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 Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:48 pm
In a jubilant manner, Max had bumbled forward through the forested path which led to his 'secret place'. A wide smile had been stretched along his face. His tail had flickered from side to side, the rings clacking conspicuously as he sloppily ran, dragging along his knapsack without a seeming care. There was glory to be had, and he was mad with naive ambition. The rustling wind had beckon to him, filling his heart with excitement. Step for step, he shuffled through the occasional brush of his 'discovered path' - and he gave an acknowledging pat to a tree trunk now and again while searching for his land markers.
He was a resourceful boy in the world of nature - young and connected. There was an uncanny vigor behind his observance as he went along, seeming to know every nook and cranny of which he turned throughout his hidden course. No sooner had he entered the Wood had he found the lagoon, and it was there in which his knapsack fell against the soft, golden sand.
A deep breath had been taken in. The scent of salty air had ventured into his lungs, filling them to the brim as if he were a sailor out at sea. There was a particular peace and happiness to his figure as he approached the water, peering out at the rushing waves that lapped at the sand. The lagoon was a beautiful sight of blue and gold and green. A hidden paradise within the world he had grown to recognize as his own. It was a natural beauty, an untainted wonder - and it was such an uncanny existence which had drawn Max towards it in the first place. Stamping his feet in the clear water drove him wild with excitement, and the prospects of adventures throughout the coastal area seemed limitless. He was certain treasure was contained within the secret place, though where he was uncertain.
As he dreamed of an enormous chest guarded by a sea monster, his hand had clasped about his pendant. The rich blue was as deep and beautiful as the dark ocean, and the metal seemed particularly precious.
The lagoon.
He had found it within the lagoon.
The wind had tossled his hair somewhat; bits of his fur had stood up on his neck as the chill ran down his spine. The wide grin on his face had pressured his cheeks to venture upward. His whiskers had wriggled eagerly as he scurried into the water with thoughts and fond memories of his prior discovery and swimming endeavors. More than anything, he wanted to swim - and he estimated there was likely something valuable along the bottom floor. If he had found such a gorgeous necklace amongst the sand, there was no doubt of the existence of further valuables amongst the water's depths; thus he dove and splashed and fiddled as any otter may have done ... A regular prodigy within the water, smooth and fluid like a wild river - and blissfully unaware that his secret place was not truly secret, for a sign rested just near the main beach-road pointing to its location for any who curiously dared to go for a hike in the Wood to get there.
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Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:28 pm
Deep underwater Del cut through the sea like a slate arrow, she was made for this, made to glide through open water like a fish. D-corp may have made many mistakes in the past but with Del there was nothing but streamlined perfection for the dolphin girl. Why, she could even close her eyes to avoid the sting of salt water an rely purely on her innate echolocation ability to guide her.
On top of that Del found that she could she could make a wide variety of clicks and calls underwater that really weren't correct or useful on land. She used them to communicate to her dragon companion Echo when they were underwater and could not otherwise speak.
The pair were chasing a school of fish towards a sandbar that separated the opened ocean with a nearby lagoon. Dolphin girl and bronze dragon alike they swam swiftly and agiley driving their prey with persicion borne of instinct, after all this was the first time the two had ever decided to hunt together.
Suddenly the school of fish doubled back and in a colourful blitz swept past the surprised pair.
Del grumbled mentally and signaled for Echo to follow her to the sandbar, the fish weren't getting exhuasted but she was and echo probably needed a break a well, they could find a new school after a short breather. Surging forward Dell reached the warm white sand and crawled onto it suddenly aware of how heavy her body felt.
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Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:59 pm
The rush of the waves had twittered about with Max's motion as he rode along the shallow water. His hands had brushed the sandy ground, digging somewhat as he passed. His nimble fingers had dedicatedly brushed at the softness, enjoying the feeling of it as it sank into his fur. Were he capable of it, he may have wished to stay below forever - but Max was no fish, and a mammal needed air.
His peaceful swim was marked by his own limitations; he was running out of breath. Yet, something had captured his attention. He fought tooth and nail to remain below, to listen to the sounds that echoed throughout the water's serene atmosphere. It was inevitable that he would have to surrender, though. His lungs had began to burn, the fire surging throughout the organs in a brutal fashion. Despite his will, he was forced to turn and head for the surface of the water.
With a mighty thrust, Max's head had protruded the lagoon's ceiling. A large gasp for breath had been taken in as he stood himself up. The water had gone to his waist; droplets from th lagoon had dripped from his soaked vest, and from his drooping whiskers.
Max had brushed his cheek with his fist in a boyish way before turning himself around in a circle, as if to spot the source of the noise he had heard somewhere within the water. Nothing game to mind or sight, and so his shoulders sank disappointedly as he began towards the shallower end of the water.
It was then that his eyes had befallen a stranger upon the sand of his secret shore. His eyes had grown wide. His jaw had fallen open as bewilderment wrapped its unwelcome arms about him. Quickly, he had began thinking of his bag. It was alone on the beach, exposed to this strange form he could only begin to make out. With a bit of a start, he had began towards the shore, splashing and clamoring all the while.
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Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:23 am
Eyes closed as she basked in the sun and let the sand soak away her fatigue Del rolled to a sitting position at the sound of frantic splashing. Unfortunately her eyesight wasn't good enough to make out anything other than a brownish blur and unlike most D-corp children she had no sense of smell much less a heightened one.
" It's Max, the boy who lost his ring before." Echo grumbled his own rest disturbed. For him making out the otter child was not much of a challenge and that done he sunk bank onto the sand having no interest in the boy, or finding anything of his today, at least not at the moment.
Del perked up at the name and memory flashed in her mind. " Max hey Max it's Del and Echo" She called out her voice just a bit weary as she struggled to find her feet.
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Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 10:10 pm
Beads of water had fluttered about Max as he waded through the fluid. His arms had swung back and forth; his chest had heaved as he cast his eyes forward, squinting to better make out the figure on the beach. It was not long before he had drawn close enough to the shore to get a good view. He had straightened himself; the waves had lapped against his ankles as his tail raised from the water and splashed down again, generating a loud clapping noise.
Hey, Max - it's Del and Echo. Del and Echo? Max had appeared somewhat quizzical as he shook his head to brush the droplets of water away from his lengthening hair. He had continued forward, his feet seeping into the muddy sand all the while. Who was Del and Echo? His memory seemed clouded; he couldn't recall having ever met anyone by such a name before. Or had he? He thought for a moment, drawing up memories of magic, of rain, of museums. Rain. That was it! His eyes had widened for a moment as he stood, soaked and dripping, on the sand - staring at the two curiously.
"Oh ... You're..." He had began, looking to his backpack, still set carefully on the sand. Quickly, he had gathered it for sake of possessiveness, dragging it along with him. "You're the ones who helped me find my ring!" He had exclaimed. His language seemed better practiced, somewhat more organized and less young. He certainly appeared a bit older.
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Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 12:29 pm
Del nodded and grinned " Yep that was us, well Echo mostly, him and his treasure sense." As she spoke to the boy Del got a closer look at Max and realized that he'd grown and was only a head or two shorter than her now. she resisted the urge to sigh, it seemed like everyone but her was getting older these days. " How are you? and Where's your father?" Del couldn't see Kenneth anywhere and yet she doubted the man seemed like the type to let his kid wander around at will even if he was maturing.
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:02 am
There was a contented twinge to the memory. It was impossible for Max to be disgruntled or wholly cautious of two individuals who had assisted him under dire circumstances. The loss of his ring had been a tragedy. Its recovery had been nothing short of a miracle (within his mind), and so the heroics went. He was proud. He was grateful, more so than he had ever been - though the steady grudge against his Kenneth had gradually began to subside. There were greater things to be angry about than the old incidents. Equally so, there were reasons to be contented or thankful. So existed Max's little world - an endless tug of war of love, hate, and admirations.
For the mean time, he stared at Del and Echo with beaming eyes. His grin was toothy, his figure lax and fluid as he began to simmer. The endless wonder melded with his instinctive curiosity. Max was a jubilant lad, and he seemed as animated as ever at the notations of questions and habits. a treasure sense?
"A treasure sense? Really?" Max had asked. His voice rang musically with intrigue and devious mental workings. In a moment, his elaborate fantasies of treasure seeking became devoid. His whiskers had wriggled as he lolled his head to the side. The questions the older girl had asked were sinking in, fluttering about his head as he mulled.
"Pie's at home. He doesn't like to come." Max had stiffened somewhat. "He's a stickler. A ..." He thought of a better word. "... Bumbler. He's afraid of water, and doesn't like to do anything." A boyish grunt had been given as he nudged the sand with his foot. " 'Life isn't a movie, and treasure hunting isn't archeology. You do understand that legends and lore are legends and lore, don't you, Max?' " He had mimicked, rolling his eyes as if it were a statement he had heard a dozen times over. "I'm a treasure hunter!"
An overwhelming boldness filled his face as he hit his chest with one fist. A maddening stare filled his eyes. Ambitious, triumphant, proud. He was a powerful figure if ever there were one. Coy and relentless, the traces of somber delight and dignitary duty were more evident than one may have expected from a loose brained youth. "This is my secret place. I found it all by myself!" He had gasped a moment. In his excitement, he forgot his own code of being secretive. Childish and naive, he took off his necklace to hold it up - the blue shimmering in the sunlight. "I found this too. It was in the water! Pie says it isn't special or anything, but I think he's lying. He just doesn't want to admit that I found something he didn't."
Max's tail had slapped the sand, brushing it up as dusty earth twittered about. "He just doesn't pay attention - but he said I could come here - all by myself - so long as I'm good and pick up my messes and study. We're not doing boring things anymore! He's helping me read, and he promised he'd teach me this uhm ... Language. It's dead. Some dead people he studies speak it. I think he talks to ghost, but he says he just reads text and studies. Boring stuff. Pie likes to do that. Read and write about things, but he doesn't take things seriously and actually go look. But he promised he'd teach me when I get better at reading."
He stopped suddenly, recoiling as if he felt he were talking too much.
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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:52 am
Echo avoided snorting at Del and the boy's comments. It wasn't so much that he could sense treasure but that he paid better attention than most , that his eyes focused first on shiny objects and then other things. Although he was naturally attracted to things like gold and other precious metal he wasn't sure it was a treasure sense per say.
Del thought it was sad that Max had only Kenneth as his companion and guide and that the man seemed to share none of the same interests as his child. Sure her father saw the world differently than Del but they had some things in common. the dolphin girl thought is must be awfully hard for Max . At least his father read with him.
Del couldn't help but grin at the way Max strutted around, for all that he was alone he was confident and determined, it reminded her of herself at a younger age.
Grey eyes examined the pendant carefully." I don't know if it's magically special but it look special to me and the important thing is that you found it, otherwise it might have been lost forever."
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