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 Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:04 am
"Indeed, the jungle of sleep is massive. Large as it is, that is probably the region I have traveled least. I prefer the mountains, and the valleys around Crater Lake." she sighed, looking pleased, as if recalling some memory.
"As to what they are like...I...words fail me. The beauty of the region is unsurpassable. Period. The volcano is ringed by mountain upon mountain, and inbetween these ranges are valleys, covered with foliage and scrub forest, and to fly through them is breathtaking. The mountain are tall, and most are snow covered at the peaks. The whole area is veiled in a blanket of mist, but not so much that it is dangerous, but mysterious. There is a rainbow seemingly always on the edge of your vision, as it appears through all the droplets of water. And it is incredibly quite and serene. As if even the animals know they are on some sort of almost holy ground. For surely when Hal'ia was crafted, this place was set aside, a secret garden to the rest of the island." Zephyiote shook her head. "But these words are not good enough. Perhaps one day you might accompany me there? And then I could show you what I mean."
Flying was easier as the day went on. As the air grew progressively warmer, the warm air currents that made flying, for lack of a better word or perhaps a bad pun, a breeze. While flapping before had been minimal at best, Zephyiote found that, with assistance from these thermals, she could coast both comfortably, yet still set a rapid pace. This was perfect.
"We are making good time. Perhaps fate smiles upon this journey...or possibly only the journey there. Who knows." she shrugged and smiled, resigning herself that what was to come was to come, and that she would respond to the best and fullest ability to whatever challenge was presented to her.
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Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 3:01 pm
Though he kept his gaze relatively straight ahead, Articuno listened carefully to Zephyiote. From the way she described the place, it sounded like Crater lake and the area around it was quite a place. He was able to picture the location fairly clearly too, but he doubted that his vision did the actual place justice. Still, what he saw in his mind was rather pretty already.
"Wow... that sounds quite beautiful.. I would love to go see it someday," he said with a smile.
For now, he was keeping up with his companion fairly well, and the fact that the weather was as nice as it was helped greatly. And if he could, he would like to fly like this all day any day.
Then, nodding to her, the blue hybrid stretched his wings out more while speculating how things may be later on.
"Yeah. But in any case, we best enjoy this good fortune while we can, who knows what we'll run into exactly once we reach the Western Isle."
Shaking his head to himself, he glanced over towards her and smiled a bit.
"Also, would you like to go ahead and skip lunch? That deer I caught earlier will last me the whole day I think," he said with a light chuckle.
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Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 7:12 am
Zephyiote could only shrug. "Perhaps I am biased in my opinion of it. Despite my appearance, I am distinctly Pan'Lun. And as such, I have a great reverance for my ancestral homeground. But I suspect that in anyone's eyes it would still be beautiful. You are half Pan'Lun, correct? I think it would do you good, to see the Crater Lake area someday." When she moved out of the temple, away from all the harsh looks and whispers behind her back, she intended to move into one of the mountains or valleys in the area.
Zephyiote clucked her tongue and nodded. "I agree. I am quite satisfied from our meal. I think I could go until this evening before I am want of anything more." the downside to all this flying was indeed the hunger it instilled. Thankfully, she could still get by on one meal a day or two, versus a big meal every three or four that she would get away with, were she to walk. But walking was so mundane. And slow. This journey would take weeks on foot. And then there would be the matter of crossing the small strip of ocean. Swimming would most likely be hard for Articuno, what with all the feathers and all. But it was irrelevant. They could fly, and that was the important thing.
"I agree on the fortune topic. I am quite pleased that we have seen good luck so far, even as I ponder what lies ahead. But that is adventure! What would it be but mere travel, were we to know what lies around the bend. No. Save that for those faint of heart. We should venture to explore the unknown!" she laughed, very pleased. She was quite sure that this was the right thing to do, but she never expected it to be quite so much fun.
"I apologize if I am broaching a tender subject, but...Articuno, I do not suppose you ever knew your parents?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 9:32 pm
"Yeah, I'm half Pan'lun and half Aviadracus to be exact. It's the latter half why I've spent quite a bit of time around the scrub forest." he said with a light nod. Articuno tended to stick out a bit there, or anywhere really since he hadn't really met another hybrid like himself, but the aviadracus's were slightly more like himself than the commons he sees around fairly often.
As they flew, he squinted his eyes slightly, trying to see if he could catch any particular landmarks on the horizon. For now he couldn't pick up on any, but he felt that they would soon be seeing the first signs of the canyon. Then grinning, he nodded once more towards Zephyiote.
"Haha, yes! If we don't dive in, there'll be so much that we'll never learn... Exploring and seeing the world, no matter the risks involved, is a much better way of gaining knowledge of the world than sitting at home reading tomes or listening to what others have to say about it. It may be safer.. but it's always better to experience it firsthand I believe."
There was a slight pause as his companion asked him of his parents. Articuno tilted his head slightly, a bit hesitant, but went on to answer.
"To some extent. My father was a Pan'lun, though I don't know what became of him. Either he left soon or died soon after my egg was laid. He could have done both for all I know... I knew my mother some, and she did what she could to tend to me. But she was filled with grief from the absence of my father, and... died of heartbreak I guess you could say.."
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Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 8:00 pm
Zephyiote's eyes were trained on the horizon. All twenty of them. Very, very faintly, she could make out some kind of distinction. And simple reasoning told her it was most likely the canyon. Seeing as it was getting to be later in the day, and they had been setting good time, so that arrival was immenent. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, and she felt any anxiety start to unwind, knowing that their evening destination was in sight. In more ways than one.
"Indeed, the union of such different species produced quite a profound specimen. Never have I seen one like yourself. The closest thing my memory can compare you to is me," her head tilted back with laughter, grinning from ear to ear.
"But obviosly the resemblance between us ends at having wings. Nay, you are quite unusual. I like it," she added with a nod. As if to assure him all her remarks were made lightly, and with all due and proper respect.
"Truly though, I am sorry for the loss of your parents. I do not surmise that that is an easy topic to discuss. You are strong for being able to speak so lightly of it..." Her face took on a slightly thoughtful expression, and her eyes glittered with an idea.
"If I was indeed born conventionally to parents, I cannot even begin to imagine what they would have been like." She blinked a few times in different places, emphasizing her point.
"As such, I doubt that indeed I was created via normal methods. Oh well. It is an amusing thought, none the less."
Nothing seemed to pass time like good conversation, and the canyon could be seen rapidly approaching now. Visible with even a common glance. The air was filled with the shrieks and calls of other painters, chattering the evening away.
"Running under the assumption that you know the basics of the canyon, I suggest we find an out of the way cave for the night. So as not to bother any of the more permanent residents, who might find two intruders like us...slightly disturbing. Dinner should be easy to come by in the ways of sea food, as there is always plenty of fish swimming around 'neath the water of the canyon. And then in the morning we can leave at whatever time pleases us. Have you any objections?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:10 pm
"It's not easy but I try not to put much thought into it... I just try to think that wherever I go I still have my mother with me. Though I don't know if I can say the same for my other parent.."
Shaking his head to himself, Articuno stretched his wings to let the winds carry him for now. As an afterthought, he glanced at his wings, as well as Zephyiote's, thinking about her commentary about their uniqueness.
"And yeah... I haven't really seen any others quite like myself as well. I have to say that I like your unusualness as well," he said with a friendly grin before going back to the topic of the ones that had birthed them, "But... is it really possible to be created aside from the usual ways..?"
It was more to himself, as he really wasn't so sure of the answer. The Pan'lun were quite well versed in the sciences, so he figured it may be possible. But he hadn't quite been around the area where most Pan'lun reside so he couldn't be certain of how advanced they were with such things.
The blue hybrid snapped from his thoughts as Zephyiote brought up the canyon. Once she finished speaking, he nodded while keeping his eyes on the rocky landmark ahead of them.
"I've none. I'd rather not chance running into someone that may look down on our presence... "
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 6:15 pm
Zephyiote knew her way around here, despite having been only a few times. By staying low, quiet, and in the shadows, she would try her hardest to attract as little attention as possible.
She looked over her shoulder, flashing a huge grin to Articuno, showing off a few glistening teeth while she was at it. "my dear friend, of course there are. Those simple-minded fools would look down on such practices, but...I assure you, there are methods of...animating or creating that are as of yet practically unknown..." and though she stopped speaking, her eyes sparkled and burned, as if longing to continue on a subject she knew was forbidden.
The sea breeze was pleasantly enjoyable, and she was amazed it could be felt so far inland. Although perhaps the canyon carried it somehow? Who knew. It was nice either way. The looks she was getting, however, weren't quite as pleasant. It was fortunate that she spotted a suitable looking place to inhabit just a minute away. She flapped her wings a little harder, gesturing with a flick of her head for Articuno to hurry as well. It would be nice to get inside, and not worry so much about something so trivial as appearance.
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Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 12:11 pm
With curiosity, he looked over towards Zephiote as she confirmed his question. It made him wonder just how it was done exactly, but just thinking about it didn't do him much good considering he really didn't have any sort of basis to derive any theories out of. Though, gazing back into the pan'lun's eyes, he could only assume she knew more of the subject matter than what she had just mentioned.
"Have you seen anyone or anything work on it before?" he asked, "If you do not want to answer, that's fine."
Soon after speaking, he noticed her pick up speed. With a slight grin, he did the same to keep up with her. As he did so, he kept an eye out for any other painters that may be in the area. As mentioned before, it would be nice to keep a low profile so that they wouldn't happen to encounter painters that wouldn't care so much for those different than themselves.
"It seems we're in the clear for now, my friend."
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