves gripped the dry dirt and propelled him out and away from the no longer safe plant. A quick glance behind his tan body and Faust realized that Dmitry was still hot on his trail. A part surprised, part playful ‘nyark’ exited the larger gryphon’s dark beak. He may not have wanted to be caught, but there was no denying that there was a certain thrill of almost being caught.
Dmitry’s wings pounded downwards to the ground, keeping him racing through the air after Faust. He was drawing nearer every few seconds, and each time his target attempted to loose him by pulling into wide turns, the flying gryphon only ended up gaining the upper hand even more. After almost a minute of chasing, Dmitry finally found himself close enough to Faust that he could give himself one last pound of his wings before plummeting towards the Reindeer gryphon.
Faust had just about-faced, dragging his long legs (Compared to the other gryphon’s legs, at least.) to make him go faster, when a sudden weight was felt on his antlers. Stopping his race around the garden and straining to barely hold his head up, Faust peered upwards, a low ‘nyar’ being emitted from the back of his throat. What was that weight! A high-pitched chirp from on top of his head promptly answered his question. So the weight was Dmitry. Dropping to the ground, Faust let his head rest on the grass, a defeated ‘wark’ rolling out from his throat – he had been caught.
The young Aerandir paused for a moment, waiting for Dmitry to stumble off of his antlers, but the weight didn’t change. Faust gently shook his head, incase the smaller gryphon had somehow became stuck. Dmitry still didn’t leave. Faust shook his head again.
Still, Dmitry remained stationary, however this time he seemingly encouraged Faust to shake his antlers once more, with an excited series of chirps. The small gryphon barely held onto the hard bone with his paws, but he didn’t seem to mind at all. To him, the shaking was all part of the game – if he fell off, he lost.
Irritation was slowly building inside of Faust. Though Dmitry was smaller than himself, it wasn’t by too much, and even though he didn’t weigh a ton, the small gryphon did weigh enough to make it hurt to keep his head up for too long. Faust’s creamy ears bent backwards slightly, annoyed. A deep trill of a ‘wrak’ rolled out of Faust’s ebony beak, a warning to Dmitry to get off. This, apparently, did nothing except urge the blue gryphon to continue prodding Faust to shake his antlers. This request was quickly fulfilled as Faust shook his head as hard as he could. Despite the power of the last shake, the small fox gryphon was still latched onto the young Aerandir’s antlers. Faust made a deep noise that seemed to be much like a growl, though it was actually a very throaty ‘wraa’.
Dmitry chirped in delight, happy that he was being shaken on Faust’s antlers – as far as he knew, the process was quite fun. With another tap of his paw on the slightly larger gryphon’s feathery head, Dmitry begged for another apparently exhilarating shake.
Exasperated by the obviously stubborn, small, blue gryphon, Faust gave an irritated ‘nyar’. He outstretched one of his crimson speckled creamy wings, and, in one foul swoop, swatted Dmitry on his head. Unlike his previous attempts, this method of relieving himself of the bothersome playmate worked quite well, and Dmitry was pushed off of Faust’s head and onto the ground.
As the two male gryphons quarreled between themselves, Naima nonchalantly padded inside of the warmer cabin. As she entered the building, Naima took no time in deciding where she wished to go, she made a beeline straight for the fireplace, and tightly curled up nearby the source of the cabin’s warmth.
Not expecting a hard swat from Faust’s wing, Dmitry had landed on his side on the grass. With his head tilted, and his light blue ears flattening slightly, the gryphon squaked awkwardly at Faust. Had it been meant as some sort of strange joke? As Faust stared at him with dark, annoyed eyes, the small fox gryphon let a long, trailing chirp flow from his yellow beak.
Faust stared emotionlessly at Dmitry, an annoyed glare stuck in his eyes from his previous irritation. In one smooth movement, the Reindeer and Ptarmigan mix folded in his fluffy wings, and stood up. However, a few steps forward and a flash of blue could be seen weaving in and around his split hooves. Dropping his head slightly lower in his version of a sigh, Faust stepped into cabin number two and wandered over to the comfortable couch, claiming the corner farthest from the fireplace as his own.
A single, ebony orb grazed across the inside of the slowly filling cabin. Hesitantly pushing herself up from her preferred spot next to the fireplace, Naima darted across the room over to the bathroom, curling herself against the corner that, if the wall segregating it from the rest of the first floor was not there, would be right next to the fireplace.
Dmitry happily followed Faust inside the cabin, still swerving through the gaps that presented themselves between his gangly legs. As soon as the gryphon made it halfway through the cabin, he headed towards his favorite place – the area right between the couch and the fireplace. Pulling his small, blue body into a comfy position, he suddenly jerked when a shrill screech resounded in the cabin.
Faust immediately bolted off of the couch and into the bathroom. Having been laying right next to the room, it was fairly easy to identify where the sound was coming from. Eyes wide, fur on-end, wings fluffed, and ears perked, Faust quickly scanned the small room for the source of the noise.
Naima peered out from behind the sink counter and cautiously motioned towards the door with her spotted tail.
Faust stared at her blankly for a brief moment before peering at the door. It looked normal. A quick stare back at Naima, and she nodded over at the door once more. Carefully using one of his light wings, Faust moved the door as to shut it, and uncovered the reason for Naima’s shriek. A deep shudder visibly ran through Faust’s entire body as his dark eyes landed on something, large, fuzzy, and apparently, spreading. In a flash Faust had darted from the room.
Karma had just been sitting on her fixed futon, writing about the past few days, when a loud, high screech . pierced the quiet air. Her hands immediately flew to her ears, covering them from the noise, and her face involuntarily scrunched up. As the sound disappeared, Karma gave a quick look around the upper level, before shooting off of the futon, and racing down the stairs. “Faust? Are you alright?” She called out, the shriek had sounded too high for him to have made, but then again, she had never heard him make a noise that loudly before either. “Naima? Dmitry? ” She looked into the main room that held the fireplace, and noted that Dmitry’s blue head had bobbed slightly above the arm of the couch. “So he’s okay, but…” The lady glanced over at the bathroom and as she was about to look inside, a loud, and rather distressed ‘nyark’ brought her attention to the young Aerandir staring up at her. “Faust?” She asked. He nodded, then threw his head over towards the washroom, turning his body towards it slightly. Karma sighed in relief, “I’m glad you’re alright. What’s wrong? Where’s Naima?” A low and drawn-out ‘wra’ came from Faust’s ebony beak as he lead Karma into the washroom. As Karma stepped into the room, she searched for any reason for the sudden outburst. She couldn’t see one. That is, until Faust pushed the door closed. “Oh. Dear. God.” Karma took a step backwards, and glanced down at Faust, who was doing the same thing she was – checking to make sure that what was in front of them was actually there. It was. Between the wall opposite to the sink and the door, was a large, black mass of fuzzy mold.
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Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 4:33 pm
The Mysterious Black Mold
Karma blinked, repeatedly, in quick succession. She was having a hard time coping with what was presented in front of her. “How on earth…” She began to wonder, “Did… Did… That grow here!” She balanced herself by leaning against the nearest wall. “How did it grow here without anyone noticing until now?” The keeper sat down on the edge of the bathtub, and stared at the problem in question. She was hoping that it would just de-materialize and float away to pester someone else; someone who might actually have an inkling of an idea of how to rid themselves of it. Needless to say, it didn’t work.
“N…Nyark?” Came the hesitant inquiry from Faust. He was standing right up against Karma’s leg, his wings protecting as much of his body as they could. The poor, young Aerandir had no idea what the strange black thing was, or where it had come from, and, frankly, it didn’t smell all that pleasant. He looked up at Karma with pleading eyes. She would know what it was, right? The response he received was not that encouraging.
“Ah… Er, Faust, um… This is, er… This is…” Karma stared at the mold. Was it just her, or was it moving? Mold didn’t move. It just, didn’t. She shook her head, and rubbed her eyes, checking again. It was just her… It had to be. The keeper looked back at Faust. “This is, er… It’s, um, mold.” How she was supposed to explain how it got there was something she hadn’t really figured out quite yet.
Faust stared at the black thing. Mold? Well, it didn’t sound too pleasant. He took a hesitant step forward. Was it, alive? The small gryphon craned his neck out towards the fuzzy black thing. Just as he was about to poke it, he felt his body being yanked away from it. ‘Warking’ in protest, Faust pulled his wings close to his body, hoping to easily slip out of the tight grasp he had been held in.
Karma held her head away from the small gryphon, hoping to avoid the flailing antlers. She knew Faust wasn’t that keen on being hugged or constricted, but she couldn’t have just let him touch the mold! It could have gotten him sick! The lady bent down and gently released Faust, letting one of her hand rest on his back between his wings, just in case. “Faust, please don’t touch it. I don’t want you getting si-” Karma stopped herself when she noticed the black mold. It twitched. Karma immediately looked down at Faust, checking to make sure that it wasn’t just her who had seen it this time.
Faust was stiff, staring shocked at the black thing. It had just moved. The gryphon stared again. Maybe it really was alive? But then why did Karma pull him away from it? His dark eyes wandered over to Karma, and he let a quiet ‘nyuuur’ roll out of his mouth. Why was it moving? Was it supposed to move? Why did Karma look so, shocked and frightened? As all these questions swirled around in Faust’s mind, a strange, reluctant curiosity to find out more about the mysterious black mold formed inside of him.
The keeper’s eyes widened as she saw the mold move again. Involuntarily, Karma slowly inched away from the organism, carefully dragging Faust with her. “Mold is… A type of plant, I guess. So, it grows, and it’s technically alive, but…” Karma shivered, and stared at the mold as she continued, not only for Faust, but to remind herself of the facts. “Mold doesn’t move, and because it doesn’t move, then that means that this can’t be mold.” A sense of relief flooded Karma’s mind as she stated these words. It seemed to be that even though she knew it already, saying it out loud only helped to make it make slightly more sense. “So, if it’s not mold… Then, what is it?”
So then it wasn’t mold. Faust’s line of vision strayed towards the fuzzy black thing again. The gryphon let his wings relax slightly, and cautiously creeped towards the strange thing once again, his antlers poised to prod when they came close enough. As the young Aerandir inched closer to whatever the thing was, Karma as well moved in. When the gap between the duo and the thing was sufficiently smaller than before, Faust gave his keeper a quick glance to make sure that it was fine (He didn’t want to be pulled away again.) and then gently pushed his hard set of antlers forward so that they just barely brushed against the thing.
Apparently that was more than enough to set it off. In mere seconds, the fuzzy black thing practically flew into the air, before swiftly zooming past Karma and Faust and secluding itself where Naima had previously been before she darted out when Karma arrived. The young gryphon shrieked loudly as it did so, and immediately hid himself behind Karma, shocked that it had moved so much and so quickly in such a short amount of time.
After a short yelp of surprise herself, the keeper let her heartbeat slow to a normal pace. It suddenly dawned on her that the black thing had probably done that when Naima had screeched so loudly as well. Crouching slowly to the ground, Karma pulled the rather spooked Faust into her lap, and softly stroked the soft feathers between his creamy ears. “It’s alright now, Faust, don’t worry. I think it’s just as shocked as you are right now. It’s okay.”
Faust let himself be moved into Karma’s lap, his dark eyes wide, and staring pointedly at the black thing. After a minute or two of the calming words, and gentle stroking, Faust wasn’t so shocked anymore. Carefully poking Karma’s leg with one of his split hooves, Faust let a short, questioning ‘wyar’ break the silence. The young Aerandir now looked at the black thing with returned curiosity, wondering what it could have been.
“It has to be some sort of animal.” Karma said, hazarding a guess at something that was pretty obvious. “I don’t think anything else could move like that. The problem now, is just finding out what sort of animal it is, and why it’s here.” Gently moving the small gryphon off of her lap, Karma inched her way closer to the animal, using the tactics she had learned as a child. When she was younger, Karma was constantly finding, catching, caring for, then releasing small animals, like cats, snakes, mice, lizards, frogs, and the occasional bird. While doing so she had learnt that patience, timing, and very slow movements were key.
Pushing himself upwards, Faust quietly stepped over to the area between the toilet and the counter. This way, the animal couldn’t escape and hide again. Poking his small, crimson plumed head partially through the gap between the toilet and the wall, Faust managed to get himself close enough to the animal so that he could tap it again if he needed to. However, the Aerandir gryphon restrained himself, waiting for his keeper to make her way across the long side of the bathtub and sit behind the small black animal.
Finally reaching her destination, Karma looked over at Faust and gave him a quick set of instructions. “Okay, Faust? Try not to spook it, make slow, deliberate movements, and be very quiet. It’s probably really scared, kind of like how you were shocked before, and we don’t want to frighten it anymore than it already is, got it?” Karma noticed Faust making a slow nod, and she carefully reached her hand out towards the animal. When it was just above the pitch black fur, the animal twitched, and Karma let her hand gently rest on the back of the animal. It’s entire body shuddered, but eventually relaxed into the touch.
Faust watched as the animal visibly calmed, and he took that moment to, as carefully as he could, nudge it with his antlers. The sudden contact surprised the small animal. It immediately slid out of the tight corner it had wedged itself into. Following suite, Faust pulled his tan body out of the crevice he had sneaked into and looked over at the animal, curious to visually examine it and find out what it was. Turning his head over to Karma, he noticed that it had laid down in her lap, seemingly much more relaxed than before. Studying the animal carefully, Faust realized that not only was the animal’s body shape familiar, but it’s actions and swiftness also brought back memories. It was almost like Oleo.
With the culprit of so much trouble finally resting quietly in her lap, Karma stifled a small giggle. For some reason she found it oddly funny that a such a small black animal could have caused so much worry and surprise. Letting a relieved sigh leave her lungs, Karma looked over at Faust, and pulled him closer to both her and the animal. “Well, I have to say, Faust. This is the first, and most exciting time, I have ever been able to catch a rabbit.”
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