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sentinnel

Personality

Driven - He pursues life with all of his passion.
Hermitish - Content to be with his family or alone, probably not a partier with strangers though.
Nature Loving - Pretty self explanatory, the outdoors brings him more joy than indoors for the most part.

Ikaika is not overly fond of too many people, he likes to keep his friends list managable but he may loosen up over time. He is a bit private and likes to do his own thing for at least half of the time. He loves collecting natural materials and he likes to adventure, sometimes the adventurous side can get him into trouble.

History:
Ikaika is an orphan who had been looking after his parents old home. He is not sure what happened to them, one day they were there and the next day they were not. He wants to be around people, and there are very few he trusts. He is worried that everyone else will abandon him like his parents did.

After meeting Kaiko his mate and having many children Ikaika has come along way character wise. He is more trusting, more happy and more ruthless when it comes to protecting those he loves. He is better balanced.

6'2

Ikaika plunged into the deep clear water so unlike his home. It was in his blood to appreciate the thick green murk of a well stagnanted swamp. Moss and slime were a soft comforting blanket to hide in, in the case of a threat. No day was complete without the scintillating coating effects of a good dunk in algae.
Here on the other side of the border it was a bit different, too clean, too pure. He felt distirbingly exposed the moment he orientated himself underwater. It was chillier then he was used to as well. Add that to the feeling that some kind of monster was watching him and he regretted his slithery sneaking immediately. Perhaps it would have been more pertinant to bring someone with him. The problem being that he still didn't have any friends, being altogether to eager to see the water first.

Perhaps that along with curiousity was why he had come here in the first place, abandoning his beloved swamp. Were there friends to be found here? Someone worthy of his time and patience? He had not been so lucky at home, but then he also didn't get out that much, usually prefering to stay at home by himself rather then seek out the company of others. His question was did he not get along with the others because of them? Or did it have something to do with himself? Some quirk of personality definitely made him leary of the new.
And if that creepy sensation didn't leave he was going to admit that new was a bad thing indeed, especially if he manged to get chased by some swift and fantastic new predator. The sensation increased to the point where he knew he had to cut his adventure short and get out of the fireign waters or risk meeting whatever danger his subconsciousness insisted was int he area. What had posessed him to leave home?

Simply the fact that he could explore somewhere no one of his people had ever been.

338

Class Quest

Ikaika was working in the garden one day when he heard a crash. Lifting his head he saw what looked like a small army surrounding the house, he knew they had come for Kaiko. It seemed they hadn't noticed him yet. So he crept as close as he dared and started using a garden hoe as a weapon. His sword regretably was inside the house. This was not what they had planned for but it would have to do. It felt like he fought the for forever, his arms bunred, he had the advantage of being used to the brightness of the sun and the lightness of the air. What did not favor him was numbers. They seemed to just keep coming and he knew he couldn't keep up.

Eventually they managed to encircle him. Though he found his level best, he gave them an opportunity once when he overextended and was not able to retreat quick enough.

The world went black after he got a sharp crack on the head.

___

When he awoke it was to the town's very best healer, A very pretty Matorian woman who was an absolute Master of her craft. She was expensive though. He shuddered at the thought of the fee she would no doubt demand later.
Her eyes flicked knowingly.

"Free of charge for what you did for your friend today. Takes a brave boy to face down so many soldiers in a battle you knew you couldn't win.

"Wow." This woman was far more insightful than dhe would have liked. "Your quite intuitive for a healer. I feel fuilty for not being more help, is he kkay?"

he moved to get up but she handily pushed him back down.

"He's just taking with the town guards about the mess. he will figure it out fine, and he wants you here...healing," she said pointedly.

"Fine, I see your point. Relax." He looked away. He felt weak and he kind of liked that he was being babied.

He had not gotten much of that growing up. He liked it, but he didn't want to get to used to the feeling either.

he was actually feeling a bit nauseous.
"Is nausea common?" He felt a bangafe on his head, he must have been struck because his memories just ended at one point.

"Yes, here, there ia a bucket, you may have a consussion, please do not fall asleep whatever you do, you might not wake up so easily again."

Well that was not comforting. "I have to get to Kaiko."

"Oh no, you are staying right here and keeping this bed warm for me. You have a start heart lad. But in this case you need to let better judgement reign supreme. Don't rattle those brains anymore than has already been done."

Was that a snicker he detected? "What?"

"If you stood, I'm not sure you would even get to the door without either hurling or melting down onto the floor. Peace lad, there will be plenty enough to deal with later. Especially if you don't want a repitition of what just happened. Kaiko won today, you need to do your part and get better.

Ikaika sighed and finally admitted that she was right.

539

A Man's Adventure
Complete

Sometimes a man had to do what a man had to do. He was craving an adventure, but oddly he was craving to do it alone. The kids were mostly grown, and they as parents had a lot more freedom than they had had for a long time. They were not the most adventurous people to begin with. But Ikaika was afraid that he was getting stagnant.

This he did not want to go on for too long as it would just compile and lead to even more misery. No it was time for an adventure and a sizable one. It took him a few days to gather the materials he would need and he made sure to let everyone know where and why he was going so that if they needed him they would after a while be able to find him. He would stay in a region, it would still be Matori but he wanted to camp by himself for a period of time and see if that might just be the attitude adjustment he needed. Everyone seemed to take it well enough, Kaiko most importantly seemed to understand, maybe after Ikaika was done Kaiko would like to do it himself. Though Ikaika wasn’t quite sure if his mate would want to go, surely he was also itching for an adventure.

Kaiko tended to prefer to do stuff with Ikaika instead of heading out alone and Ikaika had been that way for a long time too, but there was just something calling out to him. He needed to be alone and to re-find himself in a way. It was hard to explain it felt off to him right now, he had to find the right for peace of mind.

So long as his absence did not hurt Kaiko than everything was fine. His stuff was all packed and ready and he hugged everyone before leaving on his whirlwind adventure. He gave an approximate day in which he was to be expected back for safety’s sake and then set off along down the beach, his nahii friend he had called for escort along the shore, it could go back and give his family a message if he needed help for some unforeseen reason. Once a dad always a dad. He had a family to protect and support and they deserved him in their lives so he would be careful. They trusted him enough to go he had to trust in his own skills to be able to come back and there was something exhilarating about that that he just couldn’t put a finger on.

This was his first solo adventure for well decades at this point, he and his mate had been together ever since they had met that one fateful day so very long ago. Ikaika smiled tenderly at the thought, Kaiko was his everything. It was distressing slightly to them both that he was going alone but deep in his bones he knew this was right. He needed this. He adjusted the wide leather strap on his backpack and hoofed it out. He made good time and stopped mid morning to have some breakfast, nothing to heavy this early in the game. He wondered what fate would bring him out there, there was just so much mystery around each bend, in each cove, through the forest.
He did bump into more beach settlers just as he and his mate were, at first well known distant neighbors, then some he had only seen occasionally. The really exciting part came when there was no one he recognized but his mind kept trying to place them as some looked awfully familiar with perhaps just the wrong shade of hair or skin or spots. It was interesting and disconcerting as one. It was way past time for this kind of walk about.

As he progressed down the beach, he felt something that he hadn’t known was tight, release in his chest. This was what he was here for, a reawakening, an extended walk, a revitalization of his own self so that he may return back to his family a better happier Dad. They were all okay with him going he had checked and most though it a good idea. It felt weird passing that point where he had not been so far. But it also felt amazing in another way, not knowing what was around the bend, breaking the monotonous routine that his life had been for so long. He took a deep breath of briney Matorian air and smiled hugely.

Perhaps he would arrive at another largish settlement or an Inn and be able to get hot food or a bed if he so desired, though the thought of sleeping under the stars also appealed to him. His feet set up a rhythm that he could hold nearly indefinitely. He felt energized and enervated. He waved to new folks and introduced himself where necessary, exchanged pleasantries and moved on. His feet making quick work of the long banks of sand stretching on and on and on. Around each bend, curve and cove, there were new things to see, new critters, new plants and most of all new people although the more remote places had more critters that people as it usually was. He saw nothing forboding with the environment, all seemed well for the most part.

Eventually he did tire of walking for the day and had just entered a smaller village but it was one with the coziest coolest Inn that had a natural hotspring bath and good smelling food. Who was he to question fate after all? He who had let his own feet guide him here all the way from home. He had days of adventure to go, but a small part of him wanted to stay here for a day or two. Who knew what would happen, he thought maybe that was the charm of walkabout; its spontaneity.

He walked into the only Inn, it was small but well appointed with thick wooden beams likely brought in from the logging camps of Oba. It would stand for centuries so long as they kept the salt air from attacking it. It was impressive and both imposing and welcoming. His own home was made from log, but much smaller ones that he and Kaiko could lift themselves. This was impressive. The rounded yet tall door creaked slightly when he opened it and jingled a string of bells just inside the threshold, likely to announce someone if there was no one at reception. He stepped through onto worn wood flooring that still held up its charm. The interior was dim, augmented with gas lamps that flickered attractively hung from the rafters. A spiral stair case wound up from the central point, probably going to rooms on the upper floor. He had not expected that from the outside.
A cheery matorian woman with dark green, bordering teal hair waved at him and bowed a welcome. “Welcome to the Cozy Tide Inn, what can I do for you today sir.” She craned her head up to look at him, he was quite tall, they did occasionally get Aishans or Kahikinians hence the tall entrance door. The majority of their clientel tended to be matorian workers that needed a break and a revitalization at the hotsprings, a change of scenery or a quiet place to work on their creative activities. The Inn was special and banned any actual business work within its walls. It was have fun or none.
“Might I ask what brought you here?” She was always curious when it was someone new and exciting coming in.
“Well, I am on this adventure thing to sort of rediscover myself, my partner and I have children and they are just old enough now that we get to pursue some of the things we enjoy without having to hover around them for fear they will self distruct and I have had this wandering itch for quite a while. So I thought that a wander down the beaches would be good for my soul. I decided to try and get a room here because it looked so cozy and I’m not sure I would find a snaptrotter free bed around here there seems to be a disconcerting number of them around and I do not fancy waking up being dragged by and ankle and having to fight off that saurian smile.”
The matorian woman giggled. “Fantastic we can set you up, my name is Elna and we have quite a few different rooms for you to chose from. We have the standard hermit which is somewhat small on the top floor but boasts fantastic views, good for one person usually and we get quite a few solo guests here. There is the double room which is ground floor and spacious good for two people or one person desiring a bit more space, I would recommend one of these for you due to your frame and finally we have the largest 3 rooms and additional huts. The large rooms are ground floor face the ocean and are more of a small apartment, good for if you intend to spend a lot of time in your room. The huts are private forested and comfortable. Each has its own corresponding price which we can go over, we also accept trades and labour in exchange for accommodation. Each room comes with time at the bath and 3 daily meals.
He pondered his choices and chose a double room oceanfront. The others might be an idea if he could convince his mate to come out this far or if they planned to take the children with them.


1619

Taming of the Shrew...er Snaptrotter

Ikaika awoke on his third day at the Inn he had found on his travels. For once in a long time he did not feel rushed and did not feel the slipstream of life dragging him along in the current, it was more like being in an eddy and watching the river as it flowed past and he had to admit it was a very nice feeling. Today felt different though, today also felt hopeful, like fate was twisting its way in his favor. Hmm, today might be a good day for snaptrotter hunting. He had one familiar, perhaps it was time for another, they could get to know one another if he succeeded and if not there would always be other snaptrotters. But not that he wanted one he was determined to have one.

The critters were downright useful and he saw many people on his travels with good relations with their familiars of the large and scaley variety. Now that his kids were not bite sized, though Kahi’s were more noodles to begin with than earthlings, he felt secure in taking one home, he knew a family of great tamers if he needed help after the initial gentling with any behaviour issues. Most importantly, like him, snaptrotters loved the water and were semi aquatic.
He ate a truly wonderful breakfast of eggs, fish, soup and rice then went to the kitchen to request any chicken or other bird scraps that would go to the waste bin anyway before heading out with some rope and can do attitude.

Snaptrotters had a balanced sort of intelligence. They were from an ancient lineage so obviously had some ability to adapt but he had heard that their intelligence differed individually with some being quite smart for a reptile and others being more fitting of the reptilian stereotype.

He set up a few different traps around the water line using overhanging trees. And then perched in a tree so he could keep an eye on all the traps in case something decided to take the bait. If taken the loop rope would catch on the teeth of the snaptrotter which would make handing and taming at least somewhat easier. Snaptrotters were fast out of the water too, and any advantage he could give himself would help in the long run.

He picked an area near to where he had seen the dark gray snaptrotter who had later appeared in his dreams, an auspicious omen if ever there was one. She for it looked more gracile than a bull, had dark gray skin and scales and deep sky blue blotches along her back. She was beautiful. And he wanted to befriend her very badly at this point. It took a long time and he was ashamed to say that the hotsprings had relaxed him enough to have a nap up there in that tree, resulting in a kink in his neck and a sore butt.

However about an hour after he woke up, one of the traps had a hit. He scrambled out of the tree and rushed over to the trap. It was a juvenile, who had decided to take the bait as opposed to risking himself in an actual hunt. Ikaika released him and reset the trap with what was leftover of the bait that he had. Then he returned up to his perch to watch the traps. He was having a good day and had just consumed his snacks from the Inn when another trap was sprung.

This was the big female. His heart raced along as he approached her. She of course hissed at him.

“I’m sorry, but you shouldn’t have invaded my dreams, now I know you have something to do with my fate ol’ girl.”

He would have said old but she looked to be a large female just hitting her prime and was thus mature but still quite young all things considered.

“Now we can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way.”

From the flinty glint in her yellow eyes he thought she would likely be choosing the hard way. True to form she thrashed on the line and shook the palm tree that he had secured the trap to.

“Easy, I promise I don’t want to hurt you, quite the opposite in fact, I want to be your friend.”

She eyed him, and his voice seemed to help a bit. He had learned from the best tamers, had read a few of their books for fun, and he decided that maybe a trust exercise might be in order, he took a sash from his side and tossed it over her eyes and then used another loop at the end of a different rope to close the powerful jaws. He wrapped that rope and then another closer up the jawline. Gapping toothy maw secured he kept her attached to the tree, if she escaped with this on her face she would not be able to eat and he didn’t want any harm to come to her just as he had told her.

“Now, I’m going to touch you okay, get used to my scent and feel.”

He rubbed gently along her sides. For her part initially she whipped at him with her tail which when it struck, hurt quite a bit.

It took hours to get her to see reason and they were both exhausted. He led her back to the Inn and ordered a large room in the stable for her. There he released her face and fed her until she was slothful and her belly hung low with meat and fish.

“There see, not so bad huh?”

He left her then to relax as snaptrotters could be a bit reactive to stress and she had been out there long enough for him to exhaust her to let him handle her a bit easy. She was very large for a female, sturdy one might say, not fat but pure muscle and sass. What a glory she was.

He went through a regular round of food, and he ate a lot this time, he had also been exhausted by the time he had brought the big girl back in. The staff congratulated him on his find and asked if he had a name for his additional guest to which he replied Rhamora. He had been thinking about it on the walk back and she was a very queenlike creature, Rhamora had been a queen in one of the books that was his and Kaiko’s favorite. She was a kind and fair ruler but not to be crossed or the consequences were dire. He felt that quite apt for his current situation indeed.

His mind was filled with thoughts of her while his body rejoiced in the soothing bath. Others joined him, friends of his now and he told them all about his day and heard about theirs. Their bond was such that they agreed to be pen pals after everyone who wanted to left the Inn so that they could keep in touch. Ikaika had been unprepared for the feelings of joy that had given him.
Morning glory vines twined happily around the bathing area and as night came on, the large white blooms opened to reveal impressive flowers indeed.

It was truly a magical place and though he was reluctant to leave, his heart called for his family. In the end he hadn’t gotten all that far down the beach this time but the reward for even leaving his comfort zone had been so great that he was determined to do it again one day and some days he would bring his mate with him. It was hard to be separated from Kaiko for any length of time and in the end that need to see his mate and children was what was drawing him home soon.

He left the bath and after eating brought out some more kitchen scraps for Rhamora. The chef had a twinkle in his eye as he handed over stuff. Ikaika, unashamedly grinned right back, both of them knowing the way to any womans heart was through gifts of food. At least it was one of the quickest ways. His mate may be male seeming but Kaiko had some feminine tendencies as well, plus Ikaika had daughters and they were no different.
The barn was quiet when he entered. Rham’s yellow eyes glinted in the darkness.

“Nocturnal are you my queen?”

He grinned.

“Surprising then that you took the bait in the afternoon after that young pup tried, but I am ever so glad you did. Now if you promise not to eat me you make have these tidbits, all I ask is that you consider me as a partner. If you really want to be free, I will let you go, but I want you to see my home first and see the life you could have there. I will be back to your home range eventually if it doesn’t work out but I think you might come around if you just get a er…taste of it.”

He spent two more days building trust with her and eventually he able to be in the stall with her. When they were going to head home he did more training and was able to get on her back with just a bridle. He didn’t’ want to saddle her as of yet and he didn’t have too many goods, so he felt that it wouldn’t be too much if he were to ride her home. She had a strong back and now that she trusted him and had apparently accepted his taming, she was rather easy to work with, a lady in every way.

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