The Gang of Five
Role Play => Land Before Time RPG => Topic started by: Ratiasu on April 29, 2007, 04:31:11 AM
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The setting, as you know from reading the topic description, is going to be in the first movie, thus most of the continent is undergoing a famine. There isn't much to say, really.
Notes:
- Our characters won't be in the same place at the same time, but then no one would have anything to reply to, would they? Be sure to remember where your character is, or at least vaguely, in the vast wastelandish place that is the Mysterious Beyond.
- Be sure to have some character development in this!
- Be active. Often the person you're role-playing with doesn't like to wait six months for a reply.
- Do not be afraid to throw yourself into drastic, dangerous, or else bizarre situations.
- Don't post a single line. Make an effort to describe the surrounding, among other things, so the character your character is hanging around with doesn't, say, fall into a pool of lava in what was supposed to be a dense forest. We all need to know where we are, setting-wise, which relates to my first note.
I guess I'll start the introductory post with my Pachycephalosaurus character, Odottaen. Except in this role-play, this being the past, he will be a young adult. When you write your entry post, it is a good idea to let people know where you're coming from and what situation your character is in. On another note, the Great Earthshake hasn't happened yet, but it will very soon!
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The scaled gray beast felt satisfaction in the surge of his muscles as he slowly made his way across the sparsely-populated plain. Each of his thudding, tired footsteps hit the hard ground like a soft drumbeat, echoing the near-constant thunder in the low clouds above. The need for food tinged every thought. He was hungry, had been for a long time. The air was still and the heat was harsh, yet Odottaen knew he had to maintain the grueling pace if he were to survive. Or, at least, survive a little long during the famine that had struck the land.
Deep within the bone-headed dinosaur's subconscious was the image of someplace far away, a place that smoked and burned and glowed like the embers of a dying fire, and though he had never seen it before, his family had told him about such a place in the only way Pachycephalosaurus knew how - through gestures and grunts, tail thrashings and eye darts. With such limited language and society, the Pachys message had come across broken. Odo only knew that the burning place meant salvation. It was almost a shame he had been cast out from his family, as all other male Pachys were, before he could ask exactly where the smoking place was.
The day was becoming cooler. The late afternoon was transitioning into dusk - a welcomed change. Soon the hard, compact earth would be cold. The bone-head felt the strength in his exhausted legs fail him, and he collasped onto the ground, breathing steadily, his mind a storm of anger and rage. While falling he had caught a glimpse of something, or someone, in the distance. Seeing something meant to charge. To a bone-head, seeing something meant to attack, to ravage. A Pachy's territory was carried with him; everything his eye could see, he owned. It was the law. The hidden law. But Odottaen was too tired to get up and do what his mind demanded. His brilliant, unusual orange eyes were clouded over as if he were blind. He was, in a way.
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A loud roar echoed down a valley not far away. It was accompanied by yelling and shouting.
"BACK! BACK, FOUL CREATURE!"
The yelling belonged to a barricade of Threehorns and Ankylosaurs. Their words were directed towards the creature that was trying to pass their barricade.
He was tall, a good ten feet. His scaly skin was a lush green color with alarming red spots going down his back. His skin was faded, however, by the dust that had collected on him while crossing the plain. His normally thin body looked even more emaciated due to the fact that he had not eaten anything in eight days. But perhaps his most noticeable feature was his right eye, or rather, the scarred, empty socket that used to be his right eye. His other dramatic feature was the large, tattered frill which he now used in an attempt to get past the barricade.
"I mean you no harm, friends!" he bellowed, trying to be heard over their yelling. "I simply wish to pass through!
"And maybe eat a few of your dead, as well," he muttered to himself.
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OCC: Is this before or after the earthquake? I just need to know incase I need to change one of my character's back story.
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OCC: Is this before or after the earthquake? I just need to know incase I need to change one of my character's back story.
[This is before the earthquake. I think I noted that in my topic text. Now, in responce to Grievous55's post...]
Odottaen could hear noises, which struck him as odd. Loud, angry noises. But he couldn't understand what was said. The Pachy shut his eyes for a moment. There were many voices, somewhat far away. Far away, near where that shape had been. Could that long, tall, earthy, distorted have been a hill of some kind? A place where food and green and flowers existed? The gray dinosaur opened his eyes and pushed himself up on shaking, strained arms. He decided to find out.
The Pachycephalosaurus slugged towards the noises. He could smell them now. Herbivores, dangerous ones. A carnivore, which meant he had to stay away. But he couldn't. The cold sand and fading heat was giving him energy. Or hope - he couldn't figure out which, but thinking had never been a Pachy's strong point.
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You can view my characters' profiles here. (http://www.gangoffive.net/index.php?topic=1131)
He trudged along behind the rest of the herd, tired and covered with the dreadful, reddish dust that coated the dull, lifeless landscape as far as the eye could see. His brown eyes shifted across the flat landscape, paying attention for the slightest sigh of a predator. This was his duty; to follow behind the rest of the herd and look our for predators that may be stalking them. Snork sighed in a depressed manner and quickened his pace to catch up with the herd. To the teenage parasaurolophus, there seemed to be no point to life. All the herd did was wander about looking for their next meal. Snork had considered running away a few times after hearing rumors of a wonderful place called "The Great Valley" however, he didn't for fear that the place was fictional. He could be lost forever amidst the dead landscape; alone for any predator to snatch. This rootless lifestyle was a miserable, pathetic excuse of a living. And Snork's father was not making things any better. No, his father was actually contributing to the problems. His father *was* the problem. Snork's father, the herd's leader, had never liked Snork. He wanted a daughter and and was quite upset when the only egg to hatch brought a sun instead. After the tragic loss of Snork's mother, his father had been negligent and at times, downright abusive towards his son.
The bellowing of his father brought Snork's thoughts back to the present. Here came another wave of insults about what a pathetic lifeform he was. Instead...
The herd'sleader barked barked, "We're stopping here. Make sure *they* don't get any of our food! Think you can manage that?"
He pointed to a small herd of iguanodons that were resting near by. Snork snorted angrily once his father was out of earshot. Surely the spikethumbs would not come anywhere near this herd. They generally kept to themselves. Snork's father was a staunch racist. He absolutely loathed anyone who was a different species and loathed members of his own species who fraternized with them even more. Snork couldn't understand it. He couldn't understand why his father hated the rest of the world. The young swimmer sat down on the hard, dry ground and watched the other herd. A young iguanodon, maybe a little younger than himself, was resting in the company of her parents. She semed to have a kind family who actually cared about her. How Snork wished he could just run away with them. Of course thy would probably never allow it.
Strafe was lying on the rocks with her mother on one side and her father on the other. It had been a long, hard day of travel and everyone was looking forward to a decent night's sleep.
The young iguanodon asked her mother, "Mom, are you sure about this Great Valley place? We've been looking for it since I was born and we still haven't found it yet. When will we ever get there?"
The mother sighed and replied, "Have patience, Strafe. We will get there... eventually. I promis that some day, you will have a nice, safe home with plenty of green food."
She nuzzled her daughter and rested her head on her folded paws. Strafe glanced over to her father who was already asleep and decided that now was the time for rest. They could continue this conversation in the morning. It had just been such a long journey. Strafe was hungry, thirsty, and aching from head to tail. or years, her herd had been searching for the place known as the Great Valley. The young iguanodon was now having doubts that the place even existed. She folded her front feet and rested her head on them, allowing sleep to overtake her.
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Kaga wandered through a rocky ravine, keeping his eyes peeled for water. It had been three days since his last drink and the green iguanodon was beginning to feel the effects of dehydration. Kaga had come into this ravine in hopes of finding water that may have collected during the rain. The sharp rocks left painful, sore, lacerations on his feet. Suddenly, Kaga smelled the scent of water near by. He looked around and saw it trickling out of a hole in the rocks. The water collected in a small pool at the base of the cliff. Kaga gave a sigh of relief and began lapping at the cool water. Finally, after a couple minutes of drinking, the partched dinosaur could drink no more. He soaked his sore feet in the cool water, relieving the pain. He wallowed in the water to cool off and remove the dust. The pool was just deep enough for the iguanodon to lie down in. After about an hour, darknes filled the canyon and the temperature began to drop. Kaga left the pool of water and began searching for a safe place to spend the night.
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Sy finally gave up, running disgustedly back in the direction he had come. He passed a Pachy on his way, and called to him.
"You'll find safety where you're going, friend. None of this horrid plain."
He ran on.
As Snork sat on the ground, there was a chuckle behind him.
"Heh, suddenly my life doesn't seem so bad."
Sy was lying on his stomach, chin resting on his forearms. A small rise with some bushes on it concealed him from the herd's view.
"You didn't happen to leave a couple of your dead at some point back there, did you? I could use something to eat."
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Something ran by, spoke to him. Odottaen did not understand what had been said to him. The creature had not said anything. Growls. Grunts. Were they noises, and only that? Were Dilophosaurus intelligent? The creature spoke without moving anything but his jaw. Odo's eyes narrowed. That meant thing. He was trapped in the world of the dumb, the stupid. Unintelligent though it may be, there were even greater unintelligent beasts, those that ate plants.
As Sy ran off, Odo, too frantic and hungry and cold and delirious, began to twitch his arms and whip his head about in signs that he did not understand, but nothing could be done. The crested killer was already gone, and would have not understood his message anyway, for Pachy's speak half with their body, half through words. After a few moments, Odo continued on his way, in the direction he had been going before the noises had distracted him. He was thankful for the dusk. It dimmed the sun.
[First off, I'm surprised at how many people have joined. Thank you!]
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"You didn't happen to leave a couple of your dead at some point back there, did you? I could use something to eat."
Snork's first instinct was to alert the herd to the presence of a predator. But then, he sighed with relief when it turned out to be a scavenger.
The swimmer replied, "Sorry. We haven't lost anyone in this herd in years. I think we passed a less fortunate threehorn a ways back though. It was back in that direction."
He pointed back towards the horrizon. Snork became slightly nauseous at the thought of something that ate the flesh of others. He bacema even more nauseous athte thought of a creature that ate meat that was probably rotten and had been baking in the sun for a few days. He rolled over, curled up, and rested his head on his arms, trying to go to sleep. His herd would be uo early the next morning to continue their endless, rootless wandering. It made the young swimmer sick. He wanted adventure and to actually have a real purpose in life. This wasn't a life. Snork wanted his life to actually have some meaning.
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"Thanks, mate."
He glanced over at Snork's father.
"I've heard of him. Doesn't like other types of Dinosaurs, right? He should meet some Rainbowfaces, that'd teach him a thing or two. Or maybe I should introduce myself?"
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Snork quickly glanced around to see if anyone was watching and replied , "Uh, my dad would be real upset if he caught me talking to you now. Maybe you should move on."
Snork could barely see the last rays of daylight and then said, "Be careful out there. Sharpteeth love to pick off lone travelers."
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He spat at a rock nearby. It began dissolving when the venom made contact. Soon it was no more than a glob of sizzling liquid.
"I don't think sharpteeth will be a problem," Sy said, grinning, his own teeth glinting in the dying rays of the sun.
He quickly got up and left.
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Strafe awoke in the middle of the night. the young iguanodon groaned as her tired, sore muscles stretched. She stretched her legs and walked a short distance from the herd, looking for something to eat. She had been hungry for a long time and would gladly eat any green scrap of food she could find. She made sure to stay within sight of the herd but did not go too far out. Then, the iguanodon's nose detected something. Some green. Strafe followed the scent to the base of a large stone where a green sage bush grew. Strafe smiled with glee at her discovery and went to work feasting on her first green meal in days. Things like this were always rare treats. For all her life, Strafe and her herd had been wandering this desolate land searching for the Great Valley. Strafe had been having doubts about its existance over the last year and losing hope that she would ever have a good, safe home.
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Kaga creped quietly from the canyon, having decided that it was too cold. He figured he'd rather take his chances out on the open flats rather than in the cold, dark canyon. The moon shined down upon the green iguanodon and flooded the landscape with white light. Kaga trudged onto the plains looking for a place to spend the remainder of the night.
The young iguanodon noticed a hallow ahead and said to himself, "Bingo."
He checked the hallow out and found it to be saticfactory. He hunkered down next to a rock and closed his eyes and was soon asleep.
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Strafe turned to return to the safety of her herd when she spotted a dark figure in the distance. She tried to make out what it was although it was difficult in the darkness. Whatever it was, it walked upright and it was getting closer. The adolescent iguanodon still couldn't tell what the stranger was but she didn't like it. Strafe turned to head back to the safety of her herd which was not but about 300 yards away. THe last thing she needed was to get caugh by a predator out here by herself.
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The sparptooth spotted his prey ahead. Tonights meal appeared to be an iguanodon that had strayed from its herd. It shouldn't have been too hard to bring down. Shriek was about to charge when the prey spotted him. Blast! The prey wasn't supposed to spot him! Having gone two weeks without a decent meal, he was not about to allow this opportunity to slip away. With a deafening roar, Shriek leaped forward and charged full speed ahead at the iguanodon.
(Is anyone else going to join this rp? It isn't much fun with only two people.)
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(Is anyone else going to join this rp? It isn't much fun with only two people.)
[I would, but I'm busy at the moment. I'll probably post in-character sometime in the next few days, but man, homework is killing me.]
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A shiver of fear ran through Strafe's body as the sharptooth charged toward her. The helpless iguanodon turned and made a break for her herd, taking advantage of her speed. Strafe had always been a fast runner. She was nearing the hill where her herd slept just on the other side. The sharptooth was getting closer now. Strafe leaped over a rock and gave it everything she had to put as much distance between the predator and herself as possible. Strafe really, *really* didn't want to have to fight this thing.
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A large shape leaped in front of the charging sharptooth. It hissed and extended its frill. Lifting is head to the sky, the creature let out a terrifying scream.
Sy charged at the sharptooth, venom drooling from his mouth.
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Odottaen had gotten lucky over the past week of his blind travelings. A day ago, near some old canyon, he had stumbled over a small water hole. The only residents instantly snapped up their elegant necks to look at him as he had approached. They had snapped their toothless jaws and glared angrily at him with pink eyes. They were slightly bigger than him, but very fragile. Everything about them had been long. Odo felt a primal rage overtake him, and soon he was lost in action, bellowing, stamping, tossing his head from side to side, whipping his tail about, running at them. Once he had swung his head horizontally and it had hit one of them in the side. There had been a noise, a horrible noise, a slight shriek, and the dinosaur had only mangaged to limp a few steps before collasping into the pool, its body half in, half out, of the water.
All of them quickly left, leaving Odottaen alone. The gray Pachycephalosaurus, still caught up in his instinctive mindless fury, had uprooted the hard ground with his back feet until his toes had bled and the nails were bent. He marked one of nearby canyon walls with the tusks on his nose, then finally, when this was completed, he felt himself take control again. Due to his omnivorous nature, he had a good meal, the first filling one in weeks, though the meat of the Gallimimus had been stringy and tough, and the skin was thick and the liver small and bland. The pool quenched his thirst, and the young Pachy had continued forward after three days.
Odottaen was now wandering in a canyon. It was day, and the bright, unforgiving sun was taking its toll. His eyes struggled to find shade, but to no avail. The ground was flat and barren except for a couple small rocks and a single thorny plant-like growth that scaled a fourth of the canyonside. Suddenly the Pachy stopped. He sniffed. There were alarm bells going off in his head. Something was telling him that he had to leave this place. He relaxed. There was no wind. He was only able to smell the scent of rocks and himself. There was no dust here. No footprints. Odottaen pushed onward, walking carefully. The warning in his head grew stronger. His legs felt weaker. He looked around him - behind, ahead, above, to the left and right, but he saw nothing. He heard nothing. He smelled nothing. He decided his brain was incorrect. It was he who was wrong.
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This wasn't what he wanted. Days had turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Nothing was worse then what was happening now. Reesk's instictive need for a pack was now knawing at his mind every waking moment. He'd make a pack with a Bellydragger at the moment. Reesk ran his tounge along his razor teeth. Worse yet, he was hungry. Or rather, he'd been hungry. For days. Without a pack, a Dienonychus didn't have hope to catch anything more then a Lizard or two. The desert seemed to strech on foever. Then, he smelt it. It was a scent that gave him hope. The scent of blood. Reesk didn't care who's blood it was. His usual, cautious and intelligent nature was overidden by the scent. Reesk even ignored the scent of a Pachycepholosaurus. All thoughts were centers on the possibility of his first meal in months.
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A second predator appeared and seemed to be challenging the first. Strafe took advantage of the distraction and dashed at top speed for her herd. The young iguanodon never bothered to look back. She just kept running. Finally, she reached the safety of the herd. She crept over to where her parents slept and lied down between them. Although she tried, Strafe was unable to get to sleep. She remained awake for the remainder of the night. Morning eventually came and the herd continued on its way. They were passing through a desolate valley filled with stone arches and rocky towers. The steep valley walls loomed menacingly overhead.
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OCC: (Elsewhere, Chuck Norris appeared and began to beat up the sharpteeth. Just kidding! :DD )
Elsewhere, Snork's small herd was continuing on its endless journey. After an imaginary breakfast which consisted of imaginary treestars, Snork took his position at the back of the herd. It appeared that this was just going to be another meaningless day in his meaningless life. Snork growled angrily and followed his orders to keep watch for predators.
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Reesk's brain finally caught up to the rest of his body. Stupid, you can't go running off to eat something that you haven't even seen! He sniffed. The bleeding came from the same area of the scent of the Pachycapholsaurus. Reesk approached warily. Reesk had no knowledge of what he was going up agansit. He had to be careful...
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Shriek roared with rage. The prey got away! Prey was *not* supposed to get away! And it was all because some little interloper. Shriek began to advance towards the newcomer, having decided to make a meal of it for spoiling his intended meal.
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Odottaen froze. His orange eyes widened. He took a step back, then, feeling a surge of panic for a reason he could not understand, ran forward. He kept close to the near-vertical, smooth wall of the canyon, only stopping when he rounded a corner. There was shade here. Breathing hard, more in confusion than tiredness, the bonehead realized what had made him so scared. Being in the open. In the open, with no place to hide, in direct daylight, with traces of blood from the Gallimimus he had eaten. He leaned against the cold stone wall, trying to calm his racing heart, to slow his darting eyes. It was not enough.
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Kaga wandered alone across the vast, empty landscape. Huge rock formations towered above the flat, dusty plains. Oh, how sick he was of seeing nothing but rocky flats and rocky bluffs and canyons. The green iguanodon slogged along sluggishly in the heat. He wanted to find water. Food. Shade. It was sudden and short. A low rumbling sound came from deep under the ground and the world around Kaga began to shake. The loose pebbles on the ground bounced along and small rocks and dust rained down from the massive rock pillars. Kaga quickly moved away from the pillars in case a larger chunk of rock broke off. No such thing happened. The earthquake ended as abruptly as it had started. A few stones tumbled down from a nearby tower, making a cracking sound as they impacted with the ground. Kaga continued on, hoping that this was only a small tremor and not part of something much bigger.
"That's all I need. An earthshake." he said to himself as he continued onward.
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Reesk neared a large, sheer cliff. He sniffed. The scents of both blood and Pachycephlosaurs were stronger here. He looked down the side. There were a few small protrusions, large enough for an dinosaur about his size, to stand on. Hunger stabbed at Reesk's stomach. He looked at the nearest cliff, and lept. Reesk opened his eyes when he felt his feet on solid ground. He looked down to his feet, and let out a scree of relief when he saw solid ground below them. Reesk turned to the next rock, and lept to it. As he landed, he reflected that this would take a while. It was then when the rock crumbled beneath him. With a screech of terror, Reesk was sent tumbling down the slope. He struck the ground, left-side first, with a thump. Reesk raised his head and blinked. His left side was throbbing, but nothing felt broken. Reesk rose numbly to his feet, and blinked once again. Well, the scent was stronger here. But he had several nasty cuts along his back, and the scent of his own blood mixed with the blood scent he was following.
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[Bleh! I would type more, but I can't think of much at the moment - I've had a stressful day.]
The gray Pachycephalosaurus thought he heard something. Something loud. Something dangerous. It had been accompanied by a noise the dinosaur couldn't identify - the shifting tumble of rocks. Still, Odottaen remained rooted to his shady spot. He would not attack until whatever it was that was near was seen with his own two small orange eyes. Smell and hearing weren't enough to go by sometimes.
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Reesk blinked. This search was getting very, very tireing. He needed shade. Reesk could not decide between food or shelter. It was all going very fuzzy. Rest. Rest is what he needed. Reesk made his way to a shadey spot nearby, so tired he ignored the warning beacons going off in his mind.
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Snork gazed tiredly across the vast, endless plains. The monotony of the landscape, the young swimmer feared, was beginning to mess with his mind. All he could see in every direction was red or orange plains and the jagged mountains looming off to the north. Nobody spoke to him and Snork felt that his life had hit a new low. How much longer could he take this pitiful excuse for an existence? This wasn't a life. Snork didn't know what to call it. He felt that he was a slave of his father with no free will. Snork longed to leave the herd and live on his own but he had no place to go. He wouldn't last long by himselfe with all the sharpteeth around. And then there was the issue of food and water. Snork just wished something would happen. Something to break the monotony of this endless journey.
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Strafe's herd had located a small clump of green bushes and a tiny water hole. The young iguanodon drank feverishly after going so long without water. How much longer would this terrible journey last? For almost her whole life, Strafe had traveled with her herd searching for the Great Valley. Did the place even exist? Strafe had officially stopped believing so. To her, life was now just a matter of finding her next meal without becomming someone else's next meal. She was utterly exhausted from the previous night's adventure and wanted nothing more than to get a good rest.
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[Ack! I'm sorry for not replying - I didn't see anyone had replied!...But...I'm a bit lost as to what to type. Any ideas?]
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OOC: Well, Reesk is really tired and wants to sleep in Odo's hiding spot, and has no idea there's a Pachy there, so you could have Odo reacting to that.
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[Thank you - that will work quite nicely.]
Odottaen's nostrils flared with a loud snort. He rose his head and flared his nostrils a second time, before lowly angling his gray head to the Deinonychus coming towards him. Odo did not look the predator over and had no interest in reading its body language. Fear were sharpteeth, hunger was danger, fights are gifts. Odo leapt forward towards Reesk, legs spread and braced, body bent and angled downward. He flailed his arms and let loose a small roar, chuffing and snorting, orange eyes wide, but the madness did not come yet.
Odottaen paused for a few moments to throw his body up and toss his head back, paw the ground with his foot and swing his tail from side to side, snorting and chuffing, exhaling from his nose, opening and closing his jaws and flexing his small arms. One movement was all the Pachycephalosaurus needed from the Fastbiter to lose himself to madness that overcame all of his kind when faced with another that was not their own. It faded quickly, but oh, it was dangerous.
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Strafe's feet hurt. Bad. They were sore and stiff from all the walking. Just once, the young iguanodon wished the herd could find some place that had green food where they could rest up for a few days. The endless hungar and discomfort of this journey was really wearing her down. Strafe's eyelids felt heavy from her lack of slep the previous night and were constantly trying to close over her green eyes. When would this journey ever end?
Presently, Strafe's father announced to the rest of the herd, "We will be arriving in the canyon lands soon. This place is dangerous because there are falling rocks and predators throughout the canyons. There is no way around so we have to go through the canyons."
Oh great. thought Strafe. More sharp rocks and sharpteeth.
The young iguanodon trodded alongside her parents as they led the herd towards the deep canyons that made up the canyon lands. At least the scenery would look different now.
Her mother cautioned, "Strafe, watch out for predators. Stay close to us."
Strafe nodded and got between her parents, feeling as if she could drop from exhaustion where she stood.
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Reesk blinked blearily. His vision was clouded. There was something there, he was sure of it, but he couldn't make out what. When the snorting came, he nearily fell backwards. But Reesk was so tired-Even if he tried to escape the blurry, snorting thing, he would never make it. Then, though the fog of fagitued(sp), he thought of something. Reesk toppled over and lay still, slowing his breathing to a crawl. He closed his eyes tightly, and hoped the blur wouldn't trample him.
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The Deinonychus moved. Odottaen's pupils dilated and he once again lost himself to the madness completely, lost what little sentience and sapience Pachycephalosaurus had. Since he is unable to remember what he does in that short time span, I might as well describe it.
His dilated pupils made everything look much brighter - almost on a glowing white, holy level. The canyon walls looked like vast solid, near-shapeless, blurred blocks, and for a while he had forgotten about Reesk. Instead the Pachy had instantly head butted the wall and gripped a low overhanging rock he could not see and began to scratch marks into it with the little rooting horns on the end of his snout. He began to drool and the scent glands on his ankles began to release their ironically sweet, papaya-like smell. After Odo's brain had been satisfied, the Pachy had whirled around to search for the green Fastbitter he could smell, but not hear, and due to the dilated brilliance of the landscape, could hardly see.
He had come very close to stepping on Reesk's tail or, when the several amount of times the Pachy had aggressively head butted the ground, mere inches away from breaking the sharptooth's leg or head. The green only registered to Odo right now as a dark smudgey blob that smelled funny, and thus was obligated to be destroyed, but then the wind shifted and the scents of the Iguanodon herd reached his nose, and the Pachy bucked and again slammed himself to the canyon wall, snarled and ripped up the dry, baked earth with his back claws, and suddenly the madness faded. Odo's orange eyes went back to normal, and he could see again.
The Pachy was still for a very long time. His hands flexed, and the sudden attack of pain from his foot cause him to nonverbally signal distress, something no other dinosaur understood. The bonehead, very withdrawn and showing no signs of caring for Reesk's presence, laid down and carefully examined his foot, and found, to his dismay, the badly bleeding, empty toe where his claw had been.
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The blistering heat baked the ground and burned relentlessly upon Kaga's back. He was once again thirsty and in need of finding water. This world was a very unforgiving place for a lone, young iguanodon. Was he wrong to leave his herd? Would he have been better off with the herd? Kaga was completely exhausted but he could not stop. There was no place to rest and he would be vulnerable to predators. In the sky to the west, dark clouds gathered and thunder rumbled across the plains. Maybe the storm would being rain. Thirst and exhaustion was beginning to overwhelm him. Kaga didn't know how much longer he could last.
"Water..." gasped the iguanodon as his legs wobbled beneath him. He panted and wheezed as his hind legs gave out. Kaga's vision faded and he collapsed to the ground with a thud and blacked out. High overhead, the clouds began to cover the sun and the scent of rain filled the air.
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(Uh oh! That isn't good!)
Snork glanced upward and saw the looming clouds. It had been the rumble of thunder that had caught his attention first. The scent of wet earth hung heavy in the air. Snork was really hoping for rain to make puddles of drinking water and to settle the dust kicked up by the herd. He had drank very little for the past week and was very thirsty. As the sky grew darker from the approaching storm, drops of rain began to fall from the sky. The parasaurolophus tilted his crested hear back and opened his dry mouth and allowed the raindrops to land on his parched tongue. Then, Snork squated down and dug a hole in a smal depression in the ground to collect some of the rainwater for himself. The rain picked up and soon filled the "bowl" Snork had made. He drank feverishly, quickly quenching his thirst. The swimmer lied down on the ground and allowed the cool rain to flow over him, gladly welcoming the moisture.
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Miles away, Strafe could hear thunder echoing through the canyons. They blocked her view from seeing the approaching clouds but she could tell there was a storm coming. That could be either a good thing or a bad thing. Good because it would mean water. Bad because these narrow, deep ravines could quickly flood and become death traps.
Strafe's mother reasured, "Don't worry. There are plenty of ledges we can get on if there is a flood."
Strafe nodded in agreement although she knew thaat if there was actually a flood then there would be no place to go. Hopefully there would be no flood. The sun faded away as the storm clouds rolled over the canyons. Wind whistled through the ravines and a light mist blew down from the sky. It clung to the dinosaurs' skins like beads of dew on grass. Then, a bolt of lightning tore across the sky, illuminating the dark crevases in the ravines. A loud crack of thunder followed. The herd of iguanodons settled down to wait for the storm to pass. Strafe huddled next to her mother and father. WHen she was close to them, the spikethumb felt safe. She rested her head on her front paws and closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep.
-
Reesk blinked his eyes open. The water had begun to bead on his scales. He slowly rose, blinking drops of water from his eyes. Had his wish come true? Had the sky answered his plight? He doubted this. Reesk lapped some water up from a depression the the ground, before craning his head to search for the threat from before. He does not see it. Reesk spots a small lizard, and snatches it with as much speed as he can muster. He gulps it up, and sniffs the air. A herd of Iguanodons, and the still lingering scent of Pachy. He heads for the Iguanodon's scent, hopeing ther may be soom dead or wounded.
-
The weather had changed. Oh, lovely lovely rain. The Pachy winced repeatedly as he felt the stinging pain of his torn, bleeding toe. But the rain was welcomed. Slowly the Pachycephalosaurus looked up at the sky. The burning place. Would the rain douse it out? His tail flicked in uncertainty, then he simply opened his mouth and let the rain drops quench his thirst. It wasn't enough. He required more, and with his bleeding, injured foot, finding food would be difficult. Again the Pachy studied the horizon, and the dark, booming clouds, as he had been taught not to, and found, to his dismay, that it was raining harder than it had been two minutes ago. A warning. He flared his nostrils. His brain was telling him to get away. Okay then. Okay, then.
The gray dinosaur pushed himself up and began to limp back the way he had come. The ground was turning to mud. My, the water was coming fast. Odo shivered from head to tail, eye to toe, his neck swiveling about as if he were having a seizure. Then he continued onward. Iguanodons. He could smell them, barely. His hands flexed in anticipation, his orange eyes became wide and blank. And he was completely still for several moments. Even the booming crash of thunder did not stir him. And as suddenly as it had come, this stillness had gone, and Odottaen began to hurry towards the mouth of the canyon. His brain was telling him he was going in the wrong direction. That was okay. His brain was warning him of something bad coming, or happening, or that had already happened and was going to happen again, and that was okay, too.
-
A large shape slid down a slope on the canyon in front of Reesk. Sy straightened, looking at the raptor with interest. There were several tooth marks on his side from the confrontation with the predator earlier, but otherwise he appeared in good health. He took a step toward Reesk.
"Hello. What might your name be?"
-
Reesk blinked with suprise and stumbled backwards. "Reesk." He snapped, almost definsivly. Reesk stood completly still. "Now, I have some prey to catch up too." He growled, turning away.
-
The iguanodon lifted his head slightly. Kaga's vision gradually returned and the numb feeling that enveloped his body faded away. He became aware of moisture and the temperature had now dropped. How long had he been out cold. Then, Kaga became aware of his thirst. He was extremely dehydrated and needed to drink soon. Kaga assumed that it was the coolness of the heavy rain which had awakened him. He glanced around looking for the nearest puddle and spotted it just out of reach of his mouth. Too weak to stand, Kaga used his hind legs to thrust himself about ten feet foward and right into the puddle. He sucked up the water quickly and began to look for more. Another puddle looked deep and would provide plenty of water but it was far and Kaga didn't have the strength to drag himself over ti it. He could barely reach the water with hit left front leg but then, an idea struck him. Using his clawed thumb, Kaga dug a small trench from the deep puddle to the depression he had just emptied, allowing water to refill it. The iguanodon drank water until he was satisfied and rolled onto his stomach, allowing the rain to wash the dirt from him. Kaga rested his head on the ground and tried to get some rest and regain his strength.
-
The herd rested on the muddy ground, huddled close together. It was a small herd, comsisting of only Strafe, her parents, her grandparents, two aunts and an uncle. Strafe had awakened after everal hours of peaceful sleep, hungry once again. She sighed in frustration at how quickly she was hungry again. The green plants her herd had found hours before were neither filling nor nutritious. They were just enough to keen an iguanodon alive. This time, green food was not far off like before. There were lots of green ferns and sage bushes growing from the rocks all around. Strafe wouldn't have to travel far. The teenage iguanodon quietly got up from where she was nestled between her parents and crept over to a patch of greenery to eat in peace. The rest of the herd had eaten from plants like this earlier but Strafe was hungry again. She had always eaten a lot and was not satisfied by just two sage bushes. A few ferns and more bushes would probably be filling enough though. Strafe found a few bushes and set to work on them, quickly stripping the first one of its leaves. Everything was perfect. Strafe was close to the safety of her family, lots of food, and plenty of water. Surely nothing could ruin this perfect moment...
(occ: just a little question. When is the earthquake going to be? Just wondering.)
-
(occ: just a little question. When is the earthquake going to be? Just wondering.)
[How about now? Good a time as any! :P:]
The mud turned to water pools. The water pools grew and ran into each other. Odottaen's frantic, weakened race towards the front of the canyon was not only exactly the wrong thing to do, but it was also a wasted effort - if he had began to climb the ledges of the canyon walls, which were not entirely smooth and straight, he would have been able to avoid the far-away torrent of water sweeping down the plains and into the canyon. But Odottaen's mind was not warning him of that. It was warning him of the earthquake that was to become a historical landmark in every dinosaur's life. The taller things are, the easier they fall. Even though Odo didn't know it, that was why he felt no need to climb the canyon ledges. A bonehead's mind and brain was a bizarre one. It was almost as if his body was a dog and his mind were a trainer, whispering out commands in a foreign language he usually couldn't understand, only a mere broad suggestion.
Odo froze at the command of his brain. He heard something coming. It was a roar, one he had never heard before, one that had no overpowering flesh-eater scent. It was raining harder now, much harder, and the water now pooled at his ankles, driving dirt and mud into his bleeding wound. When the giant torrent of water rounded the corner, sweeping towards him at a godly pace, Odo did what most Pachy's did when faced with an intruder of the likes they had never seen, and tried to roar at it, chase it off, intimidate it, kill it. Unlike most of his kind, he realized that the flood water was not alive, and just barely had enough time to leap onto a large rock before the water swept below, behind, above, and past him, and he only had the strength to hold on for three seconds before the sheer force of the water ripped him away from his stronghold. He was bumped and battered by small rocks and vegetation, thrown head over heels in the current, flailing madly. It was a good thing the plain had been so empty. There were not any trees or rocks big enough to kill him.
The sad thing was that the floor was not the worst of things to come. Though Odo did not feel it, a low rumbling shuttered the ground. Cracks split the earth's surface, spewing out magma-hot jets of steam. Most of the canyon walls crumbled, or else cracked and shook, deadly debris clattering down into the angry torrent of water writhing below. The earthquake's force elevated, and soon entire peninsula's broke off from the mainland. Mountains collapsed, entire forests and whatever was in them at the time were reduced to rubble. Huge rock formations burst from the cracks in the earth, peeling apart the Earth's crust. Volcanoes erupted almost spontaneously, spewing tons of ash and lava into the sky, pyroclastic flows, acid rain, landslides, and lava flows wiping out anything within miles of the sleeping fire giants. But the good thing was that the earthquake passed quickly. As for those who were dead...their troubles were over.
[I'd imagine not many dinosaurs in the canyon at this point would survive. :\ I know I really sped up the whole earthquake thing - you guys can expand on it if you want. Odo's still writhing around in the floodwater, practically drowning, so life ain't fun for him. Plus, now there are rocks, what with more than 3/4ths of the canyon collapsing and such.]
-
Strafe was munching on a sage branch when there was a roaring sound far off down the canyon. She glanced ahead and saw a wall of water full of rocks and debris racing toward her at high speed. Strafe turned to her parents who had already been awakened by the roaring water and shouted, “What are we going to do?”
Her father replied, “Run! We have to get out of here!”
Strafe’s mother quickly awoke the others and the herd began to flee the approaching flood. The herd had been sleeping atop a small hill but the hill wasn’t tall enough to stop the flood. Strafe was too afraid to look back but she could tell the water was catching up because the roaring was getting louder. In moments, the flood would be upon the herd.
Suddenly, there was a rumbling and the ground began to shake violently. Cracks began to form in the side of the cliffs and chunks of rocks began to fall. Right as the flood was about to overtake the iguanodon herd, a massive rockslide blocked the path of the water. Unfortunately, it also trapped Strafe’s grandmother, uncle, and one of her aunts. They would be drown in the flood waters. It took some time for Strafe to realize what was happening but she now realized that the herd was in huge trouble. Her grandfather, realizing that his mate was no longer following him, turned and looked back and in the few seconds in which he did this, an avalanche of rocks fell on him, crushing the old spikethumb.
Strafe shouted, “Grandpa!”
Her mother shouted, “Keep going! We can’t stop here!”
Rocks began to rain down from the canyon walls and more cracks formed. Suddenly, there was a deafening roar and the left wall of the canyon collapsed into the ground, and jets of scalding hot steam shot up. Strafe was in a state of complete terror. The canyon exit was now in sight but the ground began to shift and a huge stone tower suddenly jutted up from the ground, almost blocking the path. The terrified dinosaurs circumnavigated the stone tower but as they drew nearer to the exit, there was another deafening roar as solid stone was pulverized and the right wall of the canyon collapsed and sank into a gigantic gorge that was beginning to form. The ground beneath Strafe’s feet began to crumble and crack. Off to her left, a huge sinkhole was forming and ground began to collapse into the growing gorge. The remaining members of the herd tried to avoid it but the hole engulfed Strafe’s father and aunt. The crack grew and grew and the ground on the opposite side rose high into the air. It was like the end of the world. Huge chunks of rock broke off and fell into the crack. Strafe looked down and saw cracks forming at her feet and the ground on which she stood began to crumble. It was about to fall into the hole when the mother iguanodon rammed into Strafe and shoved her onto more stable ground.
Strafe shouted, “Mom! Hurry!” but it was too late.
Before her mother could react, the unstable ground fell away and into the gorge. The arthquake raged on for a few more minutes before things settled down.
Strafe lay at the edge of the huge crack, alone and in shock at what had just occurred. It was some time before she realized that her family was dead. In just a few terrible minutes, everyone she knew, her whole herd, gone... She was the only survivor. Strafe realized that she was now alone. A tear rolled down the teenage spikethumb’s face and she buried her face under her crossed front legs and cried.
The earthquake disappeared, leaving the land ravaged. Thousands, if not millions of dinosaurs had been killed by the quake. The storm had let up to a light drizzle and the worst of it moved on.
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Morning came, revealing the full extent of the damage. The sun rose over a devistated land.
Snork’s herd had fared much better than Strafe’s. His herd had lost only two and those were in the flood and not the actual quake. The ones lost had been stragglers that had joined the herd recently and not really anyone that Snork cared about. Despite the low losses, Snork’s father was furious and was taking his rage out on his son.
“You make me sick, you pathetic excuse for a son!” ,bellowed the herd’s leader. “I told you to watch for danger and you did not do your duty! That will cost you a week’s worth of meals!”
Snork argued, “It wasn’t my fault! The flood came out of nowhere!”
His father glared at him harshly and snorted and reclaimed his place at the front of the herd. They continued onward, walking along the fresh gorge created by the earthquake.
Snork smoldered with quiet anger at his father. Why was he being blamed for another thing that wasn't his fault? He had no control over the flood! This was rediculous. Snork walked behind the rest of the herd as usual, wishing now, more than ever, that he actually had a purpose in life other than to be predator bait.
-
"Now, now, kind sir, no need to get testy," the Sinensis grumbled.
At that moment, a roar reached his ears. It was a roar he had heard many times before and every time it had filled him with dread.
"If you don't mind, sir," he said, grabbing the Raptor by the arm and pulling him, "I'd suggest we get to higher ground."
No sooner had he said that when the ground began to shake. He groaned.
"Why do they always happen at the same time?!"
A large chunk of the canyon wall fell next to them, creating a small shelter pointed away from the flood. Sy dragged Reesk into it.
"Bless Pellucidar for the Rainbowfaces. Their teachings help out a lot in tight spots."
At that moment the water rushed past, a small amount managing to spill in to their shelter. But within a few minutes, the earthquake had ended, and the last of the flood waters receded.
Sy peeked out. Everything seemed okay.
"All right, Mr. Reesk, you can come out."
He started up the canyon.
"Let's look for dead. And maybe some survivors."
~~~
They came upon the remains of Strafe's herd fairly quickly. The bodies exposed were scalded by steam, and vapor still rose from around them.
"Dig through the scree a bit(loose rock), Reesk. There should be something edible there."
It was then that the Sinensis came upon Strafe. Kneeling down beside her, he gave her a comforting smile.
"There, there, little one. What's wrong. What can old Eyesaur do to help?"
-
Kaga was awakened from his deep sleep again when the ground began to shake. The iguanodon looked around, bewildered, and noticed that about 100 feet away, the muddy soil was beginning to sink inward. The sink hole was expanding and forming a long trench. Kaga knew he had to move fast. Hauling himself to his feet, Kaga began to move away from the crumbling ground. A deep rumbling sound came from directly below him and the earth began to split open, sending steam and fire erupting high into the sky. Kaga cried out in pain as a jet of hot steam scalded his right hind leg and the upper portion of his tail. Limping away as fast as he could, the exhausted dinosaur reached the relative safety of solid ground. Near by, a sand dune, saturated by the rain water, melted as a result of the violent shaking. The shaking increased and Kaga was thrown off his feet and landed hard on his left side, cracking two ribs and giving him some bruises. Rock formations began to rise out of the ground and some of the already exsisting stone towers in the distance began to collaps. A huge rock rose out of the ground only twenty feet from Kaga as he lay helpless on the muddy ground, unable to move. After what seemed like an eternity, the massive quake subsided. Kaga was terrified by is ordeal but he was still alive and his injuries were superficial. Many others were not as fortunate.
-
The floodwaters began to branch off, plummeting down the steam vents and the cracks in the earth. Odottaen was lucky he was not thrown down there as well, for he was at the very front of the flood waters, and they had thinned out quite a bit, the cracks lessening the water's power. Odo was gently drift onto a rise of land a fourth of a mile away from the collapsed canyon wall, and for a long time he simply lay there, hardly breathing, his forearm muscles twitching in involuntary lust for comfort. When he came to (he had been knocked out after slamming into one of the rocks), he felt a great pain everywhere, and the air smelled far different. A bad different.
Odo climbed to his wounded, wobbly feet and tested out his limbs and neck. His right arm was broken. That would severely impact his communication abilities. Not that these simpletons understood him anyway.
Slowly the Pachy looked over his shoulder at the ruined canyon, and slowly began to walk away from it. The canyon was good. That was an important thing for some reason. Something that had to do with the eternal burning place that would grant him salvation from hunger and traveling. He was almost tempted to go back and see if anyone knew about the safe fire land, but then decided against it. Safe fire. That would make no sense to them. He had already tried communicating his confusion to another dinosaur, long before this. They hadn't understood him. They had responded in words and words alone.
Words! The very notion made him flick his head in disgust. Spoken language meant nothing if there were no gestures to go along. Everything had a gesture to it. Stories. Cities. Names. The gesture for his own was a deep threatening growl and a glitter of desperation and triumph in the eyes and a coiling of the thigh muscles, something, Odo had learned, many other dinosaurs became defensive of fearful of. But they knew nothing.
-
Reesk blinked. Within the space of a few seconds, he had been brought here. Reesk was so dazed that he barely noticed the Iguandon nearby. He blinked slowly, his hugering catching up with him fast. Reesk dug in the rocks. The Siensis was obviously trying to help the leafeater, for whatever reason.
-
The sudden appearance of the scavengers startled the distraught iguanodon. Why now? In a flash, Strafe was on her feet. Anger overtook her as she swung her tail at the sharptooth. She wasn't sure if she hit him or not because immediately afterward, she dashed away as fast as she could. Strafe ran for what had to be miles before finally settling down again next to a tree that had some green leaves on it. She wasn't hungry and had no intention of eating. She layed down and burst into tears as she thought about the family she would never see again. How could this have happened? Why did it happen? Strafe had nobody to turn to. She didn't think she could handle the pain. She rested her head on her front legs and cried, unaware that her life was about to take another unexpected turn.
-
The Sinensis sighed, and looked back at Reesk.
"I trust you can handle yourself while I'm gone, eh?"
As Strafe sat crying, a clawed hand held out a leaf to her.
"It's a good leaf," Sy said. "You wouldn't want it to go to waste."
When she refused, he shoved it in his mouth and swallowed it, before sitting next to her.
"I understand how you must feel. I lost my parents when I was very small, and not long after that by brother. It took a lot to keep me going, and I almost didn't make it. But you can't let it slow you down if you want to live a good life. Savvy?"
-
Reesk nodded as the Sienesis left. He kicked over a rock and maneged to snap up a large insect. Suddenly, the ground shook. For a moment, Reesk thought the earthshake was back, but a familer scent proved him wrong. The Hulking figure of a huge Sharptooth came into view. A younger, half-grown Sharptooth followed it. Reesk ducked behind a large rock and hoped they hadn't spotted him.
-
To the east, the sky began to grow bright. Morning was coming and the dawn would reveal the full extent of the damage. Kaga slogged along as a slow pace, his right hind leg and upper tail extremely sore from the scalding steam. How would he ever find the Great Valley now? His path was blocked by jagged rocks and a seemingly bottomless gorge and any familiar landmarks that he had been told about prior to the quake had likely been destroyed and the land had been completely changed. Kaga was lost amongst the ravaged landscape. How would he survive this ordeal? His only hope was to perhaps find someone else who perhaps knew the way.
Kaga didn't see any end to the trench in sight and it would be impossible for him to cross so the iguanodon had no choice but to follow it looking for a place narrow enough to jump or even batter, a place where the crack ended.
Kaga sighed and continued on his lonely, grueling journey.
-
Odottaen had only been wandering a few hours before he came upon a little copse of trees. It was lucky that no one was there - Odo really didn't want to be a victim of the madness again - and he eagerly began to dig using the small horns on the end of his snout, digging for roots. He kept at this for quite some time, with aid from his long arms and clawed hands, but didn't find much. Only a couple worms, which he ate, but hated due to bitter flavor.
The pain in his foot had lessened, and the bleeding had stopped, and the Pachy was just about to move on when suddenly he found himself surrounded by a pack of six small Velociraptors (small, as in the actual dinosaur, and not the oversized Jurassic Park version). Odo blinked his orange eyes and looked around him, seeing no gap big enough for him to escape. The Velociraptors didn't move much, either, as if they were waiting for him to die. Still, Odo felt the madness begin to creep up on him, and he continually scuffed the ground with his foot in warning, but the predatory dinosaurs did not understand, and bobbed their heads and moved their heads so that their great eyes caught the sunlight and flashed like jewels.
-
Strafe was evem more surprised when the sinensis appeared a second time. Why is he following me? she thought. What does he want? However, the sinensis was only trying to help and offered some advice which made Strafe calm down.
The iguanodon said, still trying to hold backgrief, "I don't know what to do. I've lost everyone. I don't even know if I can find the Great Valley now. Everything has changed. I don;t know what to do."
-
"Look up at the sky. It's still blue, isn't it? The sun is still shining. There are still trees and rocks and other creatures. They haven't changed, have they?
"Bad times pass, like cloudy days. They seem like they'll never end, but they do. All it takes is a little patience and some hope."
He looked back at the young Iguanodon.
"I know how horrible losing your family can be, but they're never truly gone. Their spirits stay with us regardless of where we go and what we do, and we can always turn to them for help or comfort.
"And as for the Great Valley, if you like, I can lead you there myself."
-
Strafe said in depressed tone, "That would be nice. I just want to rest now. Why are you doing this for me anyway?"
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The herd came to a stop and Snork's father stepped out in front and announced, "We will stay here tonight. This tree..."
He began to gesture toward the tree when he noticed the two dinosaurs alreay there. A scowl crossed his face and he growled, "Get out! This is our tree now!"
Srafe stood up and shouted in protest, "We were here first!"
The swimmer growled and kicked her in the side and shouted, "Get out before I break your neck, filth!"
Srafe backed away and turned and ran, seeking shelter behind a rock about 100 yards away.
Snork protested, "That was uncalled for! She was here first!"
His father retorted, "That "Thing" has no place in this world! And for arguing with me, you have just lost tonight's meal!"
Snork snorted angrily, trying to control his anger. This was rediculous. His dad had become a monster. When nightfall came and everyone else was asleep, Snork decided to make his move. He snuck over to the tree and quietly broke a branch full of leaves off. He began to sneak away from the herd when he saw the iguanodon peeking out from behind the rock. Snork decided he couldn't just leave her there. He felt sorry for her after the treatmend she got from his father.
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Strafe sat watching to see if the coast was clear when she saw Snork coming her way. Great. Here came some more abuse.
However, when Snork arrived, the young swimmer said timidly, "Hi, uh, sorry for the way my father treated you."
Strafe mumbled, "What do you want?"
Snork replied, "Well, first I wanted to apologize for the way my father treated you. I brought you some food."
Strafe looked at the leaves hungrily. She didn't feel like eating but she knew she had to eat. In a matter of minutes, Strafe had stripped the branch clean.
Suddenly, Snork was struck from behind and fell to the ground. His father stood there looking as furious as ever.
He bellowed, "My own son! Helping the enemy! You disguest me!"
Snork gasped, "Enemy? Have you lost your mind?"
His father smacked him again and growled, "Never use that tone of voice with me again! You have no idea how much trouble you are in!"
Snork got up and retorted, "Oh, I'm not in trouble! I'm leaving! I've had it with you!"
Snork's father said, "You will never survive out there."
Snork replied smugly, "That's what you think. I'm gonna find the Great Valley!"
His father said coldly, "That place doesn;t exist! It's a myth!"
Strafe interrupted, "It is real!"
She wasn't sure how true her statement was but she wanted to disagree with this despicable jerk.
The herd leader turned to the iguanodon and shouted fury as Snork has never seen, "I don't recall asking for your input, you slimy piece of filth! Now crawl back to your hole!"
Snork shouted, "I'm outta here!"
And with that, Snork walked away. Strafe took off after him, preferring him over his father. Plus, she had a proposition for the swimmer that had just helped her.
Strafe asked, "So you're looking for the Great Valley?"
Snork replied, "Yeah. Do you know the way?"
Strafe answered, "Not really, but he does." She gestured toward Sy with her head.
-
"Pardon me, sir," Sy said gently to Snork's father. He stood up nose to nose with the swimmer, and let a drop of venom land on his toe.
"But you might want to think about how you're going to treat a person, 'cause you never know when they might be very, very, dangerous."
The venom ate through the swimmer's skin, dissolving muscle and cartilage, and stopping just before it reached bone.
"Ponder that while I escort your son to the Great Valley, eh?"
He ran off to join Snork and Strafe.
-
Snork and Strafe walked along through the desolate land, following the huge crack in the earth.
Snork said, "Well, it seems we are going to be traveling a long way together so we should get to know eachother a little better. My name is Snork. What's your name?"
"Strafe." replied the iguanodon in a depressed tone.
She was still devistated by the loss of her family before her very eyes but her mood had lifted a bit when she heard that this newcomer knew where the Great Valley was. She was hesitant to trust Sy at first but because she had this swimmer, Snork, with her, she felt a lot safer.
Snork asked, "So, uh, did you get separated from your herd?"
Strafe replied, "They're dead. My only hope now is to reach the valley."
Snork said, "I'm sorry. I lost my mom to a sharptooth when I was younger. That is why my father hated me so much. He blamed me for it."
Strafe then turned to Sy and asked, "So, how far is it to the Great Valley anyway?"
Strafe wondered how far away the valley could possibly be. She had spent her whole life, her whole childhood, on this journey and longed for it to end. She had a bad feeling though, that she wouldn't like the answer to the question.
(occ: I'm sure they are still pretty far away which is good because this needs to be a long rp. btw, the other Grievous will be getting home from vacation late tonight and he told me he could probably post tomorrow.)
-
The Velociraptors still hadn't moved. The madness was coming slowly this time, and if anything that was even worse. Continually Odottaen wiggled his arms and twitched his tail around, signing coming-warning-of-madness, but they did not understand in the slightest, and if anything completely ignored his physical movements, perceiving them to be pitiful attempts at distraction. Everyone had been like that. A Pachycephalosaurs language was 50% physical, 50% voice, and while their signs were universal to their species, to everyone else voice was voice and had no motions to go along. It was almost a shame.
Odottaen's nostrils flared. He took a small step back. And then the attack began. The Velociraptors began to edge closer, tightening the circle very slowly. They were intelligent, thinking beasts, but the heat of the late afternoon took its toll on everyone. The Pachy's breathing began to accelerate. His fingers wiggled and shook in signs of cannot-control and request-for-departure. He almost thought about making lowest-to-highest signals in a last ditch attempt of freedom. Maybe if the sharpteeth realized he thought of them as the grandest, most respectable species, and he the weakest, most useless, perhaps they would let him go, though that was false. But no. No, that wouldn't work.
Suddenly the growing madness recieded, and that was the time when the Pachy was most afraid. It had been his escape from the world, complete oblivion to violence. In growing fear that he might actually die, the Pachy bellowed and stomped his wounded feet, trying to scare them off. It didn't work. If anything, it looked like they were laughing.
-
Once again, Kaga had gotten himself into trouble. Two hungry raptors pursued the young iguanodon across the rocky, desolate land. He had inadvertently stumbled upon them while searching for food and now it seemed that he was about to become food himself. Just when it seemed things could get no worse, there was a deafening roar and a large sharptooth appeared.
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Shriek looked hungrily at the iguanodon, saliva dripping from his jaws. Then, the sharptooth noticed the pursuing raptors. There could be no mistakes this time. Shriek had to eat. Having just barely survived the earthquake, the sharptooth was desperate for food. He approached Kaga but the iguandon unexpectedly rushed at him. Shriek wasn't expecting this and was caught off guard. Kaga reared onto his hind legs and lashed out with the claws on his thumb. Shriek leaped aside and caused Kaga to miss but Kaga took advantage of the opening and ran for it. Another meal gone. Or was it? Shriek looke down at the raptors and in a flash, he grabbed one in his deadly jaws and crushed its body. This was not the best meal but it would sustain the sharptooth until he found better food.
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Kaga ran for his life, going as fast as his legs would carry him. He had to get out of this place. He had to find someone who knew where the Great Valley was or he would surely die out here.
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(OOC: Sorry for the delay. I've been busy.)
"It's about two month's journey from here. Or, rather, from there."
He pointed out behind them to a huge pointed monolithic rock far in the distance.
"But we're not starting the journey until I reclaim a piece of luggage."
A short while later, they came upon Strafe's herd again. A couple of globs of venom drove off the Sharpteeth, and Sy began looking amongst the rocks.
"You're still covering your eyes, right, Strafe? Snork? I hope so. Sy wouldn't want to punish you."
The Sinensis peered around a rock and found Reesk crouching there.
"Hello, there, Mr. Reesk. You didn't think I was going to leave you here did you?"
He grinned.
"Come on. I've got some company."
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Reesk blinked, and shrugged slightly. At the moment, what did he have to lose? This dinosaur did save his life. Reesk followed the Spitter, occasionally glancing over his shoulder to ensure the Sharpteeth weren't coming back.
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Strafe just wanted to leave this place for good. She never wanted to set foot here again. She focused her attention on the gigantic rock in the distance. Two months. She had spent her whole life looking for the Great Valley and the thought that it was only two months away was very welcome. Just two months. It was mush shorter than she had expected.
Snork asked quietly, "Everything alright?"
The young iguanodon nodded in reply.
Snork asked, "So, what do you think the valley will be like?"
Strafe paused for a moment then replied, "I imagine a beautiful place with lakes, rivers, and rolling green hills. There is lots of trees and green plants to eat. I have heard that it is a place where there are no sharpteeth. The Great Valley is a place where you can live in peace and be happy."
Snork said, "I imagined something similar. Sy, I think we should make some progress now."
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Kaga continued his lonely journey walking along the deep crack in the earth. He was so sick of seeing nothing but desolate landscape and longed for an oasis where he could eat and rest in peace. Kaga was unfamilliar with the route to the Great Valley and desperately needed to find someone who knew the way.
Occ: Maybe he can join up with the group soon or something.
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(Occ: We kinda need someone to reply in here soon.)
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'This has been one of the longest weeks of my life!' the young flyer shouted to himself as he continued to think 'First I lose my mother to a stupid flying rock, then that silly earthshake makes the big water swallow up my island home, and now I'm wandering this desolate, barren landscape for...' he tried to come up with an answer but couldn't, and just screamed into the sky for the tenth time that day as he said aloud
"I'll bet my next meal that no one has it worse than me!" as he continued his seemingly endless flight into the night....
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Kaga was finally enjoying a drink from a cold spring without having to worry about predators sneaking up on him. For the past two days, he had been traveling through a rocky gorge which was sheltered from the sun and scortching heat. The iguanodon glanced around from time to time to check for sharpteeth and other predators but so far, he had been lucky today. Kaga had learned from a clubtail he had met a few months earlier that this rought would have fewer predators because virtually nobody traveled the rought. A rought with fewer prey opportunities was likely to have fewer predators. However, the young iguanodon was hoping that there wasn't some important reason that this rought was less traveled. He hoped that perhaps it was a little longer than the others and hopefully that was the ONLY reason others chose the other roughts over this one. Kaga finished his drink and continued on through the gorge. He could see the end of the gorge in sight and was dreading heading back out into the open and into the heat. With a sigh of frustration, Kaga emerged into the rocky, flat landscape again. Was there any life at all in this area? Kaga felt so alone amongst the endless terrain. He desperately needed to see some green food, not that he was hungry. Just that the green plants would provide some color to the largely colorless land.
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He could see the end of the gorge in sight and was dreading heading back out into the open and into the heat. With a sigh of frustration, Kaga emerged into the rocky, flat landscape again. Was there any life at all in this area? Kaga felt so alone amongst the endless terrain. He desperately needed to see some green food, not that he was hungry. Just that the green plants would provide some color to the largely colorless land.
Longtail didn't believe it was possible to fall asleep while flying, or as others called it 'on the wing', but he managed to do it with out really trying. Of course without trulley realizing it, he had stopped flaping his wings to keep himself aloft....so he was now gliding on what air currents exsisted in the Mysterious Beyond. And of course after a few moments he glided right into the hot barren ground.
Longtail tried to open his eyes, but he was far too tired, all he could really see was a large dark, blurry figure wallking straight towards him, and he prayed it wasn't a sharptooth, but in the Mysterious Beyond anything was possible.....
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As he walked along in the blistering heat, Kaga thought he saw something heading toward him. When he looked up, he saw that he was right. A flyer that was either trying to ram him or wasn't watching where it was going. Kaga had no time to move and could only brace for the impact.
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Longtail didn't feel a thing as he slowly but effectivly rammed into Kaga...but again due to his exsaustion, and tiredness he really didn't have the time or energy to move out of the way, and before he slipped into the world of unconiousness, he managed to stutter out a weak and horse "Sorry..." before he closed his eyes and drifted into sleep....
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It wasn't a hard impact and the iguanodon was unharmed in the end. He looked down bewilderdly at the unconscious flyer wondering where it had suddenly come from. Why had it just rammed into him? At any rate, Kaga couldn't just leave him there. The iguanodon could feel the hot ground scortching his already sore feet and if he didn't move the flyer, it was likely to bake alive. Kaga gentely grabbed the flyer by the wing and slung it onto his back. Then, the iguanodon turned back towards the shade of the gorge. It didn't take long and soon, Kaga was resting in the shade with the flyer propped up against the wall of the gorge. He wanted to make sure the flyer was alright before moving on. All he could do now was wait for it to wake up.
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All he could do now was wait for it to wake up.
It didn't take long for Longtail to awaken, although being in the shade of the gorde was probably the biggest help. As he came to however noticed one major diffrence about his surroundings, as in there was shade, and he could hear water bubbling nearby. He had no clue as to how he got here, but he was thankful for whatever or whoever brought him here.
Then his train of thought brought him back to whatever he had colloded with in the scorching heat of the Mysterious Beyond, he then said to himself 'Well considering I'm not dead yet, I guess it wasn't a sharptooth I ran into out there....thank goodness! Then a smile crossed his face as the thought of fresh water was irresistable, and he was at the waters edge in moments...never so happy as he was right now drinking his fill....
But he didn't notice the Iguanodons shadow moving behind him....
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Kaga watched the flyer drink and waited for him to finish before speaking up.
The iguanodon asked, "Excuse me, are you alright? You had a nasty bump there. What happened?"
Kaga was still puzzled as to why the flyer had flown right into him like that.
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Occ: Where is Raptor? I'd kinda like to continue on now.
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OOC: Present! And absouloluty at a loss as to what to post!
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The iguanodon asked, "Excuse me, are you alright? You had a nasty bump there. What happened?"
Kaga was still puzzled as to why the flyer had flown right into him like that.
Longtail looked up from his drink of water, and looked behind him to see an Iguanadon, smiled and said "Yes, I'm okay now....I guess I have you to thank for saving my life."
Then Longtail answered the second question "I just fell asleep while flying and that is always a bad thing for a flyer." he said shaking his head, then he looked up and decided to change the subject by saying "So where are you heading...maybe I could be of some help?"
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Kaga replied hoping that the, "Well, there may be something you can help me with. I have been searching for the Great Valley but I have no clue where I'm going. Could you perhaps give me directions?"
Kaga was really hoping that the flyer knew something about the valley.
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Longtail's eyes widened when Kaga mentioned the Great Valley as his answer indicated.... "You're going to the Great Valley, I only know about it from stories, and tales, but..." he broke off speaking for a moment to think... 'Come on, think LT think!'
Then it came to him! "I've got it!" he shouted "I remember hearing a way to get to the valley....but I only remember one part..." Longtail admitted sheepishly.....
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Kaga exclaimed excitedly, "Anything you can tell me would be good. Anything at all. I just want to find the valley so bad. I've been looking for it ever since I left my herd."
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Longtail nodded and kindly said, "The only part is the rock that looks like a longneck, and I've been looking for it for days, which is why I fell asleep in the air."
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Kaga pondered what to say for a momen and asked, "Well, do you know what general direction it is in? Maybe we can work together or something."
Kaga couldn't believe his luck. He had finally met a fellow traveler looking for the great valley but the traveler has no clue how to find the place except for a rock that looks like a longneck. Such a rock could be hidden anywhere amidst the baren hills assuming that it even still existed after the quake.
(OCC: Eventually, I was hoping that Kaga would end up with the other group of travelers too.)
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"Uhhhh...no." said Longtail looked upset and tired "I'm sorry I can't be of anymore help, but I wouldn't mind having some company while I travel....if you wouldn't mind that is." he said hopfully to Kaga
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Kaga replied, a bit disoppointed, "Well, lets go then. All we can do is keep looking."
The iguanodon then asked, "If you want, you can ride on my back for a while and rest."
(OCC: Where are the other guys who were posting? THis isn't much fun with only two people. :bang)
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OOC: I'm gussing we just need to give them time to reply...and you are right this isn't a lot of fun with just two people...
"No that's okay, now that I'm rested up, I think I can fly for a while." said Longtail with a smile on his face.
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Snork and Strafe continued their journey toward the huge rock monolyth. The day was already half over and it felt as if they had made very little progress. The scorching hot sun made things even more miserable. Strafe was hating this journey more than ever before. Why did the valley have to be so far away? Why couldn't it just be over the top of a hill or something? How much longer would she have to endure this journey? It seemed to the iguanodon that she was destined to die here in this waste land. At least she wouldn't have to travel alone though. Strafe glanced over at Snork who looked like he was doing a little better than her. Of course, he didn't just see his whole family die before his eyes and have to outrun a rockslide and a torrent of water either. Strafe focused her attention on the monolyth in the distance and wondered how long it would take them to reach it. So far today, nobody had said anything and Strafe wasn't in the mood to break the silence even though it may make the journey seem less tedious. She just wanted the day to end so she could rest her sore, tired feet.
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In the late afternoon, the wind began to pick up as dark clouds gathered overhead. Thunder rumbeled in the distance and Kaga could smell rain in the wind.
The iguanodon announced, "Looks like another storm. Maybe we should find some shelter before it starts to rain."
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Longtail looked up a Kaga and said "Do you want it with green food or not?"
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Kaga said, "Well, if you can find green food and shelter, I would be very greatful. I haven't eaten for a couple of days. I'm awefully hungry."
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With pleasure my firend" said Longtail, he then began to sniff the air around him with his nose, and then said "This way!" to emhipize his point, he used his tail to point in the general direction...
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Kaga nodded his scaly head and followed the Longtail in the direction where there would hopefully be food and shelter. The storm was getting closer and the iguanodon didn't want to be out in the open with all that lightning. The wind began to pick up and the thunder was closer now. Kaga trotted faster to keep up with the flier in front of him, hoping that the cave wasn't too much farther.
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Longtail could see the cave in the distance and knew it wouldn't be much farther, but he could also smell the approaching storm and it was beginning to scare him as it brought back memories of his home being swallowed by the big water and almost being struck by sky-fire.
Just then a bolt of sky fire archs out of the clouds and lands directly in front of Longtail knocking him out of the sky, and into a deep sleep...
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(OCC: Alright guys, look. Grievous55 and Raptor, I am getting sick of waiting for a reply from you. I have been waiting for over a month for one of you to post. You are holding me up and if you don't want to be in this rp anymore than just say so. I really would like to move on already. :bang I'm not asking for a two page post. Even a sentence would be nice but please post something. I'm giving you guys until Friday this week to post a reply and then I'm moving on without you. I have been waiting for you and General Grievous has been waiting for you so his characters can join the group and you are holding up both up. I am not trying to be mean or anything but my patients has kinda expired. Please say whether or not you still wish to be in this rp so we can move on.
I don't think one post per week is too much to ask. I know people get busy sometimes. I'm busy a lot but I still find time to post at least once a week.)
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(OCC)Ok, time's up. I'm sick of waiting. Could someone fill in for Grievou55's character since he doesn't seem intrested in this rp anymore? Go back and read all his posts so you can get an idea what the character is like and understand his personality.
As for Raptor's character, since he hasn't joined in with the group he can still join in if he wants.
Grievous55, you can come back any time you want but until you do someone else will have to do your chatacter.
Note: I believe Nick said it is alright if someone fill in for the character so I guess we have permission to do that. I'll wait a little bit before posting again.
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Note: I believe Nick said it is alright if someone fill in for the character so I guess we have permission to do that. I'll wait a little bit before posting again.
(I'll do it. However, I still don't like the idea of having to use someone else's character.)
Just then a bolt of sky fire archs out of the clouds and lands directly in front of Longtail knocking him out of the sky, and into a deep sleep...
Kaga was startled by the sudden bolt of lightning and let out a cry of terror. He leaped backwards and stared at the blackened place on the ground where the lightning had hit.
Then, he saw Longtail on the ground and after discovering that the flier was alright, Kaga sighed and said, "Not again."
The iguanodon grabbed the flier by the wing and flung his head back, catapolting the flyer onto his back. Kaga made a mad dash for the cave as heavy drops of rain started to fall. Kaga ran inside the cave not a moment too soon. The sky opened up and torrents of rain began to fall outside. Kaga knelt down and let Longtail slide off his back and onto a flat rock. Then he began to explor the interior of the cave.
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Meanwhile, Sy and the others made their way through the pounding rain toward the cave in the side of the cliff. Sy turned to Snork and Strafe and suggested, "Perhaps we should get out of the rain."
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Longtail opened his eyes and blinked wondering what exactly had happened, then he looked outside and saw the rain and it came back to him the sky fire bolt! He looked around and looked for Kaga, but he was nowhere to be found....
'I wonder where he went to?' wonder Longtail to himself
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Meanwhile, Sy and the others made their way through the pounding rain toward the cave in the side of the cliff. Sy turned to Snork and Strafe and suggested, "Perhaps we should get out of the rain."
Strafe and Snork followed Syinto the cave and out of the rain. The two didn't notice the flyer and instead setteled down next to the wall to rest.
Snork's muscels ached and he did not feel like doing any more traveling today. The swimmer rested his head on a rock and yawned tiredly.
Strafe nuzzled him and said, "It will be alright, Snork. We'll make it to the valley."
It was the first time she has spoke to Snork all day. Neither had said much for a while now.
Snork chuckled and replied, "I know. I am just so sick of alking though."
Just then, the two dinosaurs thought they heard something moving in the shadows.
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Longtail heard voices coming from the mouth of the cave and decided to go investigate. After a tense moment or two he came across two swimmers and didn't see Sy.
"Hello, who are you guys?" asked Longtail with an innocence in his voice.
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"Perhaps they are wondering the same thing about you." came Sy's voice as he emerged from the shadows. "Oh and you may as well come out of hiding. I know you're there." said the dilophosaurus as he looked toward a rock formation.
Kaga emerged from behind the rocks and demanded, "What do you want?"
Sy chucked and said, "Everyone seems so harsh on my kind. Sy means you no harm. My companions and I were simply taking shelter from the storm."
Kaga then looked toward Snork and Strafe. He surveyed Strafe for about a minute as it had been some time since he had last seen one of his own kind. He thought she was very beautiful but he could tell she was sad and weary. Apparently she had been through a traumatic experience recently.
Kaga asked, "Longtail asked you a question. Who are you?"
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Strafe looked back at Kaga with equel interest. Then the iguanodon answered timidly, "My name is Strafe."
She had been startled to discover that the cave was occupied but was relieved that the occupants were fellow herbivores.
Snork spoke up, "I'm Snork. We are trying to get to the Great Valley. Strafe has been through a lot lately. Something terrible happened to her. We meant no harm. We ony wanted a place to get out of the rain."
Strafe lied down and curled her tail around her left side and yawned tiredly.
"I just want this journey to end so bad." groaned Strafe. "From the time I was born my herd was looking for the valley."
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Longtail looked down at the floor and said quietly "Yeah Sy and I are also looking for the Great Valley, we just had to get out of the sky water is all. My name is Longtail by the way." He then whispered "I know what it is like to lose....family, like...my mother."
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Atop one of the many plateaus in the Beyond, as their kind would have called it, two raptors were circling each other, one occasionally lashing out with a swift kick. The black one carried the given name of Dante, and his mentor Arius had given him the middle initials S and the last name of Starfall. "Dante S. Starfall, hm? I guess I like it." he had said when his mentor had given him his new name. Now, the pair were engaged in a mock battle, with Dante striking repeatedly at Arius, but with little success.
"Faster Dante! Move your feet!" the elder Bladefoot yelled at his pupil
"I'm trying! It would have helped if we hadn't spent all yesterday hiking! My legs are killing me!" Dante replied.
"That just means that you're not strong enough yet, youngling."
"Aw, be quiet old one! I'm plenty strong!"
"Then prove it. But let that wait for another time. For now, I have a gift for you."
"Really? What is it?"
"Close your eyes and hold out your right claw."
"Why? well, I guess I trust you, so..."
He held out his claw as directed, and when he was told to, opened his eyes.
What he saw amazed him. A ring, carved out of a pale blue stone now adorned the center claw on his right side. Speechless, he simply stared at it, then asked one question...
"Why?"
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Strafe awoke the next day to see sunlight streaming into the opening of the cave. The iguanodon lifted her head and yawned tiredly and stood up quietly. Snork felt her brush by and awoke as well. Strafe walked outside the cave and stood there in the sun, letting it warm her skin.
Snork strode up next to her and asked, "What's wrong?"
Strafe laughed and replied, "Oh, nothing. I was just getting some air."
Snork then asked, "So what will you do when you get to the Great Valley?"
Strafe replied somberly, "I don't know. I'll worry about that after I get there."
Snork thought for a minute and then said, "I think I will just enjoy being free from a herd. I can finally live my own life without having to be bossed around and used as sharptooth bate."
Strafe nodded and said, "Maybe we should let those other two guys accompany us. There is safety in numbers."
Snork nodded in agreement and said, "Let's ask them then."
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Longtail hadn't lept at all during the night, but he was used to things like that. He was just glad to see an end of the sky water as he could smell the fresh air from the entrance to the cave.
He yawned and decided to walk outside, and just by chance overheard the last of Snork and Starfe's conversation and he couldn't help but smile...as he replied
"I wouldn't mind. It would be nice to travel with others." "I hate being alone out here."
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Kaga emerged from the cave and added, "Count me in. I don't want to be traveling alone again."
Kaga was rested up and ready for another day of travel.
Sy said gesturing to the monolith looming in the distance, "We'd best be moving on unless you wish to remain in this desolate place. The sooner we get to that monolith the sooner we reach the valley."
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Meanwhile, many miles away, Shriek was stalking his prey. Over the last few weeks the sharptooth had been having a field day feasting on the remains of dinosaurs killed in the earthquake. Now he was having a hard time finding food. Currently, Shriek was tracking two troodons that he hoped would make a good meal.
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If you guys want me too...I can go scout the way ahead for us." suggested Longtail with a smile on his face as he streched his wings for flight.
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occ: Actually the sharptooth is nowhere near where they are. He is a long way away and tracking someone else right now.
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OOC: edited my last post! Sorry about that! ^^;
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"!!!"
"Arius? What's up?"
"Quiet, Dante. I think I hear something..."
"Really? I don't hear..."
"Shut Up! Please let me..."
Whatever Arius was about to say was drowned out by a terrific roar as Shrike leapt towards them...
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Shriek had finally found something to eat and he was not about to let his meal escape this time. The sharptooth wasn't sure which one to go for first so he just picked one at random. Then the sharptooth made a dash for one of the troodons.
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Kaga was happy to be with friends at last. Now he didn't have to worry about getting lonely. He felt sorry for Strafe though. Having run away from his herd, he could only guess the pain she must be going through. It was about mid day now and Kaga was getting hungary. He knew however that there was no food available so he would have to try to ignore his hungar.
Sy sniffed the air and announced, "I believe there is green food up ahead. Not a lot but enough to sustain us."
(I forgot what kind of dinosaur Sy was! :slap I'll have to go look at the profile again. :bang )
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Longtail being higher in the air was only able to hear the words 'green food.' and that was enough of a reason to take a few quick sniffs of the air and he found Sy was right...
He flew down and said to the others.. "Can anyone else smell the green food?"
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Strafe quickened her pace as she smelled the scent of green food in the air. Having not eaten the night before, she was very hungry and could tell that there was a somewhat large ammount of green food ahead. Snork hurried as well toward the green food and as the group rounded a bend, they could see a cluster of trees that were still green. There was a crack in the earth with black smoke billowing out nearby and Strafe peered inside and saw a fiery glow coming from deep within. She guessed that the hole was about 200 feet deep and had laa at the bottom. It didn't look like there was any danger of an eruption but Strafe still didn't like it. The vent reminded her too much of when her parents were swallowed by the earthquake.
Snork offere Strafe a handful of treestars and said, "Here. These are good. Eat as many as you want."
Strafe thanked Snork and ate the treestars. Then she stood up on her hind legs and snagged a branch with the claw on her thumb and tore it down from the tree so everyone could get to it more easily.
Snork said, "Good idea, Strafe." and ate more treestars. The swimmer was going to make sure he was nice and full. It had been a very, very long time since he had been full.
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As Longtial landed he noticed the crack giving off smoke and immediatly he froze and his body tensed...a memory from his past began to surface...a death he wish he could forget...his mothers death. And for the thrid time since his mothers death Longtail began to cry....
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(OOC: Whoops, heheh, I, uh, kind of lost the link to this site. I suppose a "sorry" isn't really enough. But, just in case, my deepest, sincerest apologies to everyone in the RP for keeping you all waiting.
By the way, Grievous, I'm really impressed with how you did Sy. Good job((no, seriously, great job!)).)
"Careful there, Snork," Sy warned. "Don't eat too much. Digestion uses up a lot of energy, something you'll need for the trip across the plain."
The old Sinensis grabbed a hand full of leaves and chewed them to get some water. He peered at the monolith in the distance.
"Looks like a few more days walk until we get to our starting point. Once we get there there will be more food."
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Longtail now to upset to eat, sat down and just stared into the deep canyon watching the fire water flow down below and let the tears fall from his eyes.
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(OCC: It is alright. We're glad to have you back. I kinda dropped the ball too. I have been busy with my new job and all and Grievous told me he has been busy with a college science report. Not sure when he'll be able to post. Oh, if you don't want to lose the link again then add this site to your favorites list like I did. Anyway...)
Strafe heard Sy's advice and made sure not to eat too much. She rested next to a rock to prepare for the next segment of the journey. Strafe watched as the sun began to sink behind the mountains ahead, wondering what lay beyond the monolith. Snork was washing the dust off of himself in the small pond and Strafe the turned her attention to Kaga. She found him to be a fascinating character. He was a loner, it seemed except for the flyer he had brought with him. He didn't seem to have any family and lived by his own rules. And yet Strafe found wondering if maybe...
"What am I thinging?" ,Strafe muttered to herself. "I can't be worrying about such things right now. I hardly even know him."
Strafe then became aware that her monologue was overheard despite the fact that it was barely a whisper.
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With tears still falling from his eyes Longtail looked over to the others in the group and asked: "Where do we go from here?"
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"Dante! Run! I'll Hold him off here!" Arius yelled as Shriek rushed towards him.
"But Arius... I can..." Dante stammered, as he watched his mentor shift into a fighting stance, and stare down his opponent.
"Just Run!!! I'll be right behind you! Now Go!!" Arius yelled, and as Dante escaped, turned and kicked a tower of rock down behind him.
"Now it's just you and me, Sharptooth..." Arius said, a strange gleam in his eye...
"Arius! NO!!!" Dante yelled as the rock collapsed behind him, and his mentor and friend was lost to his sight. It was to be the last time he would ever see the raptor who had raised him from a foundling...
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Shriek salivated as he stared at the troodon that had remained behind. It didn't matter that one had escaped. The other now had nowhere to run. The sharptooth could almost taste the fresh meat. His hungar drove him on as he opened his crushing jaws and lunged at the troodon.
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Kaga looked over at Longtail and replied, "We go to the monolith, I guess. Ask Sy."
Kaga then asked, "What is wrong? Why are you crying?"
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Longtail looked over at Kaga while shedding several more tears said "This crack in the ground....reminds me....of losing my...mother!" shortly after that sentence the young flyer began to sob uncontrollably. "I...miss her so much." said Longtail in-between sobs.
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Arius braced himself for the impact, but the sheer strength of this opponent startled him. Just barely holding the deadly jaws away from him, he retaliated with a swift kick, launching Shriek backwards. However, as he did so, the jaws took a chunk of the flesh from his right arm, and the claws slashed a wound in his belly. Bleeding, he faced his opponent, and hoped that Dante could find a way to survive...
Dante, meanwhile, was wandering, blinded by the tears at his loss.
"Arius... Why'd you have to leave me alone? I can't find a place to stay...not alone..."
As he was saying this, he heard a faint noise sounding like someone crying. Upon heading to investigate, he saw a small group of other dinosaurs, including a young flyer who appeared to be the source of the weeping...
"H...Hi there! I'm...Dante...Dante S. Starfall. What's wrong, Flyer?"
He said as he crested the hill he had climbed to investigate.
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Longtail was so distraught that he didn't hear Dantes friendly hello, and even if he did, he was so busy crying he wouldn't have been able to respond anyway.
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Dante was worried by the lack of response, so he moved closer to the group and said, quietly this time, his name. He hoped that they wouldn't be afraid of him because of what he was, a sharpclaw, and that he might be able to travel with them. He too longed to find the Great Valley, as he was actually a leaf-eater. Silently, he waited for a response...
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"You know sneaking around isn't the best way to introduce yourself," Sy said without looking in Dante's direction.
"However, since you attempted to do so before with the flyer, I'll let it pass. Let's start with your name."
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"Thank you. Sorry about sneaking up on you, but I didn't want to scare you. My name is Dante. Dante S. Starfall. And you are...?" Dante replied politely.
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"You can call me Sy," he said, finally looking at Dante and flashing a frightening smile at him. "These little ones are Strafe, Snork, Reesk, Kaga, and Longtail.
"Now, tell me what a lone sharptooth is doing wandering around the plains?"
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At the mention of his name Longtail looked up and still sheding a fair amount of tears from his eyes, he looked over to Dante, but still offered no response as his eyes still held a large amount of sadness within them.
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"I...I'm not...I wasn't...<sigh> I guess I am alone... I was searching for the Great Valley with my friend Arius...but...he...<Sniffle> he stayed behind to stop a sharptooth that attacked us..." Dante said, his slight anger quickly becoming sadness as he remembered all the times he and Arius had had together. Then a thought hit him... "Where are you guys headed? If you're going to the valley, I'd be grateful if I could tag along."
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(OCC: My characters are not "little ones". They are teenagers, not children. This is the last time I am going to say this.)
Strafe was already asleep but Snork was still awake, watching the sun go down. He became awae of the newcomer and watched him speak with Sy. Snork wasn't sure what to do. He didn't trust Dante's kind, having had a couple of nasty encounters with them in the past so he decided to remain where he was. Seeing as how the raptor was outnumbered, Snork figured nothing would come of this. He overheard the conversation and found the idea of a raptor traveling with him discomforting. All the same, it may be to their advantege to have one traveling with them. Snork decided to wait until morning to introduce himself though. He was tired and didn't feel like talking.
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Longtail was too tired and too sad to speak during the conversation, so he followed Strafe's idea and lied his head down and closed his eyes eventually crying himself to sleep.
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Dante became faintly aware of Snork staring at him, and turned to face him, asking...
"Is there anything that I can do to convince you that I mean what I said?"
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Without opening his eyes, Longtail said to Dante in a hushed voice...."Just don't bite any of us." Not really meaning what he said of course, but he was half asleep.
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Dante grinned faintly, and whispered back...
"Don't worry. To be honest, I hate the sight of blood...so...You can rest assured that I won't attack you guys. Besides... I... don't want to see anyone hurt. Not anymore..."
Then, he settled himself onto the ground, hoping that he had, just maybe found a group to belong to...
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Longtail then thought to himself 'I wonder what mom would want me to do.'
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Dante Stared off into the sky, wondering to himself...
"Arius... Is this what you would have wanted...?"
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Snork figured there was no point in remaining silent. Besides, the raptor could pose no threat anyway. It was outnumbered.
Snork lifted his head up and said, "Sorry. I meant no offence. I'm just tired. We have a long walk ahead of us tomorrow so I want to get some rest. We can talk in the morning."
With that, Snork rested his head on the ground and closed his eyes.
Strafe yawned tiredly. The iguanodon had overheard the conversation and glanced tiredly over at ther raptor but she said nothing. Like Snork, she was exhausted and needed sleep. There would be plenty of time to talk tomorrow. Right now she wanted sleep. Iguanodons were not happy when they were deprived of sleep.
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Kaga was having difficulty getting to sleep. He just wasn't tired. When he heard voices, he looked up and saw Sy talking with Dante and listened in. He wasn't entirely sure he trusted Sy and wanted to make sure he wasn't planning something with the raptor. As he listened, he realized that neither were dangerous and make his way over to introduce himself.
"Hi there, newcomer. My name is Kaga."
He glanced over at the others who were already asleep and said, "They have been through a lot lately. I'm sure they will talk to you later. We have a long journey ahead tomorrow."
The iguanodon's blue eyes surveyed Starfall, pausing on the necklass and Kaga said, "Hmm, intresting. I've never seen anything like that. What is it?"
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"This?" Dante said, indicating his necklace "This is called a memory stone. Whenever one of my race meets someone they think will change their lives for the better, or they find a friend, they carve that name onto the stone. It is said that this stone will always guide us back to the person whose name we focus on. At least that's what Arius told me."
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Something jolted Longtail awake, but he couldn't see anything. He looked around for a moment hoping it was nothing, but then he heard something, but again he didn't know where it came from and in an attempt to find out he slowly stood up as not to disturb the others still sleeping, spread his wings and flapped into the dark night sky and quickly looked around.
'I must be paranoid because I really don't see anything.' said Longtail to himself 'But I know I heard something out there!'
He then slowly lowered himself back to the ground and gave a tired sigh of relief, lied his body down but didn't bother trying to sleep the rest of the night...he just had a nervous feeling.
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Strafe awoke early and looked to te east, seeing the very faint rays of light beightening the eastern sky. It seemed that she hadn't slept lon enough but there was no point in trying to return to sleep. There was just no time. The iguanodon got to her feet and looked around to see if anyone else was awake. It appeared that Strafe was the only one awake until she spotted Snork tearing up a shrub to make it easier to eat.
Good morning, Strafe. Sleep alright?"
The iguanodon nodded and Snork added, "We have a guest you should meet."
The swimmer pointed to Dante and said, "We should introduce ourselves once he wakes up."
"He's a sharptooth" whispered Strafe.
Snork replied, "I don't think he is dangerous. He seemed prety friendly. Here, eat something while you have a chance."
Snork placed a piece of the shrub in front of Strafe and she quickly went to work on it.
Strafe's life had changed so suddenly. Two weeks earlier she had been with a kind, loving family and now she was traveling to the Great Valley with some dinosaurs she hardly even knew. Of course, she would have to get use to it on this journey.
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Woken by the rising sun and the sounds of voices in the background, Dante stirred, then opened his eyes. Looking about, he saw the members of the "herd" he had joined around him, and when he saw Strafe and Snork looking in his direction, sat up and said to them...
"Hi there! Um...I'm Dante. Dante S. Starfall. It's really nice to meet you both. Can I ask you both your names?"
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As the first rays of light came through the morning sky, for the first time in hours Longtail felt the need to blink, but when he did he thought he saw someone he didn't recognize then he figured it out there was a sharptooth among them! 'That's right that sharptooth joined our group last night....wait why am I the only one who dosen't know his name?' He then heard his belly rumble at him. 'Well...' he thought to himself 'I had better get some of the green food before everyone eats it all.'
As he walked over he decided to ask a question to the Dante (not yet knowing his name) "I remember you from last night...so what's your name?"
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Dante turned and looked at Longtail, then smiled slightly and said...
"Well, it's nice to see you when you're not crying! I'm Dante. Dante S. Starfall. And you are...?
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Longtail let a nervous smile cross his face as he replied "Oh....uhhh...you saw that then...well my name is Longtail. Nice to meet you Dante."
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"Nice to meet you too, Longtail. So... is anyone besides me hungry?" Dante said, grinning widely as he eyed one of the nearby shrubs, and he ran over to eat the first meal of the day.
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Longtail began to laugh as Dante was quick to change the subject to food, but stopped laughing when his stomach told him to feed. He looked around and found a small bush with sweet-bubbles growing on it, ran towards it and proceeded to gobble up the round delicacies.
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Swallowing a bite of the shrub, Dante looked at Longtail and asked simply...
"I don't mean to pry, but can I ask you why you were crying last night?"
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The young flyer hadn't been expecting that particular question, and almost choked on a sweet bubble trying to respond. After spitting the sweetbubble out of his mouth he gave a heavy sigh and said at almost a whisper, but loud enough that Dante would hear him "I can't talk about that right now....it brings back too much pain...I'm sorry."
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"You lost someone dear to you, didn't you? I can tell by the sound of your voice." Dante said, his own eyes beginning to fill with sadness again...
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Longtail eyes began to fill with tears as well when he replied "Y-Yes....I did...and i-it hurts so much...." The tears began to fall from his eyes as he tried his best not to cry, but was beginning to fail at this task.
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Dante walked over to Longtail and placed and looked him in the eye, saying...
"I know...It hurts doesn't it? I've lost someone dear to me, too... And it feels like a wound in my heart..."
Then placed an arm around Longtail's shoulders, hoping to comfort him...
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Longtail at that point broke down...again and cried as Dante tried to comfort him. "It....just wasn't...fair...I...lost...her...to...a flying rock..."
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"A flying rock, huh? The person I lost...he died protecting me... I had to sit by and watch as he blocked off the path so I could escape... and was killed by the sharptooth pursuing us... and... I feel like it's all my fault..." Dante's voice broke at this point, and he too felt tears running down his face...
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"Losing my mom was...painful...but...t-to watch....myhome....b-burn and hearing all....those...screams....I can still hear them...there horrible." said Longtail inbetween sobs.
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"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have brought it up..." Dante said, looking at the ground guiltily, as he turnded to go...
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Longtail turned around immediately, slapping himself in the head with his own tail. And then said to Dante "No! Please stay and keep me company...my mother taught me a lesson before she died....and it may hurt at first, but talking to others can help...and I think it really is...kinda helping me...I think."
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"Alright...I guess I can stick aroud for a while. Besides... I think you may be right. This talking about it does help a lot..." Dante said as he sat back down beside Longtail and asked...
"So, how did you meet up with the others?"
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Longtail let a small smile spread across his face as he retold his story...
"Well I had been traveling by myself for some time now...and just as the heat of the day and several days with no sleep, I collapsed in the desert and I was found by Snork near an oasis...I really do owe him my life...and then we traveled for a while and found the cave with Strafe inside and Sy inside and we just decided to go to the Great Valley as a group. I guess that's all there is to tell."
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Dante looked over and said...
"Sounds like you've had a pretty interesting life so far, huh?"
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Longtail gave a short laugh at the statement and said "Interesting isn't the first word I would choose."
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"True, true... but you still have seen a lot more than I have, I bet..." Dante grinned as he said this, enjoying the coversation immensely.
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"Well...." thought Longtail with a grin "I can swim pretty good, and I can fight sharpteeth...well not the big ones like Red Claw."
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"Hey, you know what? If we work together, I bet we could take out those big sharpteeth. I mean, I know how to fight, but having my left eye blind makes it kinda hard... So yeah, as a team, those sharpteeth had better watch out!" Dante said with a fiery determination and a lively grin...
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Hey yeah!" said Longtail getting a mischievous grin on his face. "So Dante, do you know any sharpteeth that need to be taught a lesson?" said Longtail with a hint of courage in his voice.
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"Just one. Just the one that killed my mentor... and the closest thing I had to a father. The one who killed Arius..." Dante said, anger and sorrow mixing in his voice as he spoke...
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Longtail's face suddenly became serious and his eyes narrowed as he replied "Right, so should we tell the others, I don't just want to leave them here...so what do we do?"
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"Oh! I didn't really mean that we should go after him, since I don't really know where he could be, but if we meet him on our road... he'll pay. For now, let's just focus on finding the Valley, shall we?" Dante said, trying to supress the darkness rising inside of himself...
"Besides, there's safety in numbers, so we should stick with the herd..."
Dante concluded.
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Longtail's eyes softened but he nodded his head as he replied "You are right, there is safety in numbers, but if we get the chance to fight this sharptooth I won't hold back." Then a smile came across his face as he said "Well then I say we get going, the valley isn't going to come to us now is it?"
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Dante grinned back at Longtail as he said
"Well, if it did, I'd be a little scared. Let's wake up the others and head out, shall we?"
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Longtail nodded, stood up and stretched his wings, and his tail, stood up and walked over to the others ready to wake them up and continue the journey.
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Kaga joined the others as they ate breakfast and asked, "So, when do we leave? I want to put this wasteland behind me as soon as possible."
Kaga didn't like this place. He was tired of the journey nd wanted to get it overwith. He knew tht the monolith in the distance was some kind of landmark and from what Sy had said, it was only a two month trip from there.
The iguanodon ate a small breakfast as he was still fairly full from the previous night.
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Strafe approached Dante and said in a gentle voice, "Um, hello there. I saw you last night but didn't get around to introducing myself. I'm Strafe. What is your name?"
She wanted to familiarize herself with everyone who she would be traveling with, especially since today would be the first *real* traveling toward the Great valley.
Snork already knew all he needed to know and ate silently while Strafe made her introduction. Though he had only known her for about a week, Snork had already come to like the iguanodon. He didn't want to admitt it though because he felt it would be humiliating.
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Dante looked over at Strafe, smiled broadly, and said...
"Hi there Strafe! I'm Dante. Nice to meet you!"
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"Right," said Sy, "Let's get going, shall we?"
The group set out.
"If we're lucky we'll reach the monolith by tomorrow evening. After that, the road gets a bit easier."
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"OK! Ready gang? Then let's GO!"
Dante exclaimed, eager to head out on a grand journey to the valley...
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"Finally I thought you guys would never get ready!" said Longtail from the air, while doing acrobatic stunts. He then flew higher into the sky to act as lookout for the group.
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Dante vaulted up onto one of the rocks nearby, jumped onto another one, and then took off, jumping from spire to spire and wall to wall. He was intent on scouting ahead, since his one eye was very acute. He landed on top of a spire and waited, searching the path ahead for danger...
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Longtail saw Dante's numerous fets of agility, and dove down and said "You think that's good watch this!" He began to jump from spire to spire and using his tail for balace kept jumping off the spires and walls just having fun.
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Dante Grinned, and said...
"Pretty Impressive, Longtail. But just watch this!"
Dante ran at a wall, jumped onto it, ad ran up untill he reached the top, where he jumped off in a backflip, twisted in midair and did several somersaults before landing gently on the ground.
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Longtail gave a whistle of approval and said "Nice. But watch this!" He then proceeded to spin in a circle three times (also called the spin-launch attack) launched himself into the air as high as he could, then he nose-dived down towards the side of a wall and just before impact, he lined his body up to be parallel to the wall and using his talons on his feet slid down the side, and at the last moment he jumped off and rolled to a stop standing upright and just fine....
"Ha, beat that!" he said with a triumphant grin.
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"Hmmm... Well, I think that I might be able to top that... Let's take a look, shall we?" Dante asked as he leapt on the balls of his feet for a second, focusing his strength into the next trick....
"Shinken-Ryu Art! Aerial Dance of a Thousand Spiral Wings!"
Dante leapt onto the wall that Longtail had attacked, launching himself along it for a ways before shooting himself into the air, where he performed a series of spinning kicks and tail swipes at an imagined opponent, then landed into a handstand-style spinning split kick, before rolling to his feet and dusting himself off, saying coolly...
"How was that?"
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Longtail was getting tired from competing with Dante, and then had a thought which he voice immediately "While this is fun Dante, we are bound to meet at least two sharpteeth on our way to the valley...when that time comes I'll show you my best move!" he said inbetween gasps of air.
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"Agreed. When we meet them, you'll get to see what I can really do!"
Dante responded, breathing a little heavily.
"Now, do you see anything up ahead?"
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Longtail thought about it for a moment and said "Well when I was nose diving down through the air I did see a small bridge which wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't hanging over a large river of fire water! Looks like we've just hit the first challenge in the quest to find the valley huh?"
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"A bridge over fire-water, huh? Shouldn't be so bad. C'mon, let's head back and tell the others." Dante said, turning around to report to the others on the obstacle ahead...
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Longtail ran after Dante while saying "Now that's a good idea." 'Provided the bridge doesn't decided to fall apart on us while we cross it.' Longtail said to himself not wanting to worry Dante.
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"One of them is going to hurt themselves if they keep showing off like that." said Strafe to Snork.
The swimmer replied, "I'm sure they know what they are doing. Here they come. Let's see what they found."
With that, Snork approached the two scouts and asked, "What is it like ahead? "
(OCC: please slow down a little. It confuses other players.)
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Longtail slowed down from running and replied "Well, we have a very small bridge to cross, and a lot of fire water under it, so let's just hope that bridge can hold our weight."
(OOC: Ok. ;) )
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Dante nodded in agreement, then rejoined the group as they proceeded...
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Upon leading the group to the edge of the bridge over the fire water Longtail asked a very simple question..."So who goes first?"
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"I guess I should, since if the bridge goes, I'm about the only one who has a chance to get back up to safety..."
Dante decided, with grim finality...
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Kaga looked at the bridge and got an uneasy feeling. He didn't like the idea of having to cross it but it looked like the only way. The iguanodon waited for Dante to get across.
Kaga then asked, "Alright, should I go next or would someone else like to go?"
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Longtail spoke up by saying "I'm going last...for obvious reasons, but if any of you need guidance, I'd be more than happy to cross with you."
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"I'll keep the bridge stable and make sure nobody falls!" Dante yelled across the gap...
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Sy crossed quickly, eyeing the lava below them nervously.
"Last time I had to deal with that stuff, I lost the last two feet of my tail. I'd suggest we move along quickly, before something goes wrong."
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"Yeah, I agree. Let's get moving quickly. I don't wanna see anyone get hurt."
Dante said, nodding vigorously.
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Longtail then spread his wings and actually jumped off the cliff edge letting his wings catch the thermal heat and give him an areal burst....He was now high enough to see a new problem. As he landed over by Dante his face was solemn as he said "This is only the beginning of our troubles."
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"Why? What'd you see Longtail?"
Dante asked his friend, the worry in his voice apparrent...
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Longtail sighed and replied "From what I saw while in the air, this bridge is just the first of maybe a dozen and they all crisscross each other and all of them are over fire water, plus....I didn't see an exit at all." Then he remembered something else as he spoke up "But after all that, we've reached the rock that looks like a longneck!"
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Dante sighed and scratched at the crest on his head before responding...
"This bites. Well, I guess the sooner we get moving and find our way across, the closer to the Valley we are. Let's get moving."
And saying this, leapt up again, using a spire to gain a clear view of the path to take.
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Strafe carefully made her way onto the bridge, trying to avoid looking at the lava. She crossed quickly and was relieved to be back on safe ground again. Snork crossed next.
"Are you alright" asked Snork.
"Yeah. No harm done." Strafe answered.
Now all they had to do was wait for Kaga and then they could move on.
"Are the rest of you alright?" asked Snork.
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Kaga carefully made his way onto the rock. He was about half way across when the rocks began to crumble beneath his feet. "How typical", thought the iguanodon to himself as he began to run as fast as his legs could carry him. It seemed that if anything could go wrong for Kaga, then it would. Pieces of falling rock began to splash lava up onto the path, forcing Kaga to weave and jump ofer the pools that were gathering on the collapsing bridge. He leaped as the rock fell away in front of him and landed with a thud on the opposite side of the lava river.
Looking up at the others, he said, "Alright. Lets move on now and hope we don't have to go through that again."
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Snork walked over and said, "Looks like you had a close call there."
Strafe asked worriedly, "Kaga, are you alright?"
She had been keeping an eye on Kaga as possibly being a suitable mate for her in the future and she didn't want anything to happen to him. In fact, Strafe was too embarrassed to admit it but she had a big crush on Kaga. He was free spirited and clever, everything Strafe wanted in a mate. She wanted to tell him how she felt about him but not in front of the others. It was a private thing.
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(OCC: Uh guys, don't let this one die. We need a post from somebody.)
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Dante eyed Kaga, smiled, and said...
"A good thing it is that you aren't hurt, friend Kaga."
As he ran at the next bridge...
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Longtail was in the air and flapping his wings to keep himself in the air as he said "Come on guys just a few more bridges over the fire water and we should be at the rock that looks like a longneck....so let's get walking. I would like to get there some time before I'm a grown-up!"
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Dante perked up slightly, and nodded his head, before running off to join his good friend Longtail at the head of the group.
"Yeah, C'mon guys! Let's keep moving!"
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The next two bridges were crossed with no problem but at the last one, things began to look bad. The last bridge was over a deep chasm with lava glowing at the bottom. It has two large cracks in it and didn't look stable at all.
Kaga turned to the others and asked, "What if we can't cross this? Should we look for another way?"
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Longtail grimaced as he looked down below the bridge and he said "Well this could be bad....uhhh..yeah looking for another way sounds like a good idea...I'll fly up and see if I can find one." He then flapped his wings and tried looking around for another way out...but sighed heavily as he couldn't find one....
He flapped back down to the ground and said "Sorry guys...but unless we can fly outta here...it looks like this bridge is our only way across. I just hope the rest of this wall is stable, or we may end up a little hot under foot."
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Snork groaned at the idea of having to cross the unstable bridge and said, "Let's get this overwith. At least this is the last one we have to cross. Just don't go near any of the cracks. Strafe, why don't you go first?"
Strafe nodded and slowly made her way onto the bridge. It wasn't a very long bridge and she was across in about a minute.
Snork asked, "Alright, who's next?"
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"I believe that's me," said Sy, who darted across with little difficulty. After reaching the other side, he looked over the edge and sighed heavily.
"I'm getting too old for this."
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Dante grinned, flipped, and rolled across the bridge. Smiling, he laughed back over the gap...
"C'mon guys! Let's keep on heading for the Valley!"
As he headed off, he smiled faintly, glad that the others had acccepted him. He was particularly fond of Strafe and Sy. Strafe because she actually was kinda... cute... and nice. Sy because he was a lot like himself, and had been the first one to welcome him. Longtail was, however, the closest friend he had yet encountered. Dante was so much like him, and they already shared a common bond. A tragic one, but a bond nonetheless.
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Longtail while still in the air was staying on the far side of the bridge in case anything bad happened he'd be able to help...and he wanted to be the last one across anyway.
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Dante was waiting on the other side of the bridge, ready to help his friends if he needed to...
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Snork said in a shaky voice, "Well, here goes."
He made his way onto the bridge, carefully avoiding the cracks and areas that appeared to be weak. The swimmer glanced over the edge and saw the lava glowing sinister red far below. A shiver went down is spine and he quickened his pace. Snork was never more happy to set foot on stable ground than when he reached the other side where the others were waiting. Now only Kaga remained on the other side.
Strafe called to him, "Be careful crossing, Kaga. It looks nasty down there."
She was worried that he may hurt himself or worse. At least this was the last lava bridge that had to be crossed. She could make out a sparkling stream and a smal grove of trees in the distance and looked forward to the green foor and cool water.
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Kaga sighed and nonchalantly made his way onto the bridge. He saw no point in taking his time. It didn't matter because when he went slow, something bad always seemed to happen. Kaga walked at a casual but steady pace and in about a minute, he had safely reached the other side.
Kaga sighed in relief and whispered, "Made it. For once."
He glanced tiredly at the stream in the distance and couldn't help but think about how wonderful it would be to go for a swim there. He was tired and dirty and would welcome the chance to cool off and wash up. He glanced at everyone and made sure they were all there.
Then he urged, "Let's keep going. Maybe we can reach that river by evening."
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Longtail smiled as he landed next to Dante and said "Yeah...a quick swim is sounding really good right about now...so let's get going...I'd like to get clean as soon as I can!"
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Dante nodded, then agreed with Kaga...
"Yeah. Motion thirded, so Let's get moving, hm?"
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(OCC: We should probably try to make our posts a little longer. When they are only a couple of lines, it doesn't give us much to work with.)
Strafe began to walk toward the stream, looking forward to the cool water. It had been so long since she had been able to swim. She quickened her pace to a trot, which she was comfortale with. Her tail swished back and forth to help her keep balance with her movents.
Snork tried to keep pace with Strafe as he too was eager to reach the stream. The time seemed to pass quickly and by dusk, they had finally reached it. Strafe waded into the water and dipped her head under. The stream wasn't as deep as she had hoped but it was deep enough to wash up and cool off. Snork joined in and relaxed on his back in the water. He watched as the sun began to set in the west and rolled over on his stomach. The swimmer was about to exit when a splash of water soaked him from behind. He turned and saw Strafe standing behind him and giggling. Snork laughed and splashed her back. For the first time in years, he was finally having fun.
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Dante ran up a nearby tree, jumped off, and landed gracefully in the water, splashing everyone nearby.
"Hee! Yay! This is such a Blast!"
He laughed, splashing his newfound friends some more...
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Longtail was in the water as well, but he was under the surface, swimming inbetween the few rocks at the bottom...until Dante used the tree as a diving board and splashed into the water. The force of the splash threw Longtail onto the shore, and he was stunned to say the least. "Nice splash Dante!" shouted Longtail while picking himself up and diving back into the water.
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Kaga leaped into the water and rolled aroun, washing off the dust from his long journey. He then laughed and swung his tail at the water, sending a wave at the othrs. He was having more fun now than he had in a long time. He climbed onto the rocky bank and lied down and watched the sun set over the distant mountains. The mysterious monolyth now seemed to loom closer than ever and Kaga wondered what secret it held. He rested on the ground, tired from the long journey. Everything seemed perfect.
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The old Sinensis lowered himself into the cool stream, sighing contentedly as the water washed over him.
He was most definitely getting too old for this. Sy figured that he would settle down once he reached the Great Valley. Maybe start a family, relax.
"Good news, everyone," he said. "We should reach the monolith in no more than a day at the rate we're going. I suggest, however, that we savor this moment of relief, because we likely won't see another like it for some time."
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Longtail nodded at what Sy said and replied "You may be right...but what ever the Mysterious Beyond can throw at us...I know we can handle it...together!"
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Strafe climbed out of the water and walked slowly over to Kaga and lied down next to him. She wanted to talk to him privately while everyone else was busy in the water. She wanted to tell him how she felt about him and thought the issue was a private matter.
"Um, Kaga, there is something I want to tell you."
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Kaga turned to Strafe and replied, "Is that so? What's on your mind, Strafe?"
He shifted to become more comfortable on the ground and awaited an answer.
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"Well" Strafe began as she gazed into Kaga's blue eyes, "I... like you. A lot. I was thinking perhaps once we reach the valley we could start a family together."
She nuzzled Kaga gently and said softly, "I love you"
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Kaga nuzzled her neck and said, "We can start a family once we reach the valley. For now, we need to focus on just getting there getting there."
He yawned tiredly and suggested, "Let's get some sleep. We have a busy day ahead."
Kaga laid his head on the ground and closed his eyes.
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Dante climbed out of the water, then climbed back up the tree he had dove off of, stretching out lazily on a branch and smiling to himself.
"Arius... You know, I think I get what you meant when you told me that being alone wasn't the easy way to live... This is the life... 'cause I have friends", then nodded at Longtail and Sy, saying
"Yeah! Anything messes with us... we can take it... as a team...and as friends!"
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Longtail smiled as he pulled himself out of the water and said "Well, in that case...I'm taking the first watch." He then looked up and said "Dante you want next?" as he climbed the tree Dante was perched in and stood on the tallest branch towards the top knowing from past experience that danger could come from anywhere.
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Snork awoke in the middle of the night and sat up. His somach growled with hungar as he had not eaten earlier. The swimmer groaned and stod up, careful to avoid waking the others. He wandered into the forest to find a suitable tree and began to feast on lush leaves. It was these rare patches of green that had kepts him alive in the past. The swimmer brought a branch down to his mouth and munched on the leaves. Then he moved on to the next branch. It was perfect. The sky was clear except for a few puffy clouds and the big moon hung low in the sky. Then, Snork caught a scent that caused chills to run down his spine.
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Shriek spotted the swimmer ahead and licked his chops hungrily. He had been tracking the group for days and now one had strayed. The sharptooth charged the swimmer and opened his mouth and exposing his razor sharp teeth, ready to make the kill.
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But before Shriek could make contact with Snork, Longtail made a hard choice and let Shriek bite down on his body instead of Snork, and in response to the pain he could feel the child flyer screamed and screamed loud!
-
Snork cried out in shock as the sharptooth came bursting through the trees. He turned and dashed toward where the others were. Somehow, the sharptooth was always right behind him.
Strafe was awakened by his cries and stood up. She called to Kaa, "Snork needs our help! Let's hurry!"
She muttered as she ran toward the woods, "What is that idiot doing out there alone?"
Snork glanced back and saw Shriek right behind him. He got down on all fours to run faster and leaped over a downed log. Then he ducked under a low tree branch and squeezed between two narrow trees, slowing the sharptooth a bit. However, the sharptooth seemed to catch up again quickly and Snork gave it everything he had.
Strafe had almost reached the forest when Snork dashed out with Shriek right on his tail. He ran past her and the iguanodon swung her tail at Shriek, knocking him sideways slightly. Then she reared up and slashed him across the chest with her thumb spike. She growled threateningly and prepared for another attack.
(Grievous gave me permission to attack his character.)
-
Longtail was still trying to overcome the pain he was feeling from Shriek's bite...he opened one of his eyes in time to see Strafe strike the sharptooth in the face. He smiled as he heard the sharptooth roar in pain, as he tried to crawl over to help.
-
Shriek was surprised when the flier flew right into his mouth and in norman conditions, he would have just made a meal of him. However, Shriek was extra hungry and not in the mood for flier meat. He spit Longtail ot and resolved to finish him later for desert. He circumnavigated the trees that Snork ran between and was moving in for the kill when Strafe appeared out of nowhere in front of him. Unprepared, Shriek first took a tail to the face and a slash across the chest. The stinging, burning pain from the wound was soon replaced with rage. Shriek looked down at the blood slowly trickling from the wound and roared in rage. He knew that Strafe was the spikethub who had escaped from him earlier. Then she had the nerve to attack him. This little one needed to die now.
Shriek lunged forward, ramming into Strafe and knocking her to thr ground. Then he bit down, sinking his teeth into her back just above the left shoulder. Shriek savored the taste of blood as he sank his teeth into her flesh.
Kaga ran as fast as he could toward where Strafe was but he wasn't quick enough. He arrived just in time to see Shriek bite down. His heart racing, Kaga roared and dharged angrily at the sharptooth, desperate to save Strafe from the monster.
(I also had permission to attack Ace's characters.)
-
Strafe cried ot in agony as Shriek sank his teeth herd into her shoulder. She tried to slash him on the face but couldn't reach. Snork growled and lunged at Shriek, smacking into him and jolting him off Strafe. Snork headbutted the Sharptooth and knocked him back again.
Strafe struggled to her feet with blood trickling from her wound and began to limp toward Kaga.
Snork bellowed, "You're going to pay for that, you monster!"
He charged at Shriek again.
-
Before Snork could reach Shriek, Dante dropped out of the tree he was on, sending his heel into his opponent's head...
"You... You're the one that killed Arius! You're..."
His eyes hardened into slits as he finished the sentence...
"You're gonna Die!!!"
-
Longtail had finally found the strength to stand up, but those teeth wounds from Shriek had really left him in quite alot of pain, but as he saw Dante join the fray Longtail knew he'd have to help somehow... he against all odds stepped forward and said while standing behind Shriek "You move...and you will DIE!"
-
Dante let a look of concern cross his face as he saw Longtail stand up.
"You're hurt, Longtail. You sure you're ok to fight? If you are... then it's time I made good on that promise we made earlier!"
And he lunged at Shriek again, his foot lashing forwards at terrifying speeds...
-
Longtail was trying so hard not to pass out...but nonetheless nodded his head at Dante and replied through his teeth "Yes." but even as Dante attacked again Longtail just watched for a moment more...his mind clouded by pain.
-
Dante saw Longtail stagger, and it drew his conscentration just long enough to allow Shriek to slash him with his sharp claws, leaving a bleeding wound along his left side. He cried out in pain, then staggered backwards, clutching at his wound...
-
Shriek smirked in glee at the damage he ad caused. Then deciding he had had enough, the sharptooth turned and began to run. He figured the iguanodon wouldn't last lon with that wound. Then he would finally have a good meal. Cursing the interference from the others, Shriek made his way to a secluded spot and settled down to lick his wounds.
Kaga ran over to Strafe and looked at her wound. It seemed to be bleeding profusely.
He said to her, "Don't worry, Strafe. It's going to be alright."
-
Longtail still shaking from the pain, but realizing the fight was over and the others were hurt...he walked over stopping in front of Dante...shedding several tears as he did so, looked up to meet his gaze and noting his wound stuttered our "D-Dante...I-I-I'm....s-sorry....please...forgive me..." before losing his battle with the bite wounds and slumping to the floor unconscious
-
Strafe limped over to Kaga and gasped, "Help me...Kaga."
She was bleeding badly and her legs wobbled under her weight. Snork held her up and whispered, 'It's going to be alright. Just hang in there."
He helped her down to the water's edge. Then, Strafe's legs seemed to collaps from underneath her. She landed with a thud on her side. Snork splashed water onto the wound, hoping the cool water would stop the bleeding. It slowed but did not stop.
Strafe moaned, "It hurts... It hurts..."
She was getting weaker by the minute.
"Please be ok, Strafe. Please stay with me." Whispered Snork, feeling that this mess was his fault.
-
"Ngh... Sorry... Longtail, pal..."
Dante said these last words as he slipped into unconciousness...
-
Longtail wasn't even sure if he had heard Dante's response before he collapsed but he was sure of one thing...if he lived, he would make sure the others did as well!
-
Dante lay where he was for a moment slipping in and out of conciousness. He wasn't worried about himself, since he knew that the wound hadn't hit anything vital, but he was deeply concerned about Strafe and Longtail.
"Mph... Strafe? Is she ok? What about Longtail?"
He asked, shifting himself upright, but causig a burst of pain from his side as he did so. He winced, but remained upright, where he saw his friends lieing wounded...
"S-Sorry, guys...I couldn't protect you. I'm really sorry..."
(OOC: Now everyone knows where Dante's scar on his side came from...)
-
For the moment Longtail was currently only semiconscious and had no idea what was happening around him...his hearing was shot, his eyes were shut and he barely had the strength to breath anymore, he was just so tired...he wanted to sleep, but..something told him not to. His voice was hoarse as he cried out "...H-help...me..." to any one of his friends who weren't injured.
-
Dante moved over towards Longtail, standing... Untill he crumpled from his wounds, splattering blood on the ground.
"Darn-Darnit! Someone help me up... So I can try to help my friends..."
-
She was moving fast because there was food nearby and she didn't want to miss out, but as she drew closer she could see that some of the prey was still alive, but most of them were injured...'Too far injured to fight back...nothing like a good defenseless meal.' said the Alimon to herself.
She stalked forward and was about to strike when she saw a young flyer who she could tell wasn't faring too well, and something about him made her rethink her priorities and she decided to help them instead, and after hearing Dante's calls for help she walked over and using her nose to hoist him up to his feet she introduced herself "Hi..my name is Hunter. You guys took quite a beating...what happened here?"
-
A glob of venom landed at the Alimon's feet. It quickly started to dissolve the ground it touched.
"Keep away," Sy growled. "They're in no condition for visitors."
He limped towards the youngsters. He had heard their cries for help, but had fallen trying to get to them and injured his knee.(Yeah, I know, lame excuse, sorry.) He carried with him some herbs. He started chewing them and smearing the paste on the others' wounds to stop the bleeding and aid healing.
Glancing over at the Alimon again, he said, "If you're going to stay, you might as well help. Start chewing those leaves and spread the paste on their injuries. Unless, of course, you're here for a meal, in which case you'll be dead before you even touch them."
-
OCC: What the heck is an Alimon?
I'll skip my turn until Ace posts.
-
Hunter jumped backwards from the venom at her feet, and she looked over at the one who'd spat it at her and frowned as she replied "Hey, watch it with that stuff, I may be a sharptooth, but I do know when to help instead of hurt, and you guys look like you can use the help right now!" She then growled at Sy and said "So back off! And let me help!"
Hunter then did as she was told, and although the leaves tasted disgusting to her, she knew these would help these young ones, and that's all that mattered to her right now. She then spread the goo over her hand and smeared the gunk over Dante first as he was the one still standing and then turned to face Longtail and said to the little flyer "This may sting a bit."
She then applied the same goo to Longtail's wounds and took a step back waiting for his reaction...and it was just as she expected...the kid screamed and loudly "That stuff must really sting." said Hunter to herself, and then she asked Dante "How are you doing?"
-
(Occ: forry for the long wait. I was in Florida for spring break.)
Strafe winced in pain as the goo was applied to her bite wound. The bleeding slowly stopped and Snork was relieved. He stayed by Strafe all night long, watching over her to be sure she was alright. He barely even noticed the newcomer until Strafe asked weakly, "Who are you?"
Snork then turned his attention on the newcomer as well.
-
Hunter turned to Snork and Strafe and said "My name is Hunter...I..I was coming here to feed, but...I well...I decided to help you all instead." She then smiled and said "If that's okay."
-
Dante stood, watching Hunter, then walked towards her, before staggering and falling forwards. He had been hiding his wound, but he was weak from blood loss...
-
Hunter then smiled and said to Dante "You really shouldn't be moving around yet kid, that goo needs to settle on your wounds or you will bleed to death. So stop moving and just sit still for a while...like that little flyer there." She then pointed to Longtail who at the moment was attempting to sleep off the pain.
-
"I'm not a little kid. The name's Dante. Dante S. Starfall... and by the way... thanks for helping Longtail. Whoever you are, I owe you one."
Dante said, limping over to his friend's side and sitting down to let his wounds heal
-
Kaga rested next to Strafe, realizing that lying awake and worying about her constantly would do no good. The iguanodon looked over at Hunter and asked, "So, what are you anyway? I've never seen anything like you before."
-
Hunter smiled as Dante sat next to Longtail and she replied "Okay...sorry Dante. I won't call you a kid anymore." She then turned Kaga and said "I am an Alimon, we are a breed of sharpteeth, and we will eat just about anything including other sharpteeth, however in this case I've decided to help and when everyone is done healing, I will be leaving, and find food elsewhere."
Longtail opened his eyes and managed to say "Thank you...for helping...me."
-
"Wait. Hunter. I don't know about everyone else, but... I would be grateful if you maybe... stayed with us. We're headed for the Great Valley, and we could use the help... Just... promise not to attack us."
Dante said this hesitantly, unsure if he could trust Hunter, and unsure if the other would agree with him. He thought he could trust her, since she had spared their lives when she could have killed them...
-
Strafe awoke feeling a little better. Her wound still stung but it was no longer bleeding. A couple days had passed and her strength wqas gradually returning.
Snork dropped a pile of leaves in front of her and said, "Eat these. They will help heal you faster."
The iguanodon wasted no time and quickly downed the leaves.
Snork asked her, "So, how are you feeling?"
Strafe responded, "A lot better. I think that stuff they put on me helped."
With that, Strafe placed her front legs out in front of her and began to push upward with her back legs. Slowly, she stood up, her legs wobbling beneath her weight.
Snork said in surprise, "Wow. I'm surprised you got your strength back that fast."
Strafe replied, "Well, I've always been quick to heal. I don't think I can travel just yet though."
The swimmer smiled to her and said, "Well, we can wait, I'm sure."
Strafe then turned to Hunter and asked, "Thankyou for helping us, Hunter. Where exactly does your kind come from?"
-
Kaga walked over to Strafe and said in a sigh of relief, "It's good to see you up and about, Strafe."
He was happy that she was going to be alright now. He just hoped the same could be said for the others.
-
Longtail had to admit he was feeling much better now that his wounds had plenty of time to heal...and he looked over at Strafe and saw he trying to stand up, and smiled at her efforts. He then looked over to Dante and said "How are you holding up?"
Hunter on the other hand had taken these few days to stay on behalf of Dante's wish for having another member join their group. She sat up hearing Strafe ask her question and Hunter quickly replied "My kind come from all over the Mysterious Beyond, but I personally come from the Bad lands...its sort of my home now."
Longtail blinked as he said "The bad lands, but nothing grows, or lives there....are you sure you live in the right place?" Hunter nodded her head and said "Yes...I live in the right place...and I'm always alone too."
-
Dante stood shakily, running a hand along his scarred left side. He cracked his neck a couple of time, then smiled at Longtail and said...
"I'm holding up fine, pal. Thanks for worrying. How're you doing?"
He then turned to Hunter, a look of concern crossing his face...
"Aren't you lonely? Being alone all the time, I mean. I know that while I was alone... I felt so lonesome that I didn't know what to do with myself. And I do know how bad the Badlands can be. That's where I was born. So, will you come with us? I think you'll like being part of a group."
-
Longtail then decided to try standing as well, as he answered Dantes question "I..I think I'm going to be..." But just as his body was standing at it's full height he collapsed as his legs gave out from under him. He landed with an 'oof' and smiled as he said "Yeah I'm okay Dante."
Hutner then smiled and said "Sure....and I pormise not to eat any of you either!"
-
Dante's grin widened, and he walked over to Hunter, placing one arm around her, then saying...
"Welcome to the group then...Hunter."
-
After a few days, Strafe's injury had almost completely healed and she felt like she could travel again.
Snork asked the others, "Do you think we can travel? I think we've been held up long enough."
Strafe replied, "I'm ready to go. I want to put this place behind me as soon as possible."
-
Dante agreed wholeheartedly. He was sick of waiting around, so he stood up, looked at the group, and said...
"Are we all ready? 'Cause I'm spoiling to get to the Great Valley. C'mon, Les'go!"
But before he turned to go, he grabbed Hunter's hand, leand in closer to her, and whispered...
"I'm glad you're with us, Hunter..."
-
Kaga said, "Well then, let's get going. Isn't it only two months walk after that giant rock?"
He gestured toward the gigantic stone tower in the distance.
"Let's try to get there before nightfall."
With that, the iguanodon began to make his way toward the rock in the distance.
-
Longtial smiled at the thought of getting closer to the Great Valley and he smiled as it seemed everyone was gearing up to head out...and he said "Oh yeah...let's go! I am too excited about this." He then jumped onto Hunters back and said "It's kinda nice to know another sharptooth that won't eat me!"
Hunter looked back at the little flyer and said "Don't push your luck kid..." She then turned to Dante and said "Yeah...I'm glad too...I honestly hated being alone all the time."
-
Dante smiled, then laughed...
"Yeah Longtail. Let's not push our new friend too far. If you're gonna hitch a ride, I guess I'll crate you around."
-
(OCC: Does anything think we should skip ahead a bit? I mean, could we skip ahead to the Burning Mountains if that is alright?)
-
(OOC: Fine by me...I could always use another excuse to put Longtail and Hunter in a dangerous situation! :lol )
-
(OOC: And I'm fine with putting Dante in danger. Maybe show how much he cares about Longtail and Hunter...)
-
occ: sounds good to me. Go ahead.
-
(Let's skip ahead about a month. That leave one more month on the journey.
Strafe glanced at the ominous mountains of fire that loomed ahead as the sun rose behind the group. The previous night, it had been decided to cross the volcanos today. Strafe yawned tiredly and walked over to a spring nearby to get a drink of water. Snork was already awake and staring at the forboding volcanos ahead."
"So those are the legandary Mountains that Burn. Wow." the swimmer said with a combination of awe and fear.
He was not looking forward to this part of the journey. the previous night, it had been cloudy but around midnight, the clouds had lifted, allowing the volcanos to cast their sinister red glow across the landscape. Dark clouds of ash loomed in the sky above the mountains.
Strafe stood next to Snork and said, "Let's get this overwith."
snork replied, "Agreed. Alright, everyone, let's move out. I don't think we should stop until we are past all this."
Strafe added, "And let's stay together at all costs."
The iguanodon was not looking forward to the day ahead.
-
Kaga walked over to Strafe, nuzzled her on the neck, and said, "Everything is going to be alright, Strafe."
He looked up at the mountains, and as bold as Kaga was, even he shuddered at the sight of the volcanos ahead. He joined the others as they began to make their way toward the burning mountains. The further they went, the harder and rockier the terrain became. The iguanodon pressed onward, following Snork and Strafe and the others.
"Keep your eyes peeled." He warned. "Sometimes these lava rocks are still hot."
-
Longtail despite being a flyer, was having fun jumping from rock to rock as the terrain became harder and rougher. He then said "Come on you guys this isn't so bad, I'm having fun!" For one reason or another Longtail was just naturally excited and he couldn't hide it at all.
Hunter on the other hand was stock and quiet as she jumped and dodged the rocks that were hot and several of those that were still on fire. She moaned as she stubbed her foot on a rock, and looked down and sighed as she said "This place stinks! I want to get through here as soon as possible!"
-
Dante stood next to Hunter, Longtail a short distance ahead of them.
"Well, look at it this way Hunter. As soon as we get past here, we're that much closer to the Valley, right?"
Then he leaned in closer to her, whispering...
"You sure you're doing ok? If you want me too, I can... help you out..."
-
Strafe simply avoided the rocks altogther. The ground between them was much cooler and not as rough on her feet. As she strode along, she could imagine herself and Kaga in the lush valley with a family of their own. Strafe sighed and continued onward. After a few hours of walking, Snork and Strafe found themselves in the shadow of a large volcano. Lava flows ran along either side of the path and the ground shook from time to time as a nearby volcano erupted.
It didn't look like there was any danger of the lava running onto the path, but just the same, Snork shouted to the others, "Let's pick up the pace! I know you're tired, but I don't want to get stuck here with nowhere to go!"
Strafe slowed down to walk with the others. She wanted to be sure that they could keep up.
"If any of you ned to rest fro a bit, I can carry you on my back." she said to them."
-
Hunter smiled at Dante as she listened to him speak and then whispered in his ear "Don't worry if I need help, you'll be the first one I...ask." She then felt a blush creep up on her face. She then asked "I wonder how much longer we have to go to get though this?" She then stubbed her toe on another rock and she gritted her teeth in pain, as the small wound began to bleed.
-
"Hmmm...Really can't say for sure, but..."
Dante turned around at this, and started, saying...
"You're hurt! Let me take care of that wound for you, Hunter..."
-
"There's no time," said Sy, who was backing the group. "Just keep the wound off the lava rocks so you don't get anything jabbed into it and stuck there. I want to get out of this place as soon as possible."
-
"Alright Hunter. Here. Take my hand. I'll let you lean on me, if that'll help keep your wound off the ground."
Dante said, offering his hand to Hunter and smiling...
-
Hunter smiled and said "Well thank you Dante...how...nice." She then put her injured foot on Dante's shoulder, and blushed as they continued to walk on.
Longtail being ahead of the others stopped when he thought he flet the earth shaking, but where they were...it wasn't that unusual. So he shrugged it off and kept jumping from rock to rock.
-
Dante smiled at Hunter, a deep blush crossing over his features as he did.
"You-You're very welcome, Hunter."
Mentally he was trying to figure out why he hadn't said what he was really thinking, which was to tell her that he really liked her.
When the ground shook, he noticed, quickly looking at the others and asking...
"Did anyone else feel that?"
-
Strafe watched the others to see if everything was alright. This was a place where teamwork would be vital to survival. She glanced up at a nearby volcano which was shooting a fountain of red hot lava high into the air. The iguanodon suddenly noticed the ground moving beneath her feet. Strafe quickly stepped to her right as the ground began to separate beneath her feet. She leaped to the right and ground she had been on seconds before sank into a pit of lava.
Come on! Run!" Strafe shouted to the others behind her.
Several red hot embers rained down on the ground and Strafe quickly leped over them. The sharp, rough rocks ground into her feet as she landed. Ignoring the pain, she turned to the left as another chunk of rock broke off and sank into the lava. She stopped and turned around to see if the others were alright. They seemed to be making their way along just fine so she turned to continue. THe ground stopped shaking and everything settled down.
As the others caught up, Strafe panted, "Let's hope we don't have to do that again."
Snork, who was in front of the group, spotted several large vents with foul smelling steam coming out of them. He became dizzy as he inhaled it and decided to avoid that area. The swimmer turned and rejoined the others.
"Let's stay away from those holes. I think the air is poisoned over there."
Strafe nodded in agreement and the began to take another path that led between two volcanoes.
Snork said to Strafe, "The sooner we put this place behind us, the better. It looks like there is no food or water here at all."
-
As the ground began to shake, Kaga began to watch out fro danger. He saw where a section of the ground had falled into an underground cave filled with lava. A shower of hot embers almost landed on his back and it was only beause he took shelter under an overhang that he wasn't burned.
"I hate this place!" He shouted to himself.
Then Kaga ran onward, rejoining the others. After a few minutes, the shaking seemed to end.
-
"Well, this is a royal pain in the tail!"
Dante said as he followed the others, with Hunter supported on his shoulder.
"Let's keep moving. We don't wanna be here any longer than we have to."
He concluded...
-
Longtail wasn't prepared for the ground to continue shaking like it did, and in a moment he was thrown high into the air, by a gust of hot air from under his wings, and in response he screamed...but unfortunately the steam didn't stop for quite some time, and when Longtail was able to a straight current under his wings he looked up to see he had a panoramic view of all the mountains that burned....and he frowned when he saw this. "This is bad."
Hunter while still being supported by Dante said "Ya know...I'd have to agree with you...this is kinda stupid...but hey wheres the fun in being safe the whole journey." She then let herself down and despite the pain she felt she ran ahead and turned to Dante and said "Come on slowpoke, you'll get left behind, we have to keep moving."
-
"A-are you sure you're ok, Hunter?"
Dante asked, a little disappointed that he wasn't in contact with Hunter anymore...
He ran up to her, smiling a little though, as he said...
"'Cause if you're not, I think I could give you a ride if you'd like..."
-
Hunter looked at Dante for a moment and blushed as she replied "You...would carry me? Well...I-I don't know what to say..." She looked down for a moment and then looked back up at Dante and said "Now Dante what kind of self repescting sharptooth would I be if I let another sharptooth carry me..." She then smiled and said "Maybe some other time, when we aren't pressed for danger." At that she looked around for a moment and asked everyone "Hey guys...wheres the flyer?"
-
Dante smirked, looked at Hunter, and replied...
"Well, I'm gonna keep you to that! And yeah, where did Longtail go?"
He turned his eyes skywards, looking for his friend, but saw nothing. He called Longtail's name, hoping to hear some response...
-
Strafe looked around as she walked along. Something was watching her from behind a rock. She saw another one duck dow behind a rock on a ledge above her. She picked up the pace, fearing it was a fast biter watching her. Suddenly, a black form leaped from the shadows at her and clamped onto her side. She flung the fast biter off and dispatched it with a quick swing of her tail. More jumped out but they didn't seem to be after her. They were heading straight for Dante and Hunter.
Strafe yelled to them, "Dante! Hunter! Look out!"
She then yelled, "Snork! Kaga! Hurry!"
Snork rushed over and asked, "What's going on? I can't find Longtail anywhere."
"Fast Biters!" Strafe replied, and took off after the raptors to help her friends.
Snork growled, "Wait for me!"
(OCC: Alright, who wants to throw some goons around?)
-
Kaga dashed at the raptors but two more jumped in his path. He backhanded one and kicked the other aside. Three more fast biters surrounded him.
Kaga knocked one aside with his tail and shouted, "Dante, do something!"
-
"Alright, Kaga! Here goes!"
Dante lunged forwards, driving an elbow into one of the fastbiter's chests, then spun around and delivered a fierce kick to it, launcing it into another pair.
"Heh. How's that for fun, Hunter?"
He grinned manically as he leapt over another fastbiter, driving his heel into the back of it's head, slamming ti face-first onto the ground...
-
Hunter smiled as a fast biter came at her, and she grabed it by the head and threw it into the wall behind her and then tail whipped another that tried to get behind her. She then jumped over another one and landed on one fast biters head and she laughed and said "This really is fun Dante!"
But just as she let her guard down for a moment a fast bitter landed on her back, and was about to bite into her when it was knocked aside with a whip-like snap.
As Hunter looked back to see what had saved her Longtail was now in the sharptooth's place on Hunters back and he said "Now that was close!"
-
Two fast biters were hit with globs of venom. Sy fired at another and knocked one down that had jumped at him from behind, bashing its head against a rock. He rattled his frill and snarled, shooting venom at two more fast biters.
-
"Where have you been?" asked Snork as he whipped a fast biter with his tail.
Strafe backhanded another fastbiter then stomped on another one that leaped at her. She growled angrily and a third one fled into a small cave nearby.
One landed on Snork's back but before it could attack, he rammed the fast biter into a rock.
"Can't you tell these guys to back off or something?" snork asked Dante.
-
"Hey Longtail! Good to see that you're ok! And, uh... yeah, Snork.... Asking them probably won't help at all. The reason I was alone was... well, I was... eh... exiled."
He managed to say, as he backed up to Hunter, striking down any fastbiters that got near him...
-
Longtail smiled as he tail whipped another sharptooth down to the ground and he turned to Snork and said "Sorry about that...I got caught by a hot air vent and I got a long look at where we need to go and...uhhh...." He was now at a loss to explain what he saw.
Hunter however had had enough of this fighting and was getting hungry, so as the next fast biter tried to attack her, she bit it in the neck and twisted hearing a sicking crack as she did. She then smiled and said "Hey guys can we just kill them so I can eat?"
-
Dante looked at Hunter for a moment, sighed out loud, and replied...
"As little as I enjoy killing..."
He leapt at a fastbiter, throwing both legs around it's neck...
"I suppose I can..."
He twisted in the air, snapping it's fragile neck easily...
"Make an exception for you, Hunter...."
Dante concluded, tearing the throat of another one out with a vicious kick...
-
Hunter brought down another fast biter and proceeded to tear its throat out with her teeth! She then looked to Dante and replied "Good! Now lets end this fight!"
-
"Yeah! Sounds like a plan, Hunter! Just...don't expect me to eat any of the guys that are dead, ok?"
Dante said, sending another broken fastbiter flying into one of his fellows...
-
Kaga roared in rage and whacked a fast biter with his tail. Then he stomped on it's head and felt its skull cave in under his weight. This was the first time Kaga had actually killed something. The remaining fast biters seemed to be retreating now.
"Looks like we drove them back. Is everyone alright?"
(PS: PLease make sure to look at the discussion for this RP in the discussion section.)
-
Dante stood there, chest heaving with his breathing, and he replied...
"Yeah. I'm Ok. What about you, Hunter? Longtail?"
He turned around, smiling at Hunter and Longtail.
-
Longtail turned as Dante spoke and said with a smile "Yeah...I'm okay, I'm okay!" He then looked over to Hunter and almost gagged as he saw her tearing into the flesh of one of the dead fast biters and with a rather large look of disgust on the young flyers face he turned back to face Dante and said "Yeah...Hunter will be fine too....I think...once...she's done." He then added a childish "Ewww...that is disgusting!"
-
Dante looked too, then turned around with a slightly disgusted look on his face...
"Ugh. Yeah, I think she's fine. What about the rest of you guys?"
-
Snork and Strafe nodded and Strafe asked, "Loingtail, what were you going to tell us about what you saw?"
They both took extra care not to watch Hunter devour the dead fastbiters.
-
"Oh, stop acting like children," grumbled Sy as he tore a piece of flesh out of one of the fast biters. "You're lucky I don't think of eating plants as disgusting. Otherwise you might be suffering through my disgust at your tastes. So get over it."
-
Longtail then looked at Snork and Strafe and said "Oh yeah! About that path we were going to take...its under the fire water...and now I think we may be stuck here for a while...unless one of you want's to try swimming your way out!" He then frowned and said "I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that."
-
Dante sighed, fell back into a sitting position, and he said...
"Well...This is a drag. At least... At least we're together. Guess we don't have much choice but to wait..."
-
Snork was not happy at the news.
"There is no food or water here. How can we survive? Are you sure there isn't another way around?"
Strafe noticed a series of caves nearby and suggested, "We could try looking in those caves. There has to be something here."
Snork nodded and said, "Let's just hope it isn't more fast biters."
-
"Mph. Might be risky, but... considering the alternative, I'll go for it. What about you guys? Hunter? Longtail?" Dante asked the group, looking around...
-
Hunter smiled and said "Hey I love dark places, count me in!"
Longtail on the other hand was kind of hesitant and said "I don't know...the last time I went into a cave I was trapped and almost drowned, while staring down two other fast biters. I-I think I'd have an easier time just flying over." He then took a step back and stared at the ground shaking.
-
"If that's what you choose, Longtail, suit yourself. Just...Be careful, alright, pal?"
Dante said, placing his claw on Longtail's shoulder, and giving him a small grin...
-
Kaga followed Strafe and the others into the caves. THere seemed to be some kind of edible plant growing inside and a few places where water had collected inside. Kaga spent the next two days trying to please his hungry stomach but the plants had little nutrition in them. The ground shook again and a few pebbles and dust fell from the roof of the cave. Kaga looked up at the cieling but it seemed to be holding.
"Guys, I think that fire water is cooling down. Just a little longer and maybe we can cross. Hopefully by tomorrow it will be safe. Then we can put this aweful place behind us for good. "
He walked out and checked the lava flow, and sure enough, it seemed to be getting solid, but there were still patches of hot lava here and there. They would not be crossing today. Perhaps tomorrow. In the mean time, Kaga would have to suffer through another night in this terrible place.
-
Dante looked at Kaga as he returned from the outdoors.
"Well, Kaga? How's it look out there? Things cooling down at all?"
Then he looked at Hunter, asking...
"You ok, Hunter?"
-
Strafe watched as a distant volcano erupted. Luckily, this one was far enough away that it would not effect them. She walked over to Kaga and nuzzled him.
"It won't be long, Kaga. Soon we will be on our way again."
Snork watched as the distant volcano continued to shoot a column of fire high into the air and shook his head. He hated the idea of spending yet another night here.
Strafe walked back over and lied down next to him, settling in for the night.
The next day, they followed Kaga to where the lava flow had been. The flow had blackened and was no longer moving.
Snork said, "Let's see if it is cool enough to walk on."
He spit on the flow and saw that it didn't evaporate. With a smile, Snork said, "Come on, guys! Let's get out of here!"
Strafe sighed, "Finally." and walked onto the dry lava after Snork. It crunched beneath their feet but held their weight. It took them a few minutes and finally, they were across. and on safe ground again.
-
Kaga followed. The rocks were sharp and he had to take care not to step on them. He saw a few hot patches still remaining in the dry flow but they were not in his way. FInally, he reached the other side with Snork and Srafe.
He turned to the others on the poopsite side and shouted, "Come on. Hurry so we can get out of here!"
Just as he finished, the ground shook again.
"I loath this place" Kaga muttered.
-
"Calm down, calm down," replied Sy. "It's easy to cut your feet on these bloody rocks. I don't want anything else slowing me down."
However, it wasn't long before he too was across.
-
For the past two days Hunter had spent her time sleeping and the only time she awakened was when Dante asked her a question, she would answer and go right back to sleep. But now that the flow had dried up and was no longer dangerous. She took a step forward and said "I don't like this place...the sooner we get out of here the better!"
She then sniffed the air and said in a worried tone..."I can't smell Longtail around here..." She looked up into the sky and tired to see if he was flying around, but couldn't see the young flyer. "I hope he's okay!"
She looked over to Dante and asked "Do you see him at all?"
-
"No. Can't see him either, Hunter. I agree. If anything happens to him..."
Dante trailed off, continuing to search the skies for his friend...
-
"I don't know where he went." Snork said. "Why does he keep vanishing like this?"
He was getting impatient and didn't want to have to wait any more. Strafe glanced up at the sky but could see nothing but the ash clouds and red glow from the volcanoes overhead. Tiny hot embers began to rain from the sky from the nearby volcano.
"Let's hope he is alright. I hope he is following us."
Snork nodded and said, "We shoud get away from here. Let's just go slow so Longtail can find us."
Snork began to follow the path. Strafe followed, eager to leave the Burning Mountains behind.
-
Hunter frowned as she said "I don't know, but we have to keep moving, we can't wait anymore..if he is indeed following us great...if not....well...let's just hope that he's okay." She then started walking past the others, she tried to hide a single tear that ran down her face.
-
Dante hesitated for a moment, looking up at the sky, whispering...
"Longtail...Please be alright. Please find us soon..."
Then he jogged forwards to rejoin Hunter, and saw her tear fall.
"I..I'm sure Longtail's alright. Please don't cry, ok?"
He said, placing a hand on her shoulder gently...
-
It seemed like hours had passed. The ground was covered in ancient, dried lavaflows that were so old that the sharp rocks had become worn down. The volcanoes seemed dormant here although there were still narrow cracks in the ground with lava at the bottom.
"Where could he be?" Kaga said to himself.
Then he figured that complaining wouldn't solve anything so he returned to looking at the sky. It looked like they were finally nearing the edge of the mountain range. It wouldn't be long before they were out of the buning mountains. However, what was ahead didn't look much better. In the distance, Kaga could see a another huge desert. With a sigh, he continued, hoping that maybe Longtail was already waiting for them at the other side.
-
Hunter smiled as she felt Dante put his arm around her shoulder, and said "T-Thanks...I do hope he's alright." Hunter then continued to look towards the sky hoping to see her friend. She hoped that when they cleared these mountains made of fire that Longtail would show up. "It just doesn't seem right without him here."
-
Dante nodded his head, agreeing with Hunter.
"Yeah. I mean... It's kinda too quiet, you know? I never noticed that before. I kinda... miss him...
-
Strafe trudged along the dusty, rocky ground, looking at the desertahead of her. The iguanodon looked back at the mountains behind her that continued to spew fire and ash into the air and thought of Longtail again. Where had he gone? They were almost out of the mountain range now and yet there was still no sign of him.
Snork placed a hand on her shoulder and said softly, "I'm sure he'll come back."
But Snork wasn't real sure himself. By evening, the group had arrived at the edge of the desert. There was no sign of water or food anywhere.
Strafe turned to the others and asked, "Should we keep going? I don't think we should travel during the day because it takes too much energy. If we travel at night, we'll at least be cool."
-
Hunter cast one more glance up at the sky, hoping to see some sign of Longtail, but again there was nothing. She sighed and after hearing Strafe's question Hunter nodded her head and replied with her voice lacking emotion "Yes, yes we should."
As she stepped forward something moved under the sand. the movement was becoming faster and she pulled her foot away just as the sand split apart to reveal a head. The shock she felt was overcome by joy as she heard the head speak.
"It's about time you guys showed up! I was getting thirsty down in that sand...ugh...now I know why the Mysterious Beyond is so bad!"
Hunter jumped forward and using all the grace she could muster in her elated state she plucked Longtail from the sand and gave him a bear hug. She then added "I'm so glad you're okay!" Sheding tears as she did so.
-
Kaga replied to Strafe's question, "Yeah, let's keep moving. Hopefully it won't take us long to cross this desert. Every day, we are one step closer to the valley."
When Longtail was discovered, Kaga was overcome with joy.
"We were so worried about you." he said. "We're going to be walking for a while. If you get tired, I can always give you a lift."
With that, he continued walking, his tail swishing back and forth as he walked along. The iguanodon's feet left shallow footprints in the sand. The dry, dusty landscape was all to familiar for his liking. Kaga hated deserts. However, in the moonlight, he could faintly make out what looked like mountains in the distance. He looked behind him and could still see the volcanoes casting their sinister red glow upon the ash clouds behind them. He was so glad to be out of that place. Dispite being hungry and tired, Kaga was too excited to stop. It wasn't until dawn that he felt he couldn't go any further. His legs collapsed from under him and Kaga sighed to everyone, "Well, this is as far as I can go. Let's stop now. We can keep going at dusk."
With that, Kaga crawled over to a sand dune that he knew would shelter him from the sun when it came up, wrapped his tail around himself, rested his head on the ground, and closed his eyes.
-
"I hope it isn't too hot today." yawned Strafe as she walked over to Kaga.
She lied down next to him and rested her head on his shoulder, using him as a pillow. Strafe was happy that Longtail was back and that everything was alright.
Snork chuckled as he watched her cuddle up with Kaga and then found his own place to rest. Snork had been use to this kind of thing back with his old herd. He often had to find his own place to sleep because nobody else cared. The swimmer chose a place next to a large rock and curled up just as the rays of dawn became visible in the east.
-
Dante ran over to Longtail, grabbing him in a playful headlock and rubbing his head playfully...
"Don't worry me like that, dude! I was afraid we had lost ya! Good to see you again!"
-
Longtail just smiled as Dante rubbed his head and replied "Then don't take so long next time! How long was I in that hole for anyways?" Hunter who was now laying on her back picked up Longtail and placed him under her head and said "Don't move!" She then put her head down and used Longtail like a pillow...which worked for the flyer as well, as Hunter's head provided shade from the sun.
Longtail sighed as he sat under Hunters head and called out to Dante "You coming to rest?"
-
Dante nodded, propping himself against Hunter and smiling...
"Yeah. I'm beat. I could use a little..."
He yawned, and in a moment was soundly asleep, a smile still covering his face...
-
Just before sunset, Snork awoke. He was glad that the hottest part of the day was over. He walked over to Strafe and woke her up.
"We should probably get moving. We need to get as far as we can tonight."
Strafe nodded and nudged Kaga awake. Then she stood up and stretched tiredly. She was surprised by how well she had slept in the heat of the day. A random thought crossed her ming: it had been four months since the massive earthquake. Much of the time had been spent traveling with her new friends, yet they had never told eachother much about themselves. Strafe was interested to hear about the others. Kaga was the dinosaur who she wanted to be her mate yet she knew alomst nothing about his past. The same went for the others. Strafe decided to save the conversation for later, when everyone was awake.
After the group was underway, Strafe said aloud, "You know, we've been traveling together all this time but we have never told anyone about ourselves. How about we share our past? That could be our traveling topic for the day."
Snork nodded and said, "Well, since this was your idea, why don't you start us off?"
Strafe replied, "Well, you now most of what happened recently, but..."
She explained how she had spent her entire shildhood searching for the Great Valley with her herd, some of the close encounters she had been through, the earthquake, and the death of her family. So far, Snork and Sy were the only ones aware that she had lost her family in the earthquake. Strafe had not shared that detail with anyone else until now.
Snork explained how his herd had wandered about aimlessly, his mother being killed by a sharptooth, his father blaming him for it and hating him, and how he had met Strafe.
Strafe shuddered at the mention of Snork's father, seeing as how he had threatened to break her neck just because she wanted to rest under a tree.
-
Kaga awoke to see Strafe stanting over him and nudging him with her nose. He quickly got to his feet, eager to get out of the desert.
When it was his turn to talk about his past, Kaga explained, "Well, I had a rather dull childhood. My herd just wandered about looking for their next meal kinda like Snork's herd. I tried to get them to try and find the Great Valley but they just laughed at me. One night, I got sick of it and ran away. I've been looking for the valley ever since then."
-
Dante looked at the others as they walked, then decided to go next.
"Let's see here... I was born in the Badlands of the Beyond, and for a while I was...well, not exactly 'happy', but content. I had a Father and one somewhat older brother. My mom died giving birth to us. Then I... Realized I was different from the others. I hated blood, hated killing unless I had to. A-And I had... something...evil inside me. It was...and is a constant struggle to keep it in control. But one day, I didn't. I killed my friend, Layla. So my father exiled me. Then Arius, another exile, took me under his wing and he taught me how to take care of myself. We were headed towards the Great Valley, but that sharptooth that attacked us before came after us. Arius knocked down a rock column so that I could escape. From then on... Well, we've been together."
-
As Longtail and Hunter walked and listened Hunter said "Well. My past isn't anything special but I left my herd just for no real reason. I just wanted to go exploring and my parents wouldn't let me so I ran. I've been able to take care of myself for a long while and although I've made it this far, I'm glad I met you guys. I tends to get lonely our here all by yourself. It really kinda stinks."
Hunter looked onto her back to see Longtail facing away from everyone and she quietly said "Well, everyone else has told their stories...how bout you?" It was then she noticed he was shaking. His response was a firm and harsh "No!" Hunter continued to walk but sighed and whispered to Dante "Can you help him, I would, but I have to watch where I'm going." She then asked once more "Please Longtail, everyone is rather eager to hear..." But the flyer cut her off.
"I SAID NO!" He then turned just enough so Hunter could see his right eye and he opened it and she gasped not expecting what she saw. 'D-did...it...just change...color?!' Thought Hunter to herself. And just as quickly Longtail closed his eye and let a tear fall from it.
-
Dante looked at Hunter for a moment before saying...
"I-I don't really know much about Longtail's past, other than... that he lost his mother and his family. But... I'll try to get him to talk about it..."
He said quietly...
"For you..."
Then he turned towards Longtail, wiping the tear off his face.
"Hey there, bud. Don't cry. I mean... everyone knows...what I am...what I hid from you all, so... you can trust us. Even if everyone else leaves...I'll stay with you. 'Cause that's what friends do, right? They stick with each other. You can tell us..."
-
Hunter blushed a bit as she caught what Dante had said and listened for a moment as he talked to Longtail. Longtail however was still crying even as he opened both of his eyes even though his right eye was still yellow and looked at Dante for a moment and said "Y-you'll...stay..." Upon hearing this Hunter turned her head once more and said "Yeah...I will too, besides someone gotta make sure you stay out of trouble."
Longtail wanted to smile, but only frowned again as he sighed and said "O-okay...guys. You win." He then began to tell his story.
"When I hatched I lived on an island, it was wonderful all the food you could eat, and even several major watering holes to play in. But one day the peace was shattered as flying rocks began to fall from the sky. They were everywhere. Some say the ones who watch us from above...the Guardians were angry at the flyers who lived on the island, and wanted to show them how to be fair and noble. The island was wiped out...the fires were giant, families burned alive...the screaming....the sound of rocks falling...and....and....then...."
At this point his voice was barely above a whisper as he said "S-She....died...trying....to...s-save...me."
Hunter turned her head and quietly asked "Who?" with a fearful look in her eyes as Longtail said
"My....mother...struck in the back....by a falling rock....I will never...n-n-" He couldn't continue it was far too painful, and he laid down on Hunters back and cried until his eyes hurt.
-
Strafe felt like an idiot when she saw Longtail's response. She had forgotten how he reacted last time the subject was brought up. She was about to tell him he didn't have to explain it but Dante and Hunter beat her to it.
When Longtail explained, Strafe felt really bad fro him. Having lost her own family, she knew exactly what he must be going through. It hadn't effected her when she talked about it before, but now, Longtail's story brought back the memories.
strafe walked over to him and said quietly, "I'm sorry, Longtail. I know what it is like...
A tear trickled down hr face as she said in barely a whisper, "to lose a family. As far as I'm concerned, you guys are my family now."
-
"Heh. You guys are lucky. At least... at least you know that your family is in a better place now. Mine... Well, they're..."
He seemed to look about sadly...
"They're the ones that attacked us back there. That... I... I'm sorry I didn't bring that up sooner... I was... scared..."
Dante straightened, bravely, to hide the sadness in his heart...
"But they're less my family then you guys are. No matter what, I'll stick with you!"
He concluded...
-
Longtail heard what Strafe had said, then began to smile...and as he finally stopped crying his right eye changed back to it original pink color and Hunter was stunned as she said "Can you do that at will?" Longtail looked down at her and said "Yeah...I can." His smile widened as he said "You know something guys...we need a group name. We all have something in common, and that's what binds us together." he then looked at the entire group as they walked and said "I couldn't ask for a better family now."
Hunter smiled and said "Yeah. That's the spirit!"
-
Dante smiled, passing his hand over his eyes, changing them from pale blue, to midnight black. He passed his hand back over his eyes, and they reverted back to his normal color.
"Ditto for me! As a family, we do need a name."
He blushed a little, then said...
"But...I don't have any good Ideas."
-
Kaga shrugged, "Well, I don't have any ideas either. Perhaps we can come up with one later. Right now, I want to get moving. I don't know how much longer I can go without water."
Indeed, he had not had anything to drink since they left the cave in the burning mountains. At least at night, he wouldn't have to worry about the heat. As the group traveled through the night, Kaga watched a storm in the distance.
At about midnight, a flash of lightning lit up the clouds ahead of the group. Kaga paused and sniffed the air, catching the faint scent of rain. As time passed, it became clear that the storm was indeed heading their way. Kaga sighed in relief as a rumble of thunder reached his ears.
-
Dante, however, when he heard the thunder, went rigid, shaking for a moment, then regained his composure saying...
"Yeah. Right. Well, if it's water you need... I can probably get at least a little for us..."
-
"Uh, is something wrong, Dante?" Kaga asked as another rumble of thunder rumbled across the open wasteland.
"Well, if you can get some water then that would be fine too."
Frankly, Kaga would be glad to see rain. It had not rained in a long time and Kaga could hardly wait to have the dust and ash washed from his skin.
-
Longtail for the most part had his eyes glued to the sky as the storm approached and looked to Dante as he said "Not that I don't trust you, but perhaps I should go first...wouldn't want you getting struck by sky fire now would I?"
Hunter looked at both of them as she said "Are you two crazy?! Just let the sky water fall and we'll drink what we can catch. you don't always have to put yoruself in danger you know." Longtail looked at Hunter for a moment, gave her a wide smile and said "Now what kind of fun would that be? Huh?" Hunter was silent for a few moments before she said "You really are stupid aren't you?"
She then looked to Dante and asked "Are you as stupid as he is?"
-
Dante shook his head...
"I-It's nothing. Just... I'm kinda... well, scared of the thunder. Don't know why, but I am. And as for water... Arius taught me that there's water buried underground in a desert. Now I just have to reach it... Here goes! Gaia Crush!"
Dante brought his leg up, sending it crashing to the sand below, creating a sizeable crater. He then dropped to his belly, claws furiously digging until...
"Here we are! It's not much, but it should hold us over until the storm gets here."
A small pool of water now rested in the crater, glinting in the flashes of lightning...
-
"Well, I'll be..." said Hunter as she smiled and said "You happen to be very talented Dante." She blushed as she continued to say in a joking manner "Perhaps you may be able to pull your weight yet..."
"AWESOME!" shouted Longtail as he saw what little water had come from under the sand. He then looked confused and asked "Hey, why not just let the skywater fill the rest of this hole, then it'd be full enough to drink from for days!"
-
"Well, if everyone wants to wait, then I suppose that it would work"
Dante said to Longtail. He then turned towards Hunter, blushed, and said...
"Y-Yeah. Thanks, Hunter..."
-
Finally, the rain began to fall. It was a steady rain that Strafe was glad to see. She drank the water that collected in the sands until she had enough. Snork hobbled over as well and drank.
"Ah, this is nice." Snork said.
He enjoyed the cooling rain on his back.
Strafe let the water pour over her and wash the grit and sand from her skin. Normally, she didn't like being out in the open when it rained but after being dry for so long, this was a welcome relief.
-
As the rain fell Longtail did what any kid would...and started to run around trying to catch the biggest raindrops in his mouth, making a game out of it. Hunter just giggled at Longtail and sighed as she felt the rain cooling her down and she had to admit after all this time it felt great! She then took a drink from the now much larger pond that Dante had created and walked over to him and said "Again thanks Dante..." She then blushed as she continued "I might...I mean we...might be lost without you."
She silently cursed herself 'Why can't I tell him? Were both sharpteeth, but...I'm guess I'm scared to say it outloud.'
-
Kaga enjoyed the soothing feeling of rain washing over his skin. He drank from the puddle until he was no longer thirsty and then looked around. The landscape was extremely dark except for an occasional bolt of lightning illuminating the world for a brief second. Then a loud crack of thunder echoed across the land.
Kaga sugested, "I think we'd better get going once everyone has had their drink. I want to get out of this desert."
As soon as everyone had drank their fill, the group moved on.
Kaga trudged along next to Strafe as they neared the other side of the desert. They had cleared it faster than he had expected and now, a baren, rocky landscape lay ahead. The tall mountains ahead still looked in the distance and looked like they were about anopther week's walk. For now, the group had to contend with a land filled with stone pillars and shark, craggy rocks.
We'd better be careful in here." Kaga wanred. "Some of these rocks look sharp."
The iguanodon carefully avoided a sharp rock and made his way into the narrow, shallow valley filled with stone pillars. He wondered how much further it was to the Great Valley from where they were now. Surely it wasn't that much further.
-
Upon seeing the rocky terrain that lay ahead Longtail who was still riding on Hunters back gave a gruff and loud scoff as he said "Forget this! I'm in the air....If I see anything that will get you guys through this....place any faster I'll tell you right away!" He then spread his wings and flapped until he was high in the sky and flew on ahead of the group disappearing around several boulders.
Hunter frowned as she said "I hate when he does that! Oh well at least I can sniff him out this time if I need to."
-
Dante nodded, then looked at Hunter, blushing profusely.
"Um...H-Hunter? There's something I want to tell you. I-I really... Well, I really like you, and I was..."
He trailed off, blushing and looking at the ground nervously...
-
Hunter blushed as well, but had enough sense to lead Dante behind a rock pillar for a moment before she began speaking. "Look Dante...I-I...like you too...alot, but maybe we should keep this a secret for now. At least until were safely in the Great Valley. But...I am glad that...we like each other so much."
-
"Ahem," a voice said from behind Dante and Hunter. Sy looked down at the two sharpteeth with a rather amused look on his face.
"I suggest that we continue on. We can only get closer to the valley."
(OOC: If anyone cares, I can tell Sy's story.)
-
(OOC: That's fine with me!)
Hunter whole body turned a shade of red as she turned around to see Sy standing behind them. She then tried to stutter out a response. "W-what...d-d-did...you hear?" She then blushed redder and said "I-It dosen't matter...y-you cannot t-tell the others....not yet! Please?!" She then turned to Dante and said "Quick...come up with an excuse...and I mean ANY-" then an idea came to her. "Hey...Sy...h-how about you tell...us about your past."
-
Dante, too, was blushing from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail as he stammered...
"Uh... Y- Yeah! I bet you've had a pretty interesting life so far, h-haven't you, Sy? Ehheheheh..."
-
Snork was walking along when he noticed that Hunter and Dante had disappeared.
"Where did they go?" the swimmer asked.
Strafe looked around and panted, "I don't know. Let's rest and wait for them. I haven't had a real good night's sleep since before we went through the burning mountains."
Snork sat town on a large rock and nodded in agreement. He too was exhausted and looked forwars to finally reaching the valley. It seemed so close now. Both Snork and Strafe knew it wouldn't be long now. Only a couple more weeks at the most.
-
By now, every muscle in Kaga's body hurt. He was in need of a good rest but he knew they couldn't stop.
The attack caught him completely by surprise. The sharptooth rammed into Kaga, knocking him to thre ground with a hard thud. The iguanodon looked up and saw Shriek advancing on him. Kaga rolled over and quickly forced himself to his feet. TH eiguanodon swung his tail at the sharptooth and the blow knocked Shriek to the side. However, the sharptooth quickly recovered and came at Kaga again with a fierce roar. Kaga smacked Shriek with his hand, drawing blood as his spiked thumb cut into Shriek's flesh. Shriek rammed into Kaga again, knocking him down again. The sharptooth growled hungrily and Kaga could smell his putrid breath. It looked like this might be the end for him.
-
Strafe looked up in shock as Shriek appeared out of nowhere and attacked Kaga.
"Kaga!" she shouted and rushed to his aid.
Snork yelled, "Wait for me!" and stood up.
Strafe reached the sharptooth first and slashed him across the stomach with her spiked thumb. Then she slashed him across the chest, drawing blood both time. The iguanodon then smacked Shriek on the head, causing the sharptooth to stumble backwards. Before she could attack again however, Shriek knocked her to the ground with a kick.
As Snork arrived, he notied some of the sharp, spiky rocks nearby and had an idea. He ran up behind Shriek and grabbed him from behind around the neck. Then he pressed his thumb into the sharptooth's eye.
As he held Shriek back from attacking anyone else, Snork shouted, "Somebody finish him! Knock him onto those rocks and this will be over!"
-
Dante had heard the growl from Shriek, and he had turned around and ran off, saying...
"As much as I'd like to hear about your past, Sy, Right now, one of our friends is in danger!"
He arrived on the scene just in time to hear Snork's statement. He responded by racing at Shriek, yelling...
"Alright, Snork! Let him go in three...two...ONE!"
Dante had just leapt into the air with both feet cocked for a kick, fully aware that Shriek couldn't dodge in time to avoid the kick...
But he would end up hitting the rocks, too...
"But that's ok... If I can save my friends, then...I don't care what happens to me..."
He thought...
-
Kaga shook his head and came to his senses as Snork and Strafe began to fight Shriek. He got to his feet, trying to regroup himself in order to attack.
As he rushed forward, however, Dante beat him to the punch.
Shriek stumbled back and lande don the sharp rocks, impaling himself with a sickening crunch. With a whimper of pain, the sharptooth expired.
Just when it looked like it was over, Kaga realized that Dante may hit one of the spikes as well.
"Dante!' he shouted and lunged forward. He grabbed Dante in midair and landed on Shriek's stomach, using the dead sharptooth's body to break his fall and prevent them from impaling themselves on the spikes.
after a few seconds of catching his breath, Kaga said, "We wouldn't want anything to happen now. Now after getting this far."
-
Hunter was stunned. She couldn't believe the attack had happened so fast! She immediately ran over to help pull Dante and Kaga up away from the sharpened rocks. Once the danger had passed she immediately jumped Dante, nuzzling him and said "Don't you ever do anything that desperate again! I will not risk losing you trying to protect us! I love you too much for that!"
Just then a cry came out from up ahead. "Someone wanna help me here?!" Hunter then looked up and said "That sounds like Longtail."
-
Strafe got to her feet and watched as Shriek was killed. With a snort of satisfaction, she walked over to make sure Kaga and Dante were alright. The female iguanodon was so happy that the sharptooth that had been stalking them was finally dead. Now they could continue on to the valley with nothing to worry about.
Snork made sure everyone was alright, but suddenly, they all head Longtail call out from somewhere.
Strafe shook her head and whispered, "Now what has that kid gotten himself into?"
-
Kaga stood up and looked around for Longtail. he tried to follow the voice but when he got to where he thought it came from, he saw nothing.
"Longtail! Longtail! Where are you?" he asked as he looked around.
-
Dante blushed at the outburst of affection from Hunter, and he whispered...
"What happened to keeping...us secret?"
He then turned his attention to Kaga, smiling and saying...
"Thanks...Kaga. I owe you one."
And when he heard Kaga's asking where Longtail was, he sniffed the air, then said...
"He's this way... and... we better hurry!'
And raced off, eyes showing both anger and fear...
_________________________________________________________________________
"You haven't the faintest idea who you travel with, do you, flyer? That Dante is responsible for the annihilation of my...of our clan."
Virgil, Dante's brother, circled Longtail, grinning evilly...
-
Hunter immediately blushed again as she realized what she had said outloud and cringed. She then whispered to Dante "Heh...sorry...I uhh...got lost in the moment...it's not everyday you see someone almost die to protect another that...you...love."
~~~~
Longtail just scoffed and replied "Ya know...I may not have any idea who you are, but if Shriek hadn't tied me to this stupid rock...you wouldn't look so smug." Then a thought crossed his mind as he asked "What do I smell like to you? A flyer? Or something else?" As he finished his question there was a gleam in his eyes...hoping he'd get the answer right.
-
Dante smiled at Hunter, then whispered back...
"It's ok. But I guess that everyone knows that we're... y'know... a couple now, huh?"
_________________________________________________________________________
Virgil looked over Longtail then said...
"For one thing, you don't infact smell like a flyer. You smell like another abomination. A half-breed. I should kill you simply because you have committed the sin of living. But I won't. I'll wait for...My dearest brother to arrive before I do, so that he can suffer the pain that I did. That's right. I am Dante's older brother, Virgil. A pleasure to meet you...You Monster..."
He smirked...
-
A smile crossed Longtail's face as he looked Virgil straight in the eyes and let his right eye turn yellow as he laughed and said "Ha-ha...monster that's one I haven't heard in a while. So if you really are Dante's older brother, why are you so bent on hurting him...or better yet, just untie me so I can do his job for him and claw you to death!"
~~~~
Hunter smiled and said "Yeah...I guess so...but now I'm picking up a new scent in the area...Dante do you recognize it...cause I don't"
-
Virgil smirked at Longtail, then struck him across the face with his tail.
"Weren't yous listening! That pathetic, weak, half-breed is the reason my whole clan is dead! It's his fault, and I will make him pay for his crimes!"
He spat, eyes mad with rage and hatred...
_________________________________________________________________________
Dante nodded at Hunter.
"Unfortunately, I do know that scent. It's... It's my older brother. It's Virgil. But why is he here?"
-
Snork saw Hunter and Dante run off in the direction of Longtail and followed incase they needed help.
Strafe followed as well.
When they caught up to Dante, she asked him, "What's going on? Did you find Longtail?"
"I hope so." Snork added. "I'm ready to get moving."
-
Dante nodded, though he still shook with fear...
"Y-Yeah. I've found him...but he's being held by my... my brother Virgil. That-That's probably a bad thing. Virgil hates me, and he may have found out... about Longtail and I's friendship. He'll be wanting to use that against me...against us..."
He stammered, eyes darting about nervously...
-
When Longtail felt Virgils tail whip him across the face...as he looked at Dante's older brother he bared his teeth and roared in anger... but as he spoke his voice was now darker, more commanding, and sounded very primal as he shouted at the top of his lungs "Is that tail whip a challenge you childish little egg! Because now I would like nothing more than to rip your heart out and SHOW IT TO YOU!"
~~~~
Hunter heard Longtails voice, or something like it anyway...and she only ran faster in the hopes that whatever was happening she could help her friend in time.
-
Virgil grinned at the enraged Longtail, laughing...
"Heh. A pathetic half-breed like you, beat me? I doubt it, boy. I am of the noble lineage of the Skyclaws. You are nothing to me."
He then looked towards the nearby wall, eyes lighting up darkly...
"As fun as killing you would be... My brother draws close. Perhaps another time."
_________________________________________________________________________
Dante, meanwhile was sprinting as fast as his body would go, hoping to be able to save Longtail from his brother...
-
(Just a little OCC here. I don't think magic attacks should be used in a LBT rpg. It is fine for the random rpg section but in this kind of rp, it is too unfair an advantage. The powerful jump attacks like the ones Dante uses are fine though.)
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Longtail then narrowed his eyes and said "I've slaughtered entire herds of sharpteeth! What will one more weak, pathetic, ugly looking uncaring, piece of waste mean to me?! I am stronger than you...and if you were a real sharptooth you wouldn't be such a coward and FIGHT ME FOR YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A CHILD WHO DOESN'T HAVE THE COURAGE TO FIGHT A REAL SHARPTOOTH LIKE MYSELF!" He was shaking with anger and as a direct result, Longtail's bindings were beginning to weaken, and come apart.
~~~~
As Hunter heard Longtail's voice again she stopped and gasped as she realized what this meant. "DANTE STOP!" she shouted as Dante ran by her. "Trust me...you don't want to see Longtail right now."
-
Dante just continued running, but he turned back and looked at Hunter...
"I am NOT going to let my brother get away with harming my friends! He's going to suffer for that!"
The surprising thing wasn't the dark malevolence that was in Dante's voice. It was his eyes. Where there had once been white, there was now black, and where there had been blue, there was blood red. He looked at Hunter one more time, then vaulted high into the air and into the canyon...
_________________________________________________________________________
"Dante. I've been expecting you...Brother!"
Virgil yelled, charging at Dante the instant he landed...
-
@ F-14: Define magic attacks...just so I'm on the same page.
-
(OCC: I noticed that in Dante's profile, there was something about a curse. Same thing with Virgil. VIrgil seems to have an energy blade attack. I have no problem with these in a random rpg but I don't think it should be in a strict rpg. Hopefully this clears things up.)
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Virgil pulled back as a glob of venom hit his chest. Almost immediately it started to eat away at his flesh.
"The Skyclaws are well known, good sir, even among my lineage," said Sy as he stepped into view. "Or, at least, what was my lineage until they were slaughtered by yours."
An evil grin spread across his scarred face.
"I doubt you remember me; you were but a tiny hatchling and I was already older than your grandparents."
The Sinensis grabbed Dante to prevent him from charging at his brother.
"Don't fight," he muttered, "unless you wish to doom yourself to the Fires of Annak."
He adressed Virgil again.
"I sought help; a bit of water, maybe something to eat. And what was the response?"
He traced a finger along several ragged scars that stretched across his neck.
"I took home these for my troubles."
The evil grin had turned into a horrid scowl.
"So, do you wish to face the wrath of the Wanderer, or are you ready to surrender?"
-
Virgil staggered back, wincing at the venom burning his chest...
"So, Dante. You're still too weak to fight me without your little friends to back you up? No matter. I'll kill you eventually, brother. Mark my words..."
And he jumped into the air and fled...
_________________________________________________________________________
Dante ran over to Longtail, cutting loose the remaining bonds.
"You ok, Longtail?"
He asked, his eyes slowly reverting to their normal color...
-
Longtail still in his fit of anger shouted "I'm FINE!" He then jumped down and said "I can't believe I was taken down so easily...like a hatchling!" He looked at Dante, nodded his head in thanks then flapped his wings and simply flew in circles high above the group as they rejoined again.
Hunter simply walked over to Dante. She sighed and said "He didn't mean to snap like that....he just needs a little time to cool down." She looked up at Longtail and shed a tear. "So much pride for such a little guy." She looked down at the group and said "We need to keep going."
-
Dante looked at Hunter, smiling sadly and wiping the tear off her face...
"Yeah. I can't say I blame him. He... He probably built up that confidence to guard the wounds in his heart. And... I'm sorry. These attacks... they're my fault. It would've been better if I had never joined up with you guys..."
He then leapt up to a spire near Longtail, saying...
"Longtail. I'm really sorry that you were attacked. It's my fault. If I wasn't here... You guys would be safe. If you want me too... I'll... I'll go..."
He said, sadness and remorse in his voice, with a small tear running down his cheek...
-
Longtail looked at Dante as he spoke and listened. As he finished Longtail could see the sadness in his eyes and the feeling in his voice. The little flyer landed next to Dante using his talons to grip the rock and looked into his eyes. For a moment Longtail didn't speak...he couldn't find the words. He then took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
He then said "Look Dante...i-it's not...you. I should have known that a trap was bound to happen here...it's the perfect spot...and what's worse is I fell for it completely! I didn't mean to lash out at you...but...your brother seems to have something against you...and apparently me now too...so you leaving our group would not make a difference." His right eye changed back to it's quartz pink hue and he smiled as he said "Beside...the next time we meet...we can bring him down together...like a family should!"
Hunter smiled still on the ground as it looked like Dante and Longtail were talking things out.
-
Dante smiled at his friend, his eyes brightening.
"Yeah. That'll be cool. Let's go. I bet the others are getting anxious. We're pretty close to the Valley now, aren't we? So...Let's go there... as a family..."
He said, jumping back down to the ground and landing next to Hunter.
"Let's go, shall we, Hunter?"
He asked her, wrapping his tail around hers and smiling lovingly...
-
Occ: Sorry fro not posting today. I've been sick as a dog all day long. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow.
Kaga watched the whole scene unfold. He was angry at the hatred that Virgil displayed and prepared to attack. However, when Virgil fled, Kaga calmed down.
"COme on, guys. Let's go."
-
Hunter lushed as Dante wrapped his tail around hers, and she said "Yeah...let's get going." Then a thought crossed her mind as she looked at Dante and thought 'I wonder...if we really do love each other....' Her blush only became darker as she continued her train of thought 'W-what will our....hatchlings, look like?'
However Longtail chose that moment to land on Hunters back and said "So are you going to stand there all day or are we going to move?" Hunter blinked as she looked back at Longtail and said "Well, impatient arent' we?"
-
Dante looked at Hunter, and asked...
"Is something wrong Hunter? You're blushing..."
He then noticed (again) How beautiful she was, and he wondered...
If we... I wonder if our...our Hatchlings will be as beautiful as their mother...
He thought, then he himself began to blush.
"Y-Yeah. Calm down, Longtail, we're coming, we're coming..."
He smiled at the pair of them, saying...
"Yeesh. Kids can be so darn impatient, huh?"
And laughed...
-
Hunter laughed as she and Dante spoke at the same time. She then blushed as she asked "Well...shall we get going..." She then whispered into his ear 'my mate.' She then walked ahead as Longtail took to the sky and said "Alight, I may have no clue what was so funny, but I'm going to see whatever I can see from up here."
Hunter just smiled as she knew Dante was right behind her, and then asked "Hey Sy, you were going to tell us about your past right?"
-
(Sorry for taking so long)
Snork and Strafe followed the others. Snork had been nervous ever since the encounter with Virgil but he remained opimistic.
The swimmer announced, "Well, I don't know about you guys but the first thing I'm going to do when we get to the valley is have a party. I can just rest later on. How about you guys?"
Strafe nodded in agreement and added, "I'll come to celebrate putting this part of my life behind me for good."
The next two days passed fairly quickly and the group finally arrived at the base of the mountains that had looked so distant a week earlier.
Snork looked at a cave in the cliffs and could see light on the other side.
He said, "Wait here. I'm goin to scout ahead."
With that, he crawled into the tunnel. When he reached the other side, Snork found himself inside a small gully and the scent of green food was strong. The other end of the gully opened up into a huge valley lined with green trees as far as the eye could see. Snork gasped in shock as it sunk in.
"Hey guys! Come quick! We're here! We've made it!"
Strafe bolted into the cave and joined Snork on the other side, lookign around at the valley that lay before them. This was the happiest moment of either of their lives.
"How about we go have your party when the others join us?" Strafe asked.
"Sure thing." Snork said, tears of hapieness welling up in his eyes.
-
Kaga hurried to the end of the tunnle and joined Snork and Strafe on the other side. A smile crossed his face and he nuzzle Srafe, happy to finally be in the Great Valley.
"We've made it, Strafe. This is it."
Then Kaga turned to Snork and said, "Let's go have your party then! There should be plenty of food to choose from!"
Then a thought crossed his mind, "Say, Strafe, I'm not sure we're ready for kids yet. I mean, we should take time to enjoy ourselves together before raising a family. We won't have many opportunities with hatchlings running around."
-
Dante was the next one out of the tunnel, and as he stood there, he gasped and said...
"I-Is this what I think it...Is it really..."
Then he let out a cheer, yelling...
"Hunter! Longtail! Everyone! You gotta see this! We made it! We're here! I..."
He said, looking out over the place he had been searching for for so long with tears gleaming in his eyes...
Then he turned towards Snork, saying...
"A party, huh? Well, as soon as everyone's through... What're we waiting for?"
And he laughed, the sheer joy of the moment overwhelming any sense of fatigue that he had...
-
Hunter was overjoyed as she bumped into Dante from running too fast. Her joy showed as her mouth hung open and her eyes glowed with an inner light that echoed in her voice as well. "T-this is...g-great! I can't wait...this is going to be so much fun! I s-still can't believe it...isn't this great Longtail!" Upon getting now reply from the young flyer Hunter looked around and she couldn't find him. She looked to the sky and frowned "Guys Longtail's disappeared again! Where could he be now?"
-
Dante looked around, sniffing the air inquisitively...
"Hmmm. That's odd... I can smell him, and he's close by. That means that he's probably playing a trick on..."
-
Longtail at that moment bounced off of Dante's head and shouted "YES!!!! THIS IS THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE!! WAHOO!!!!!" he then landed inbetween Hunter and Dante and said "Well...who's up for a party! LET'S GO!" He then flapped his wings and launched himself into the valley flying inbetween several trees and coming back with a mouthful of treestars and said "You guys are too slow, I've already started the party! HA!
-
Dante laughed again, looking at his friend and smiling...
"Hey now, Longtail. Don't start the party just yet! We have one more friend on the way! C'mon Sy! We're finally here! You coming?"
Dante yelled back into the cave before smiling at the others...
"Well...I guess we're...Home."
He said finally, looking back over the expanse of the Valley before them, his eyes lighting up with sheer joy that they had made it...
-
(OCC: My last IC post in this topic)
Strafe nodded and replied to Kaga, "Yeah. Let's enjoy ourselves while we're still young."
Snork said, "Come one! Let's get the food!"
In the golden light of the late afternoon, Snork and the others had gathered around a flat rock near the lake. The rock was piled high with fruit, treestars, tree sweets, and other things that had been rare treats before reaching the Great Valley.
Snork said as he ate a handfull of tree sweets, "It's been some journey, guys. I don't think I ever could have made it here without you. Perhaps later on, we can meet some of the locals later, but whe I'm done with this meal, I'm goin to take a nice long rest."
Strafe had never hade juicy treestars or fruit this good. She was lucky to get small, mostly dry treestars before.
She said to Snork, "If I hadn't met you. I don't know if I would have made it even half way. Thank you."
Snork got up, nodded, and said, "Well, I'm going to rest now. My sore muscles need it.
-
(This will my last post in this topic as well...)
Longtail was flying around in the air and actually using his head to bounce off the trees that he didn't feel like dodging. He rammed into another tree and slid down to the ground with one of the widest grins ever seen on his face. He was laughing as he stood up and ran over to where the others were resting and skid to a stop as he said with a deep breath "This is too good!" He then rolled onto his back and continued saying "I love this place...and I've only been here a few moments."
Hunter just giggled and said "I can't believe how energized he is...especially after all we've been through. I just wanna rest..." She blushed again and looked at Dante and said "And...keep looking...at you. Handsome."
-
(Same for me. Time to open the next RP, I guess, Huh? Who wants the honors?)
Dante smiled, looking at his beloved Hunter, saying...
"Yeah. It's been a long road, but we made it... As friends, and..."
He looked at the others, seeing smiling faces all around, and continued...
"As a Family..."
Then he turned his attention back to Hunter, saying...
"And I just want to be by your side...Hunter...My love."
He looked up at the sky then, thinking to himself...
Arius...Thank you. I know you were looking out for us, and... Well, I couldn't be happier. I'm...Home...
-
Sy finally appeared at the opening of the tunnel. He took it all in and smiled weakly.
"Strange seeing it again," he muttered. "It's been over seventy years. And now the exile has returned."
Unnoticed by the rest of the group, he slunk off through the trees, toward the center of the Great Valley. He would come back, but not yet.
Not until he was done remembering...
(OOC: There's a last post for you.)
-
Kaga finished with his food and yawned tiredly.
s he got back up, the iguanodon said, "Come on, Strafe. Let's find some place to sleep."
With that, he walked off toward the forest, happy to finally hae a place to call home.
(Occ: Last post)
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(OCC: Please see the discussion section everyone. We need to figure out who plays which real LBT characters.)