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Heyyy guys, sorry I haven’t posted anything yet. :/ Just wanted to pop in and let you know that I’m still alive, stalking this thread, and planning to post something soon.
Nugget says gdae. Yes, g’day indeed.
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Sweet. See you soon then! XD
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Moonshadow~
I stand almost shoulder-deep in the tumbling stream, my eyes fixed on a fat trout. I haven’t eaten since yesterday morning, and hunger urged me out of my sleep early today, before the sun broke the horizon. I wait for the opportune time, and just when I sense the fish begin to move, I strike with both forepaws. It’s extremely slippery, however, and something distracts me. The trout escapes—darting away with a bloody scratch down its silver scales. A low growl of frustration escapes me. An old bear that I passed in my travels taught me how to fish. Unfortunately, wolf paws are not as adept at the art. It’s not the sort of thing my kind would do, normally, but fish is just slimy meat, after all, and I’ve learned to take food wherever I can get it.
It’s been weeks, maybe months, since I came to the forest. I’m still not entirely sure what drove me away from civilization—every so often I still wonder about it, but I never doubt that it was the right decision. There was an urging—from the Power, I suppose—and I followed it. The more I think about it, the more I suppose it makes sense. The Power’s time is coming, and it needs protection until that time is here. And I, too, needed time alone with it. Time to truly feel the power, time to find myself as a guardian. Neither my uncle nor my father lived long enough to teach me the ways of a guardian, so I must find them myself.
I miss people I knew before I left, from time to time. And I sometimes wonder what they thought—what they think now—after I disappeared. But I rarely want to go back. Time passes slowly and in a fog here. I lost track of the days long ago. I’m often hungry, and my once luscious coat is matted and dirty. But there is an indescribable feeling of peace and serenity that I have never felt before, and I do not wish to give it up.
I turn my attention back to whatever it was that had distracted me earlier. It was a scent on the wind, a presence. A breeze ruffles my fur and I breathe it in. Yes, there. A presence, a warmth. And not that of a forest animal.
Someone—multiple someones—are coming.
Launching myself from the stream, I bound up the bank, running until I reach a large hill. I’ve visited this hill many times—it’s located on the edge of the forest, where the trees start to thin, and it makes for a prime lookout spot. Below me, a rolling golden plain sprawls out. And on it, not far from my hill, are two figures, walking straight toward me.
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Kosomi~
From the top of the hill, I spot the white wolf. Moonshadow. I tap Sancta lightly on the shoulder.
"Hmm?" She turns to me.
"We've arrived," I point at the wolf. We head towards them.
The wolf notices us and pads forwards to meet us. I can see the horns around their neck. The horn Lunee is trapped within.
"Who are you?" The wolf asks, warily , but not necessarily threatening.
"I am Kosomi, Queen of the Homo Aquarians, and this is Priestess Sancta. We come on behalf of the Nocturnal –sworn followers of Lunee herself." Sancta pulls a blue pendant with an N carved into it out of her pack as I speak .
"You are Moonshadow, correct?" Sancta asks. "Lunee's Guardian?"
The wolf now bristles with hostility. "How do you know that?"
"As my friend said, we are members of the Nocturnal. Lunee sometimes is able to give us messages through things like visions and omens. She told us to find you–or at least the signs in nature did. We don't wish to harm you," Sancta explained calmly.
" Well…alright. What is it that you want? "
"We wish that you come with us back to our Temple," I explain.
"And we also would like to summon Lunee."
~~~
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Do you want to write the discovery of Moonshadow still or should I?
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Ummm, could you? I'm still not acquainted with the character of Moonshadow. I'm afraid I'd mess him up horribly. Thank you! *:P
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Sancta~
Moonshadow squinted.
"And how to I know to trust you?" He inquires. I thought this might happen. I take a deep breath as Kosomi steps back. Moonshadow shifts his feet, preparing for an attack. "I will have you know that I have guarded the Power of Howl for a very long time. Many have come to claim it, but none have proved the Heir. If you prove false I shall destroy you." The white wolf growled. I close my eyes and seek Lunee in the instrument. Her power throbs like a heart-sung tune long forgotten, and I tap into it. Lunee, help me show him.
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Kosomi~
"And how do I know to trust you?" Moonshadow asks. Sancta takes a large breath and I step backwards, catiously. Moonshadow gets into a fighting stance
"I will have you know that I have guarded the Power of Howl for a very long time. Many have come to claim it, but none have proved the Heir. If you prove false I shall destroy you," the wolf growls. Sancta closes her eyes.
There is a tense feeling in the air, a sort of kinetic energy. Like a rubber band about to either snap or stretch back into position.
Suddenly, a glowing image of a winged wolf appears in the air–the mark of Lunee.
You can trust them, my Guardian, a strange voice says. Moonshadow looks up at the image.
"Alright. I think Lunee says I can trust you," He says. The image fades away.
"Good. We'll head back to the Temple tommorrow morning, it's getting late," I suggest.
"Fine by me," Sancta says, opening her eyes once more. "But our journey should be quick. Lunee is ready to be awakened, and she will not be pleased if we keep her trapped in that instrument for much longer."
~~~
@Night Whispers and Moonshadow– Should we announce the beginning of the Power of Howl?
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Um…are we going to start….?
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You can start now, if you want.
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Hazel~
Would you believe me if I told you I was done?
Don't answer that. If you'd seen what I've seen, you'd be done too.
My name is Hazel Coryli. I grew up in northeast Kyngdom on a small homestead in Frostbone, where life was quiet save for hunters' gunshots and the grunting of caribou. It was a simple enough existence, but I wanted to see what the rest of Kyngdom had to offer. I left with nothing but a traveler's pack and a walking stick when I was sixteen.
Traveling suited me, so I never went back. I kept up with the news over the years, particularly interested in the feud between BIG and FaFA. None of it meant much to me–until I heard what happened in the Labyrinth Lands, and I realized that a new army was rising in Kyngdom.
I'd learned a lot about the Powers while I traveled. When I heard about the beast in the labyrinth–and how it killed Claaws in the ocean–I wondered how Kyngdom could hope to stand with something like that roaming around.
I learned everything I could about the black dragon. The Resistance formed itself around that time, but they weren't interested in what I had to say. Putting all their focus on Catastrophe didn't seem wise to me, so I created my own group–the Elites–to gather information about Jaaws.
Things went well. I got a team assembled. We got into some scrapes, but came out alive. The Resistance allied itself with us–gave us some nice uniforms.
Not too long ago, Jaaws attacked us personally. I was hypnotized, but an elf cured me. We never got to research elf magic, because we had a lead, and we rushed to the Mer flea market to see if Jaaws would show up. But we arrived too late, and the market was in chaos.
We were apprehended by bandits on the way out of the market, and I got separated from Nieke and Trixie. It was a mess. I haven't seen them since, so I have no idea if they're alright. I recently escaped from a pirate ship headed out of Kyngdom, and after several hungry days trekking east across the Barelands, I've entered the Secret Forest.
Hopeless and hungry, I've given up on the Elites. Jaaws is too powerful, I've lost my team, and I have no leads. It would take a miracle for my determination to return. What I need now…I don't know what I need now.
I need to get through these woods.
Bitter and quiet, I pass through misty pines, eyes and ears open for some sign of hope.
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~Cairan~
Mom, some people Mom knows named Ecio and Ayearth, and I were all heading to somewhere called the Nocturnal. I have never heard of this place, neither did I know why we were heading there. I felt very confused over the last few minutes. Who were Ecio and Ayearth? All I knew was that they were very scary. And one of them was mad at me for being what? A 'sideaffected power'? What was that? An insult? I could scarcely talk through all the confusion and fear of everything. What was going on? And when will I and Mommy go back home and everything will turn back to normal?
Mommy stopped and looked around her surroundings. "I believe we are almost there," said Mom. She and the others started talking about their plan or something like that. I didn't care anymore. Or at least I didn't want to. I tried my best to just sit there calmly and be quiet, but the curiousity kept bubbling inside of me. I stood still for as long as possible and began to speak.
"Mom, what is this? Who are these people? Whats happening? Why am I going to this temple, whatever it is? What's a 'sideaffected power' and why am I one? Who's Jaaws and Demise? What is going on?!" I paused to catch my breath, my brain still confused. The three stared at me in silence, not quite knowing what to say. Then, Mom stepped forward. She made a deep breath and began to answer.
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You can do whatever you want with the end there. You can either have the explanation, or you can cut it short. It doesn't matter to me.
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Sylvia~
Cairan walks in silence behind us for most of the time, which is unusual for him; I would have expected him to have been asking questions long ago. Only when we are nearing the Nocturnal's temple does he finally explode with his questions-
"Mom, what is this? Who are these people? What's happening? Why am I going to this temple, whatever it is? What's a 'sideaffected power' and why am I one? Who's Jaaws and Demise? What is going on?!"
He takes a deep breath, and so do I. It is time I explain to him what I am- what we are.
"Cairan, it's time I tell you the story of the Powers…"
"But you've already told me about the Powers! About how there's six of them, and they're different animals, and they made all this cool stuff in the world!" Cairan pipes up.
"Yes, but I haven't told you the whole story," I say gently. he quiets.
"I have told you that the Power of Hoof is a unicorn; I have not told you the unicorn's name," I say. His eyes open wide, almost comically.
"Cairan, the Power of Hoof is a unicorn named Sylvia," I whisper. He opens his mouth, but I continue before he can.
"The Powers had sideaffects; bad sides of their power, embodied in different animals."
"But I-"
"I know, Cairan."
"So then.." he looks around at Ecio, at Ayearth. "They.. are Powers? Your brothers??"
"Yes," I reply. "Now, Jaaws was a sideaffacted power, and a very bad one. Jaaws is evil, and wants power. Demise… is very mysterious, and they have teamed up with Jaaws.
"And now, we are going to a temple… where my sister, the Power of Howl is."
"The winged wolf?"
"Yes." I look up and see a sliver of the temple up ahead, and a few figures darting around. "Her name is Lunee."
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Hazel~
These woods seem to go on forever. I'm awed by the age and size of its trees, and its wildlife is so diverse. A certain air of magic hovers subtly in the mist.
Being here, alone, is refreshing. With no shortage of food and firewood, my days here have been like a dream. My strength and resolve have returned.
Having entered from an unpopulated side of the woods, I have been unable to find any roads or pathways. Instead, I've been trekking along game trails, steadily making my way southeast over hills and hills of dense, foggy woods. I can't shake the feeling I'm being watched, which intrigues me: Rarely have I ever felt the 'eyes' of a forest so keenly. It makes me wonder–what might the depths of the Secret Forest be concealing?
This is the most vibrant, living place I have ever been in. Even the tiniest sprouts seem to be more healthy and secure than those in any garden I've visited. The colors are vivid; the air is fresh; it seems to nourish everything it touches.
The change is almost imperceptible. Does it grow stronger the deeper I probe? I begin to grow excited; my heart takes on a new rhythm, beating like an ancient drum. The longer I stay, the farther I walk, the more this feeling increases, and I find my feet drawn into the mist.
Was it hope I sought? I have found something else entirely. Something as inexplicable as life itself…
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I imagine the woods are thriving since Sylvia's been here so long.
The plan is for Hazel to come upon the Powers/Jaaws at some point, if that's okay. Sybill mentioned Crystal escorting her to the Nocturnal? [Hazel does have a Cypher.]
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By the way, Crystal has learned to speak the human language from being in the Nocturnal so long. Crystal is a snow bunting with frost powers. She's one of the Head Priests of the Nocturnal.
Crystal~~
It's been a while since I've come home, to the Temple and my people. Head Priest Seze had contacted me, telling me that Kosomi and Sancta were retrieving the Power and its Guardian.
The woods have been more alive than ever these past few years. It must have something to do with the return of Lunee and her lesser siblings.
As I fly quietly through the trees, I spot a girl. She's no member of the Nocturnal, that much I am certain of. And yet… I feel as if I recognize her. I realize I have seen her once, during my time in the Resistance. Hazel Coryli, if I remember correctly. Leader of the Elites– a group researching Jaaws. A noble cause, if I do say so myself.
I land gently on a tree branch. Her feet sink gently into the mist-covered grounds. She's awfully close to the Temple. And yet, I do not think I shall chase her off. Her knowledge on Jaaws is something I would like to keep in the Archives. I'm certain Lunee may enjoy her presence as well.
"Travel no farther," I tell her. "You may come with me, if you should wish to stay in a safe place and sleep in a real bed, Hazel Coryli."
~~~
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Hazel~
A sweet, unearthly voice rings softly down from a branch above me. I am startled for a moment as I realize it comes from a snow bunting. Should I be surprised? Anywhere else, perhaps I would be. But not here.
"You may come with me, if you should wish to stay in a safe place and sleep in a real bed, Hazel Coryli."
Wonderment fills my expression as she extends the invitation. "Thank you for your kindness," I answer respectfully, without hesitation. "I would be honored."
With a dip of her head, the snow bunting alights and leads me deeper into the misty forest. A thrill runs down my spine: I can hardly wait to see what's at this forest's heart.
"I am Crystal," she introduces herself.
As we travel, a question comes over me. "How do you know my name?"
I haven't spoken my own name aloud in these woods. The only conclusion is that this bunting is part of a larger picture: She has traveled, at the very least. Is there something familiar about her? Well, I've seen many snow buntings in my lifetime. Still, her accent rings a faint, distant bell.
"You are with the Elites, no?" she returns with only a swift glance back.
Awed, I reply with a yes. Are we really so well-known? A sting enters my heart, however, as I realize that my answer should have been no: I am not with my Elites. Will I ever be with them again?
I ponder these things as we travel along an invisible path. I get the sense that many beings have passed through this part of the woods.
A change overcomes the forest that I cannot explain in words: Each shadow holds a mystery, and every tree a story, and it seems to me that time has left this place untouched.
At this point, Crystal stops me, lands on a branch just in front of my face, and begins to provide an explanation to the place we are about to enter…
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There is no trackway, no cave, no sheild of invisibility which can hide completely from watchful eyes, and in this case the eyes were golden-brown and belonged to a man stooping over a human track. BIG had attached him to Hazel soon after the flea market. He was a strange man; his eyes were set a litle too far apart and his mouth was a little too big, and his skin looked rather baked, spotted here and there with warts. But there was some light of something like conviviality in his weird eyes, and his hunched back seemed more aged than villainous, though he was only forty years old.
He heard voices ahead. A sort of twittering one he thought belonged to an owl, and the other belonging to his prey. He crouched on all fours, becoming even more hunched, then crept through the shadow of some dark pines. It was not an owl; it was a bunting. He gritted his teeth slightly; he hated birds. He often had nightmares of terrible things with blood-dripping wings breaking through his roof and ripping him apart on his bed.
The bird was leading her on through the forest now, talking to itself sometimes. The forest seemed to close in about him as they went on like the jaws of some immense trap. He felt uncomfortably not-alone. He was sure to be as quiet as a mouse, engaging the sound-deadening magic he had in a machine at his belt. It wouldn't work for more than twenty-four hours, he knew.
At last they came to another standstill. The bird was talking. He caught the words "Nocturnal… Powers… Redbird… Spirit of Luni…"
He fumbled with his radio and quickly sent his coordinates with the coded message "Followed hazel into forest, bird telling her about luni, Powers. danger proceed with caution". They moved onward more slowly and he followed them closer, now half his original size and nearly bounding on all fours, diminishing until he became a reasonably large toad wearing a white heatsuit, cryptic among the thicker underbrush.
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I hope you like this, makes for more conflict. Jaaws has been putting out tentacles too, and getting Luni awake, though the Powers do not know it, will be a race against time. A quote from the Bog & Burrow Inn: "There's no free lunch."
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