All Bark and Some Bite ( 8 ) : Though still early in the season, some trees have already begun to shed their leaves. Maybe it’s climate change, maybe it’s a parasite. The bark of the trees seem oddly dark, almost black, but on their own they don’t look so unnatural. Maybe it’s just a pesticide or something? There’s no reason to be nervous around trees, anyway. By day, they seem perfectly normal. By night, they’re oddly loud and creaky, but even that’s normal too, right? And it’s just the wind that makes it seem like they’re moving behind you as you walk. It doesn’t explain the low gurgling you sometimes hear from the darkness, like a monstrous, grumbling stomach, and it definitely doesn’t explain how the trees seem to lean in close to you. Or how they grab at you. When you least expect it, the trees seem like they’re trying to take a swipe at you. It’s strong enough to knock you off your feet or scratch you. If you get close enough, you’ll see that it’s not any ordinary tree hollow you’re staring into–it's a mouth. Leaking sappy drool, with a mouth full of sharp, barky teeth. The trees are smart, they never move when you’re looking at them, but as soon as your back is to them, you’re free game. The only thing you can do is try to get out of there before you become plant food.
Was it just too much to ask to have a normal evening out? Irkalla, in her civilian state, had come to the woods just for a much needed break from everything. The idea was to spend most of the afternoon simply wandering the trails. Being out in nature was a sure-fire remedy to whatever was keeping her preoccupied. By daylight the woods had seemed fine, if just a little bit strange. Her decision to just wander aimlessly had taken her along trails that were more off the beaten path than normal. The inkling that led Kathryn to realize that things were strange was the crunching of leaves underfoot. The grove that she found she had wandered into was ringed by trees. Unlike their neighboring friends though these towering specimens had already shed the entirety of their leaves. Odd, but not unreasonable for something like that to happen.
There was however a feeling that washed over her that had her summoning the ornament string from her subspace pocket. "It might still be daytime, but it's better to be safe than sorry," she muttered even as she grasped the cord and became Irkalla. The squire of Cosmos shivered. The feeling was even more pronounced after she had powered up and it was with extreme caution that she reached out to one of the barren trees before drawing her hand back.
"Best advice to self: don't touch the trees just yet. Something definitely feels off here, but what is it?"
There was no time to simply poke around though as another powered aura flared up nearby. The grove was growing dimmer as the sun began to set and Irkalla frowned. This was not a place to be once the sun went down. She could find her way home, no problem. But being around trees that didn't seem to feel like trees was a recipe for disaster.
xLP
Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2024 6:59 pm
Zoya had started out as a civilian taking a stroll around the woods, but it wasn't long she had a feeling creep on her like something was wrong with the part of the woods she'd entered. It was a different area than Irkalia but it didn't take her long to transform.
She stood there getting her barrings when she realized there was another power signature. She was relieved and made her way towards the owner of the aura. Hoping that it belonged to someone friendly.
The trees felt like they ere alive and trying to grab at her as she briskly walked to find the source of he signature. "Good evening." She called out as she caught a glimspe of the knight who wasn't far away and it relieved chibi tea, since she was still stuck at a chibi level of senshiness.
Did that tree just seriously lean closer to grab at her? Irkalla stared at the limb that had made the offending motion before shaking her head. The owner of the powered aura that had been nearby was drawing closer to her and for that Irkalla was grateful. At least there was strength in numbers. Although the sight of a senshi emerging from the thicket of trees and calling out to her had not been expected.
The sight of a senshi, while not uncommon, still had Irkalla pausing to take in the outfit of the other before she simply gave a shrug of her shoulders. What was the problem if the other's outfit appeared a little off from all the other senshi that she'd encountered before? And it wasn't really off, just different in design.
"Hmm, I don't know about the good part of it being evening ... but thank you nonetheless."
Her gaze swung back to the tree limb that once more seemed to bow low enough to scrape at her shoulders. The thinnest branches almost seemed too eager to snag at her hair to try and hold her in place. "I'm not entirely sure if it's my imagination or not, but these trees seem to have an issue with respecting personal space."
If anything the fact that there was another person in the clearing ... it almost was like their presence riled the trees up even further.
LP
Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2024 2:04 am
Tea gave a nervous chuckle when the other said she didn't know about it being a good evening, and well to be fair the chibi senshi agreed with that, since the trees seemed to be fairly creepy.
"They do seem to have an issue with it." She swatted at a tree that was trying to grab her ribbon tail and then after her shoulders. She moved trying to get out of reach.
"I'm not sure what's up with these, they seem less friendly than druids." She wrinkled her nose, "I'm Chibi Tea," She added as she moved closer to the other, "I hope you don't mind me joining you to try to get out of the maze and --" She was cut off for a moment when a loud gurgling noise of something that sounded hungry came from in the distance. "Oh . . . that's not good."
Chibi Tea? Had Irkalla ever met a chibi senshi? Looking back at her long history of being able to partake in the powered war Irkalla didn't believe that she had ever encountered one? There might have been instances where she could have been fighting in a group in which one or two were present, but she hadn't actually interacted with a chibi on a one to one basis.
Even as Tea made her ask about sticking close did Irkalla already find herself nodding. There were strength in numbers and well it would be interesting to figure out just how chibi senshi operated. But that could be saved for another time. The gurgling sound that emanated from a nearby tree had caught Tea's attention and now it had Irkalla's attention as well. "No, I don't think that is a good sound at all."
Yanking free of the branches that had thought to snag at any free piece of her uniform did Irkalla rush over to put herself between the tree that seemed to be gurgling like it was a hungry creature ready to devour them if given the chance. The realization that she was looking at what appeared to be a mouth on the darkened bark was enough to have her backing up. "Not sure if it helps, but maybe we can find a way out of here. I'll keep a watch on these trees behind us, but you might need to take on the role of navigator."
LP
Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2024 2:54 am
Tea watched as Irkalla pulled herself free and was looking at another tree which left herself free to being hit with enough force to end up on the ground before Irkalla managed to come over to her.
"Well that's just fantastic." She said brushing herself off and swatting away another branch, "Yeah that works" She thought about how to keep Irkalla close to her, "Do you want to hold my ribbon the back of my outfit to keep us together or do you have another idea on how we keep from losing each other?"
They'd have to move kind of slow but that wouldn't be terrible, she thought she knew the way out at least. "I'd at least like to not end up on my face again."
Irkalla glanced at Tea to see the aforementioned ribbon that was on her uniform. It could work in a pinch for sure but she also had something that would be of use. Bringing forth her cord of ornaments, she pressed one end into her left hand before extending the other end of the rope to Tea. Then taking a stance with her back firmly to the other did the squire of Cosmos also grab at the ribbon that the senshi had indicated she could use.
If Tea took it upon herself to grab at the rope cord, then Irkalla would have made the risk of being separated even lesser. "Grab the cord if you think it will help. The only other thing I could use it for would be like a whirling flail and if I am watching the trees I don't think I can fight them off at the same time," and here the squire paused to re-examine the limbs that were nearest to her. They still seemed to shift and creak but there were no other motions to suggest that they would try reaching out to snag either of them. If she and Tea moved out of the forest almost back to back, would it keep the trees silent?
"Move on out Tea, if you are ready."
LP
Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2024 11:38 pm
Tea nodded and took the rope of ornaments and held onto one end. While Irkalla held onto her costume's tail. When the other said she was ready Tea started to move, slow enough that Irkalla wouldn't trip or fall and navigated their way back towards the mouth of the woods.
"I really do wish these trees weren't so feisty." She said as they moved she moved branches out of the way that were in front of her. Some of them were just chilling there largely because they were being watched.
"There's a low hanging branch coming up so be careful. I'll try to keep moved out of the way enough for both of us to pass it." There was still a creaking noise here and there from trees that weren't in their direct view but it seemed most of them had chilled out for the moment.
"I think we're almost there." She said hopeful that she could actually see the clearing.
The damn trees. They were damn annoying. Her gaze was constantly shifting back and forth as Tea navigated them down the paths that would hopefully lead them out of the woods. Every time she let her gaze swivel to a new location some of the affected trees seemed very keen on trying to grab at her. They'd freeze once she turned to look at them. Would it have been easier to simply grab the senshi and whisk her away to her Wonder?
Even as Tea warned her about the low-hanging branch did Irkalla grimace before turning around to put the trees at her back in order to manoeuvre around the branch. The moment her back was turned completely to face forward did Irkalla hear the rustle of branches that seemed to want to grab at her once more. Hurriedly the Squire ducked under the branch before turning to stare deeper into the woods they had just left.
"Keep going Tea, I'm passed the branch. I too wish these trees weren't so feisty. I almost wonder what the trees would think of us if we returned with fire."
The best news would be getting out of here. She trusted Tea to finish the job of navigator.
LP
Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2024 1:07 am
tefla
Tea felt the trees that didn't have a watchful eye on them move and go after her as well, she frowned and did her best to sweep while navigating hoping that she was looking a different way than Irkalla.
Tea thought she saw the glimpse of street lights, she knew they were getting close to the end of the forest. "Oh good, I'm starting to see street lights. It can't be that much further to get us out."
She looked over her shoulder to Irkalla, "Are you okay back there?" She asked as she continued forward. Glad the other was able to get around the tree branch.
Irkalla wanted to say that she was just fine but lying wasn't exactly her strong suit. She hated to lie to others just as much as she hated being lied to.
"I'm not exactly as ship-shape as I was before this little adventure but I'm coping. Are you sure you are seeing street lights?"
If it was true, if Tea was correct in her assumption that what she was spotting were lights from the street then it could only mean that their time in the forest was coming to an end. Perhaps she was being too optimistic that she could let down her guard but the draw of the moment had Irkalla taking her gaze off the trees at her back and she got walloped as a result. The branch struck her hard on her arm and Irkalla winced before her focus lasered in on the tree that was the culprit.
Her arm now throbbing did Irkalla drop Tea's ribbon. She was trusting that the young woman would still hold onto the end of the cord that she had passed over when they started to walk out of the forest. "Keep going Tea. I've been hit but I'll survive. Get us out of this maze of trees."
LP
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2024 10:40 pm
tefla
Tea frowned as Irkalla said she wasn't quite ship shape and asked if she was sure she was seeing street lights. "Yeah, I'm sure they're street lights."
It was still a bit away and she frowned harder when she heard Irkalla get hit but she was told to keep going, "When get out of here, maybe my magic'll help your wound."
There was another large tree branch, "I'm going to navigate us around a large branch." She said steering Irkalla around the large obstruction and with a few more steps after that they'd be out of this forsaken forest, "Like twenty more paces and we're out I think."
The idea of being closer to getting out of the forest was a blessing. The added hope that perhaps Tea could help her with a healing on her arm was the second positive thing to look forward to. But she couldn't really rely on everyone else to help her heal her wounds. There was, still, however a lightness to her step with Tea's announcement that there was only one more obstacle to face before they'd be free. The tree was pretty large and Irkalla felt it grab at her as Tea guided her around it but a swat of her hand discouraged the tiny fingers of the branches from snagging in her hair. She wouldn't complain but even this was just too much of nature for her liking.
Perhaps after this Irkalla would cease to wander around in the forest on her own. It was lucky that she had run into this senshi when she did. Teamwork was always better than working alone.
LP
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2024 11:52 pm
tefla
Tea smiled as they managed to get out of the forest, "Finally"
She said as she sighed once they were far enough away from the trees that they shouldn't be able to reach them, should the ones near them still be alive.
"Alright, lets get you healed up." She said hoping this worked. She paused and then called, "Mice's luck!"
Tea watched as a mouse appeared of magical energy. It took out a small bone and showed Irkalla the bone before hiding the bone in it's hand and shuffling them behind it's back. Tea was mimicking the movements of the mouse and held out her hands when it did. "Pick a hand, if you choose correctly you get healed!"
She said with a smile, though she wasn't sure what would happened if the chibi side of things decided to backfire too.
Quote:
Sailor Scout Attack: Mice's luck
When Tea calls her attack a small mouse made of magical energy appears in front of a target and shows a small bone in it's hand which it then hides in one hand. Chibi sailor tea then mimics the movements that the mouse makes of shuffling the bone, and holding out her hands palm down for the target to choose between. If they choose the hand with the magical bone, the target is then healed by a small amount.
This attack Heals minor abrasions, anything worse it'll heal about 10% - which is enough to stop bleeding if freshly wounded. This attack can be used Three times The whole attack only lasts 30 seconds then the 'magical mouse disappears'
They were free of the forest. Irkalla glared at the darkened eaves before she turned away from the branches that still looked like they wanted to reach out to grab at them. Her brown hair had a few twigs snagged amongst her tresses and it would take a moment to remove them. Looking towards the lights that Tea had managed to lead them out to she grimaced before watching as a mouse made of magic appeared before the senshi. Oh that was cute. As she watched the mouse showed her a bone before covering it and putting both hands behind its back.
Listening to Tea the woman became intrigued; so she had to pick a hand and hope that it was the correct one in order to win a healing?
Looking down at the mouse, and then at Tea's hands the squire of Cosmos simply went with what her mind was telling her, "I think I'm going with the left hand."
