Welcome to Gaia! ::

Syiindo hadn't noticed when the two dragons had entered his home. He had been sleeping deeply, and his dream was a very good one. It was of his old friend Ani'zul. The two of them were exploring an underwater ice cavern that had opened up after the most recent 'earthquake'. So when the ship slowly started to move and he was awoken he simply rolled over and tried to continue with his dream.

It wasn't until the barrier broke that he realized something completely out of the ordinary was going on. "There are people on my ship? Why would they take MY ship? It's remote and isn't registered with the council. So who could be moving it... A better question, why didn't they search the rooms?"

He rose quietly, quickly throwing his robe on. He used his heightened vision and his familiarness with his ship to move through the rooms to the door of the main chamber. Pausing just out of sight he took a deep breath and peaked around the corner. His eyes widened as he saw only two dragons, a few seconds later another dragon landed. This one carrying a fourth dragon. "Four dragons! What use could they have for my ship? But they are as majestic as described..." He thought with sarcasm. He finally remembered to breathe. He pulled his head back behind the doorway. Out of habit from isolation he mutters under his breath. "Well Ani, there's four dragons taking over my ship. What to do, what to do."

Link flipped herself onto her back, still shaking uncontrollably. She watched everything from her lying position on the deck dazedly, too tired to move. As Reyen and Synrai came to the ship, she looked to Synrai worriedly. He looked worse than she felt, and she wasn’t feeling too good. What happened?

Remaining ‘silent’ while the other two dragons talked, she watched their lips moving formulating a sort of plan. As she ‘heard’ it she tried to motion something to the two. She wasn’t sure how well it would come out or if it was even understandable, but she did what her shaky hands could.

“Conjoined effort? I’m sorry, but even with your guys’ help, me trying to move this ship again is pushing it. I probably can’t even lift a pebble right now, much less get this thing to go. I can try but I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to hold out for very long – I’m surprised I haven’t passed out already.”

((Excuse my prolonged absence.))

The Kekin pack had completed its circumnavigation of the opposing Ookami pack, and now turned its back upon them. Atrosk was grateful it had not been a warfaring pack. If it had been, there was a good chance the Kekins would have been torn deep with loss as the packs were seemingly equivalent in numbers, but the Kekins had more mothers and children amongst them.

That behind them, though, Atrosk did not dare bring it up. What was in the past he was sure to leave in the past. The march south picked up again as the sun's light began to wane. They would need shelter if they didn't wish to lay out in the open in a tight huddle. Novos was apparently along the same line of thought.

"If there is to be no shelter ahead, Atrosk..."

"If we don't find any shelter, I will mold a cave. Have no worries, Novos."

She nodded understandingly. "I was not questioning you, Atrosk. I was only verifying that you had a defined plan. I am quite comfortable with the plans you have laid."

Atrosk merely nodded and continued to lead his pack toward the warmlands. By dusk no cave or outcropping had been found to protect them from the bitter night winds, so the Alpha male went about molding an elliptical cavern into the ice, a few feet below the average ice level so as to keep out most of the wind. Quietly, the whole pack slipped inside, Atrosk being the last.

And for another night, the Kekin pack survived the brutality of Orcos.

Her cup of tea had become warm, still steaming lightly. The shepherdess raises her left hand to bring the cup to her lips for a long sip, the hung lantern's light blotches shadows across the strangely few elevated burn scars on her forearm. A wave of musky, sweet, creamy tea relaxes her throat and warms her. Felda breathes out a serene sigh as she lazily glances over the calm herd. The tranquil feeling of her spirit evaporates.
My herd is a few ewes short...where'd they wander off to?
Wandering sheep are the only problems for a shepherdess/shepherd here, whereas other human villages would have Centauri raids Rizane does not. Some people might get bored of herding and staying in the dim field for hours, Felda is passionate of it. It is peaceful, nobody disturbs her and the animals are very gentle to be around. Gulping down the last of the tea she stands and puts out the fire with the rest of the kettle's water. She had only enough flavoring for one cup of tea so it did not matter to her. A tinged, shriveled hand grasps the middle of the sandalwood herding staff and takes a step of its own before the girl's feet follow. Compared with the smooth texture of the staff the tight and rough skin on her hand felt as though it could erode through the herding staff within time. Felda knew the goat was smart enough to keep the rest of the herd nearby, the wanderers must have dawdled off when he was napping and the shepherdess had been enjoying her tea, lingering over its soothing taste. Her legs and third added limb take her through the thigh-high grass to reach the edge of Rizane's herding field. By now the other two shepherds have become hazy spots, the sheep blurred clouds contrasting against the dark green grass. There are three sheep eating the small flowers that grow on the side of the trail which leads back to the village. Within her mouth the girl's tongue arches and she clucks the tip on the frontal half of the roof of her mouth, lips opening slightly so the sound can reach their sleek ears. The sheep bleat softly, recognizing the noise as a call. They amble towards Felda and allow her to walk behind them, the butt of her staff lightly bumping into their ankles to keep them on the trail and headed for the herd. As the shepherdess walks after them, the bells on her waist resonate softly in the chilled air.

Two more flames have been eliminated, it is late afternoon now. Cup and kettle tucked into the woven basket, the girl picks it up with her right hand as her left arm wavers the staff to gesture the herd to move. The goat sees this motion and bleats, pushing the ewes to their hooves in order to get them on the trail and head back to the farm. Felda hums warmly as they walk towards the cottage. Vava, her grandmother, had already fed the chickens. Due to her old age and frail form, Vava can only feed the hens and rooster, also knit, sew and keep a few growing flowers watered. Vava had been the one whom inspired Felda to try shaping Fire, the elderly woman is an expert at shaping Fire and used to be a singing dancer for her own village. Not that Felda would ever blame her grandmother of anything. Within the village, many were preparing for the Bloom. Strings of moonflowers were being hung along the outside of the roofs of huts, many bustled about with food and ribbons to tie in their hair or place around their limbs to flutter as they dart around. A flicker of excitement grew within the girl. She loves the monthly festivals, although the number of festivals varies with month, season and occasion. For the more important celebrations Felda was given a gift from Vava as is custom. Going through the festival with glee and receiving a gift during it or afterwards, truly thrilled the younger residents of Rizane. Once the herd had gotten locked into the barn she put out her lantern and leaned her herding staff in the corner. The girl rushes out of the barn, shutting the door and being guided by the hung lanterns by the trails. She skips into her home being greeted by Vava and succumbing to getting ready to enjoy the festival. Her grandmother has never let her stay home from a festival, even after the Fire accident.

A large freighter carrying hundreds of tonnes of trade goods from the furthest reaches of the planetary system approached Celestir. The ship's magical engines hummed incessantly, providing a soothing blanket of white noise which gently lulled its inhabitants. Pi nodded, nearly napping over his account books and trading ledgers. He had not invested as much as he normally would in this expedition, but he hoped to turn a serious profit nonetheless.

In the cargo hold of the ship lay hundreds of boxes marked with his family seal a rune in the shape of two corners which almost made a square. Pi had filled them with aquatic meats and vegetables, rare delicacies found nowhere on Celestir or, predictably, the dry world.

"Are we there yet?" an iridescent face emerged from the bathtub in the far corner of Pi's cabin. Iridium's eyes sparkled with mischief, and her fins flapped in a manner which he might almost call playful.

"Almost." Pi closed his books and put them in a waterproof container. He'd begun taking these sorts of precautions ever since meeting the playful Nen'Shri. He uncurled and slithered across the room over to the tub, scales sliding against the cool tiles. "Want to watch?"

"Yes!" Iridium scooped up a ball of water and sent it circulating around her neck, over her gill-slits. It wasn't a trick she could keep up for very long, but it would let her explore the ship, given a back to ride on. She wiggled out of the tub and onto Pi's back, between his wings, hanging on with her stubby hands to one of his neck spines.

Pi curled his extensive tail over her, helping her balance since she no longer had the aid of the water. He then made his way sluggishly up to the ship's main bridge, from which they could see Celestir rapidly approaching.

"It's much bluer and greener than home," said Iridium. Even though her home planet was largely covered in water, the bitterly low surface temperatures kept it permanently crusted in a pale layer of dirty ice. Celestir hung above them like a glowing orb, soft white clouds shrouding its fertile surface.

Slowly the ship descended, finally passing into the atmosphere and docking at the capital. Pi took Iridium back to the tub to get some more water before they departed.

Link continued ‘listening’ to the conversation, just about ready to give up on this ship and try and fly to the Elders – though she doubted she’d be doing that any time soon. There had to be a way for them to get that ship moving. If only bringing the ship up hadn’t taken so much out of her, the three of them would be able to get it moving.

Pushing herself onto her still slightly shaking elbows, Link managed to get herself into a sitting position, leaning against the side of the ship. Reyen seemed to be calling out to someone, but she couldn’t see what he was saying because he was turned. Turning her attention to Synrai, she pulled herself over to him and knelt by him.

Link looked him over, searching for injuries; trying not to wake him. He seemed to have received a lot of damage, but no prominent injuries that she could deal with. Knowing that if he awoke Synrai would most likely chide her for mothering him, she touched his arm delicately. He seemed cold and wore a frown as he slept.

Bringing a hand up to touch his face, Link looked up at him– worry in her eyes.