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 Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 12:36 pm
 He'd gathered another crew to go aviking once more. It was nice to get out, but he wondered about the fog that had rolled in. Of course it was the stormy season and the ocean reflected that, but the fog today seemed unusually thick. Everything smelled cold and wet. All sounds from his crew were eerily muffled. Even the sun was muted to half its normal strength during the day.
Bousvor wondered if he should turn the crew back for safety. It was sheer madness to continue when they couldn't see three paw steps in front of them. He paused trying to see those around him. "Watch your steps," he called to the others, not quite ready to give up.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 12:49 pm
 The fact that the Captain might be talking to her specifically went right over Syél's head as the lioness looked around eagerly. She was finally leaving the pride's lands! Oh sure, they'd return home, but she was going to see the world! At long last! There was, at least in Syél's mind, no other reason to become a Reaver. She wasn't very good at fighting, she didn't need a Thrall or loot or anything like that. She just wanted the freedom to explore and see things that she hadn't seen every day of her life thus far. "This is so exciting!" she squealed quietly to those lions nearest.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 1:09 pm
A dark wing was all that really stood out in the this fog of one of the lionesses. Bousvor smiled at her enthusiasm for the trip. Somehow he usually got a newbie that was super excited about the whole process. Not that he minded, in fact he loved seeing their reactions. If only he could see in this fog! While he questioned the wisdom of continuing, Bousvor led them slowly forward. Could he go slow enough until the fog cleared? He didn't want his crew to think him weak.
At least it wasn't raining. The tawny male decided to press on, carefully, through the fog. It wouldn't hurt them if they were cautious. He hoped it was enough. "Call out every so often and keep together." Bright green eyes peered ahead as he tried to pierce the wall of fog. He gave a rumble to start the call, so others could follow. A portion of fog swirled despite none of his crew being near. Bousvor chalked it up to a current of wind. The viking crew wasn't the only thing out there in the fog this day though. A young male leopard had been wandering lost and alone in the fog when he'd heard voices. Surprise made him pause as large shapes loomed out of the fog and passed him by. Some were easier to see than others. At first he thought they'd seen him, but the group passed on by as if oblivious. He wanted to call out to them, but his voice stuck in his throat. Instead the cub padded quietly after the group. Maybe he'd follow them for a little bit.
One of the females seemed really excited to be out here. He couldn't understand why. It was all white and greys. All that he'd really known.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 3:12 pm
"What should we call out?" the lioness in question wondered aloud as she looked at all the fog. It was so thick! She reached out with a pale paw to try and touch the stuff, but all she felt was air and her paw moving through it. How weird was that? Syél could see the fog, but she couldn't touch it, not even when she was covered in it!
It also seemed like there were many shapes and shadows moving through the weather around them. Kind of like the clouds in the sky above! Not that she could see any individual shapes in the sky today, it was one big cloud. A grey cloud. Kind of boring.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 5:01 pm
Bousvor sighed to himself as the expected question came. Yup. " 'I'm here', or your name will do. Or we can pick numbers. I'll be one." It was only right for the captain to be number one after all. He doubted they'd find anything interesting in this fog. All the good stuff was hidden, and no sun meant it couldn't reflect off shiny objects. This was turning out to be a very disappointing trip.
It was unlikely they'd run into any potential thralls as they'd practically have to walk right over to find them. He sighed. It had to happen some time. As he continued to move forward, he began to get a creepy feeling. He wasn't one to normally get spooked but something didn't feel right here. Bousvor looked around and saw more swirly fog.
The cub was innocently following. Were the big creatures purposely ignoring him? It didn't occur to the young cub that he could see their colors, but his blended in too well to the fog. He looked just like another piece of fog to them. The male stumbled a bit over some branches he hadn't seen. The big tan one in front of him stopped and looked back toward him, so he gave a small cry. No words, just a noise.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 5:04 pm
"Should we call you Bousvor One? Or Captain One?" Syél mused aloud as the group walked. Really, she wanted to do this right, or right enough. This was so much fun! Walking through the fog, seeing it float everywhere, feeling different things beneath her paws, hearing a small noise.
A small noise? The lioness looked around before opening her mouth yet again.
"Did anyone hear that?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 5:29 pm
The tawny male couldn't take it anymore and laughed at her question, hoping to ease some of the tension he felt. "I was thinking just One, but Captain One would work. Syél you can be two." He let the others call out numbers as it got to them. Just as he was starting to believe his imagination was running away with him, he heard a definite noise. He looked toward where he thought it'd come from but didn't see anything unusual.
An uncontrolled shiver went up his spin as Syél asked about a noise. "Yes. Beware, something is here." They were not alone. Curse this ill-times fog! Bousvor wanted to growl at it, but couldn't lest he give their location away. Where was it? The fog distorted the noise so easily. His eyes darted around at anything that moved.
They had heard him! He was so relieved! While they had heard him it didn't appear that they could see him. Was he unseeable? Maybe they couldn't see him, but maybe he could touch them? It was worth a shot. The cub stumbled over other stuff as he came closer.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 5:39 pm
"Am I Syél Two then?" the lioness asked. Then she realized all the other lions had gone quiet and were looking around warily. Syél shut her mouth with an audible snap and hastily started looking around.
She didn't really see anything in the fog, nothing but the fog itself, taking on strange shapes.
Why, over there, it looked just like an eagle! And over here like the tree she liked to play near as a cub! How neat was this?
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 5:52 pm
He nodded quietly to her question, but made no verbal reply, so she may or may not have seen it. Bousvor stood tense for action. Fearing that something was about to come out and attack the group. It was eerily quiet as the fog rolled around them. All the lions had gone silent, even Syél.
Some instinct made him want to hold his breath. How that would keep whatever from finding him he wasn't sure. He couldn't hold his breath forever either. Then there was a noise directly in front of him. No mistaking it. The big male prepared himself to confront it.
The group got very quiet. It was hard for him to figure out where they were! Had they left him? He stumbled around for a bit trying to find them in the silent fog. Just as he stumbled once more, he found himself at the black and tan paws of a very large male. His head look disembodied from the rest of him due to his white mane. The cub looked up and gave another mewling.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 5:54 pm
Syél was trying to figure out who the lion-shaped bit of fog reminded her most of when she heard it again, this time from a different direction, and quite close. It seemed to be coming from...the Captain!
"Captain One, was that you?" the lioness asked in surprise, her green eyes wide as she stared at him. She didn't really look down, and so didn't see the little ball of fur at the male's feet.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 6:04 pm
Out of the fog came not a monster, but a tiny cub. Bousvor stared at the tiny tyke sprawled at his feet. It wasn't like any lion he'd seen before. The soft hearted captain was immediately snared by the mewling. He blinked as he heard Syél calling for him.
"Yes, uh I mean no. I think I found what was in the fog." What was a tiny cub doing out here on his own? Making a quick decision he bent down and picked up the tiny thing, claiming it as his. This way he could look after him and be sure he was well cared for. How his thrall Kisukari would take was a whooooole other kettle of fish! Was it him or was the fog lifting? Looking up he realized he could see the sun starting to burn through the fog.
Looking down his muzzle at the bundle of fur, almost making himself cross-eyed, he realized what he had. It was a ghost cub.
Big! The one was so big! He didn't have time to be afraid as the large muzzle came down. He felt himself being picked up and knew he was safe. The little cub started to purr.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 6:11 pm
The lioness came over towards the Captain to see what he'd found and what had made the noise. Why...it was so small! And cute! And it was purring.
"You know," Syél offered slowly, "it looks kind of like a cub. But not quite." There was something wrong with it. Not the coloration, because gods all knew lions could be any color. But the cub's build was just...wrong.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 6:22 pm
There was rumors, stories, that he'd heard. About spirits leaving cubs for those to find to replace the cubs that had been left out for being too weak. He'd thought it silly. Until now. It was strange how the fog had lifted as soon as he'd claimed the cub. Why him?
He looked toward the lioness and nodded. Man it was impossible to talk around a bundle of fur! He sat down and cradled the cub between his paws. "You're right. I think," he paused a moment. "I think it is a cub, just not a lion cub." He'd seen plenty of those when his own thrall had her litter. Small and deformed as some had been. Plus there was always cubs running amok in the pride. "I'll keep him. His name shall be Drogo."
The cub looked around as he was set back on the ground and securely between the paws. He peered up bravely as a female came to investigate. He reached up his nose toward her curiously. The male, now named Drogo, smiled.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 6:27 pm
Syél blinked. Not a lion cub? She supposed that made sense. But what she didn't understand was why Bousvor seemed to be adopting it. The lioness studied the grey little thing.
"You do know that it can only be a Thrall, right? Well, I hope you like dealing with cubs as well as disdain," she concluded aloud. Having a Thrall could raise your status, sure, but what if that thrall was some little nonlion you'd randomly adopted? Frankly, she didn't think much of that.
But it wasn't her choice to make. And she was still out here, seeing the world. So life was pretty good, after all.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 6:29 pm
"Aye. He'll be well looked after with me." He glanced around at the group. "Shall we continue?" Without waiting for an answer, for he was the Captain, Bousvor picked up his tiny new thrall and led the way.
Drogo just purred.
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