Solo From 'berth to Berth

Travel thread

(This is a thread from Mizahar's fantasy role playing forum. Why don't you register today? This message is not shown when you are logged in. Come roleplay with us, it's fun!)

While Sylira is by far the most civilized region of Mizahar, countless surprises and encounters await the traveler in its rural wilderness. Called the Wildlands, Syliran's wilderness is comprised of gradual rolling hills in the south that become deep wilderness in the north. Ruins abound throughout the wildlands, and only the well-marked roads are safe.

From 'berth to Berth

Postby Fiachra on March 18th, 2016, 5:59 pm

Image
19 Spring - 516 AV - Sunberth - Seaside Market


"I ain't goin' back there again, they can't petchin' make me!"

"G'wan. Can't've been that bad."

"I'm tellin' you! You go to sleep one place you wake up somewhere else! And there was yarn everywhere! And I paid for a damned steak an' it tasted like a salad! I wanna eat a cow, not a cow's petchin' dinner! Nothin's what it looks like and it all changes all the time! Alvadas is gods-cursed, I'm tellin' you!"

"I heard where they're gods-favoured. Got one what lives there and everythin'."

"Well even if they do, you reckon the likes of you'n me should attract a gods attention? Bloody fickle gods are. Worse'n women."

"Remind me not t'stand near you in a thunderstorm.."

The two sailors continued their work, their banter turning to more familiar avenues. Which taverns they were going to drink at, how many whores they were going to patch and so on. Totally oblivious to the Raven who hang upside off on the the lantern poles. 'Chra had been looking for some entertainment, and perhaps watching those who came into the cities on the boats to see if any of them called for her, though that was largely done subconsciously. This Alvadas place sounded interesting. Exciting. Novel. The sort of place she wanted to see and visit.

Too bad she didn't know where it was. She clacked her beak at this. Using her wings she started to swing on her upside-down perch as she thought. Ah! The library! They might know. She'd been told when she asked what a library was, that it was a collection of knowledge, all stored up for anyone to find and use. Well then it should know where Alvadas was. With a pleased toc-toc-toc, she dropped from her perch, wings flapping to flip herself right side up and raise her higher into the air.

When she reached a height that allowed her to get a good view of her surroundings, she oriented herself with the buildings and landmarks she knew and winged off towards the library. Because she could, and was still in a fairly playful mood, she twisted in the air, flying upside down. It took more concentration to stay level this way, but it was also fun. like the entire world had flipped around, up was down and down was up, the ground was above her.

As she entered Stumble Alleys airspace, she flipped right side up, angling down, wings flaring out to slow her down as she switched to human just in front of the dilapidated building that was apparently the library. She'd never been within it, and was fairly curious though she'd not felt much need to go in before. She pushed the doors open and entered, nose wrinkling slightly at the dust in the air.

"Hello?"

"Oh? Oh, just a moment!"

A voice came from somewhere beyond shelves and shelves of books. After some shuffling noises, a woman approached, clutching a book to her breast. She blinked slightly at the naked woman before her, but Kelvics although rare here uncollared and without an owner nearby, were not unheard of.

"Can I help you?"

"Yes! I am trying to find Alvadas."

"The city?"


"Yes!"

"What about it?"

"Where it is. I want to go, but I don't know the way."

"That's an awfully long journey. There's no real safe way to make it."

"I can do it, I just need to know the way."

'Chra replied dismissively, puffing out her chest slightly. All these ground-bound might not be able to go where they wanted, but she could. Sure it was dangerous, but like most young people, there was a part of 'Chra that felt she was invincible.

"Look, let me show you how far it is on a map, it's madness."

Turning, the woman went back into the stacks, and 'Chra followed. A map! Good! Pictures were better than words. Easier to understand. The woman pulled a thick tome down, placing it reverentially on a counter, she flipped through the pages until she found the page she wanted.

"All right look. We're here. Alvadas is way over here. It's impossible. There are no roads."

"Where's Syliras?"

"Up here."

"I flew from there to here. Alvadas isn't much farther! Less than.."

She used her finger to compare the distances.

"Less than twice as much! What's this spot?"

She pointed to another marking on the map, a little less than halfway between the two.

"That's Zeltiva."

"Can I get food and sleep there?"

"I suppose."

"Okay, so if I go down-"

"South."

"-south, and then follow the coast, then I get to Zeltiva, and then I can cut across from there to Alvadas! Easy!"

"You're going to die."

"No, I'm going to Alvadas. Well. Thanks! Bye!"

With a cheerful wave, 'Chra trotted off. As soon as she was out the door she was changed and rising, heading south.
User avatar
Fiachra
Player
 
Posts: 118
Words: 100578
Joined roleplay: August 12th, 2015, 7:37 pm
Race: Kelvic
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Medals: 1
Donor (1)

From 'berth to Berth

Postby Fiachra on March 18th, 2016, 10:52 pm

Image
19 Spring - 516 AV - South of Sunberth


This was a lot of flying. The first hour or so had been fine, fun even. Now though, as the hours passed, the novelty was wearing off. 'Chras wings were getting tired, a bone deep burn that said her short city flights did not necessarily mean she was up to cross country. Or at least not at the same pace she'd been setting so far today. The sight of the sea glinting in the distance energized her though, and her flagging pace picked up again.

Joyfully she let herself fly out over the ocean. Though she did not like and distrusted flying over large bodies of water for any length of time, for a little while the smell of the ocean was refreshing, and the winds kept her up almost without any work on her part. She swooped and tumbled, diving, getting closer to the ocean each time, playing.

A screech disrupted her play and she barely rolled to the side in time to avoid being forced into the water by a seagull. With a disgruntled kraaaawk she fought to rise before the sea-rat attacked again. Her eyes scanned the skies madly, where there was one there was usually- THERE!

She rolled again, this time bringing talons up to slash out at this new attacker. Careless. She'd only ever really encountered the seagulls of Sunberth, who were accustomed to humans and other interference and not as territorial. Seagulls in the wild would go so far as to take on an eagle. They might not kill it, but they'd certainly drive it off. She herself had to be careful. The could easily go from water to air, she couldn't. Hitting the water for her, while not immediately deadly could easily prove to be so. Seagulls also weren't above intentional drowning. They were cunning in their own stupid, mad, beady-eyed little way.

Again she fought to gain height. Higher up she could fight them more effectively. She was larger and her beak was stronger. Well. As long as there wasn't a whole mews that was going to mob her. Even then, if she could kill a few they might leave her alone.

Higher she rose, circling, the two gulls fighting to follow. There were some aspects of flight they were better at, being tailored to living here, but with her larger wingspan she could rise more quickly. And when she judged there was enough room, she flipped, arrowing her wings and diving straight for the nearest gull. Talons caught it and it hardly had a chance to squawk before her beak drove forward, penetrating. Talons released and she backbeated away from the now falling 'gull. Blood on her beak she kraw'd a victorious warning at the remaining gull.

Eyes scanned the nearby bluffs that were being beaten by waves. No other gulls. These two had been alone then, starting their own mews. Opportunistic eyes fell on something and her wings arrowed once more as she dove for one of the rocky outcroppings on the bluffs. The other gull hovered around her screaming, but unwilling to attack alone. Landing, 'Chra approached the nest. Three hatchlings bobbed within, yelling for food.

The world, 'Chra decided, had enough seagulls. Seagulls were jerks. They'd caused her to expend energy, now she'd get it back. While the other gull fluttered around, screaming and wing beating growing frantic, 'Chra darted into the nest. Sharp beak went to work. She killed them first, and then she ate them. Belly full, she rose into the air, leaving the gull to it's empty nest, she headed inland slightly. She'd gone far enough today. Finding a tree with enough leaves to provide cover but still allow her to keep an eye out, she fluffed up her feathers before falling asleep.

She had food to digest and days of travel yet to go.
Last edited by Fiachra on March 21st, 2016, 7:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Fiachra
Player
 
Posts: 118
Words: 100578
Joined roleplay: August 12th, 2015, 7:37 pm
Race: Kelvic
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Medals: 1
Donor (1)

From 'berth to Berth

Postby Fiachra on March 19th, 2016, 12:00 am

Image
20 Spring - 516 AV - Coastline between Sunberth and Zeltiva


Sea to the left, sea to the left. Just keep flying and keep the sea to your left. It was a mantra she repeated in her head, wing beating steadily. She wasn't setting quite the same pace she had the day before, and she was trying to take breaks at regular intervals. The first day she'd flown hard and covered ground quickly. It would be good if she could do about that distance each day, she didn't really have much of a concept of distances or how many days travel that would mean, but it had seemed a good distance. She'd just try and space it out over the entire day rather than covering it in half the time but burning herself out.

In the morning, she'd been taking advantage of the winds over the ocean to soar with less effort, between between the wind turning, trying to pull her out further over the ocean, and a full mews of gulls, likely where the two from the day before had been hatched at, she'd veered back inland.

She didn't have much to worry about really. Unlike her smaller brethren, crows, she was more than comfortable flying above the treeline, and once you had height it was just a matter of scanner for any threat. Most birds of prey wouldn't bother a raven unless they were desperate, and 'Chra was a particularly large, fine example of the species. Size was one of the reason. Aggressiveness and cunning was another. Plus she could pull off aerial acrobatics almost as well as other species more known for it.

She didn't try and prove it by flying upside down or the like today though, today was just an exercise in endurance, one wing beat after another.

Towards evening, she angled down for a tree branch to sleep upon. Her eyesight was not as good at night, and unless she truly needed to, she preferred not to fly unfamiliar territory in the dark. It wasn't dark yet though, as she played to spend a little time scratching for bugs or if she was very lucky eating berries. Perching, she cocked her head, examining her surroundings. A nearby rustle caught her attention. She stayed utterly still save for the rolling of one black eye to find the source. Squirrel! A squirrel by itself could be a good meal though they were sometimes hard to catch, but if she was patient..

She watched the squirrel unmoving for a good half hour, before it brought something to the base of a nearby tree and burrowed about near the roots, there! She had it now. She launched herself from the tree, arrowing for the ground, talons extended. The squirrel being particularly jumpy, as squirrels were, managed to evade her, and she hit the ground with a disgruntled kraw! as it skittered up a tree, chittering madly at her.

Didn't matter, she'd anticipated this. This was why she'd been so patient. She turned her attention to the roots. Digging a bit with claws and beak as the squirrel continued to scold her from overhead, she uncovered it's cache. With a pleased clicking noise, she immediately began devouring it. Again, there was a time to enjoy and it was generally when human, and a time to worry strictly about survival.

Being on the ground meant she was more vulnerable, so she ate until she was full and the cache was largely depleted, and then winged her way back up into the trees, falling almost immediately into the sleep of those who have done fairly serious physical exercise.
Last edited by Fiachra on March 21st, 2016, 7:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Fiachra
Player
 
Posts: 118
Words: 100578
Joined roleplay: August 12th, 2015, 7:37 pm
Race: Kelvic
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Medals: 1
Donor (1)

From 'berth to Berth

Postby Fiachra on March 21st, 2016, 7:21 am

Image
21 Spring - 516 AV - Coastline between Sunberth and Zeltiva


There was a constant dull ache in her wings, but in some ways it was actually starting to feel good. It wasn't the sort of ache that said soon you would cramp and be forced out of the sky, it was a cramp that said you'd been doing a lot of work, and you could keep going. It wasn't going to be comfortable or necessarily fun, but you could do it, you were capable.

Pffft, going to die. It must be terrible to be human! Or any of the ground-bound races really. Not able to get where you wanted, always about to be killed by something. Much better to have wings. To have freedom.

Of course there was still that little bit inside her that cried out that being human wouldn't be so bad. That it was good to act as humans did and live as humans do. You had to interact with them. Had to. Because somewhere out there in the sentient races, somewhere there was a person who wasn't just a person. They were her person. And she was going to find them. If she had to fly to every city on every map, she was going to find her person.

This of course, was only a truth in her heart of hearts. Officially she was still going to Alvadas because it sounded interesting and that was that.

In any case, she was starting to feel hungry. All this flying took a lot of energy. She'd been keeping half an eye on the ground below whenever there was a break in the trees but hadn't seen anything promising. Dipping a wing, she headed back towards the oceanfront. She scanned the area closely, on the alert for any sea bird colonies, but it looked like this stretch was unclaimed. A gleeful feeling rose within her as a sharp eye caught a scuttling movement on the beach. She wheeled down to land near one. A questing beak was caught in a claw, and with a surprised caw she shook herself free.

She eyed the crab with new respect. She could simply switch to human and use hands, but the change took energy she'd rather conserve. She could still use tools as a Raven but it would take awfully good aim to hit it with a rock dropped from the air. Although.. If you could not bring rock to crab, bring crab to rock! Raven instincts were niggling away at the back of her mind.

Darting forward the offending claw was grabbed and she winged her way up, gravity and movement keeping the crab from getting her with its free claw. Sand wouldn't serve her purpose, so she waited till she was above rock before dropped her prize. Cracked skull heralded death for the crab and jubilation for the Raven. 'Chra landed with a please ticking noise, before digging into the sweet meat revealed. This new trick was repeated until her stomach was full.

Full and smug, 'Chra decided to fly over the ocean once more. The winds were in her favour and it would be so much easier to soar, hardly any flapping necessary. This lasted for several uneventful hours, until evening had just started to fall and the sun had just began to sink towards the horizon. Just as 'Chras mind started to turn towards heading inland and finding somewhere to perch for the night, movement caught her eye.

Ahead and to her left, further out to sea, a figure waved, trying to catch her attention. It was surely too deep for most people, unless it was a sailor who'd fallen off a boat, but she saw no boat and her eyes were fairly good. Perhaps it was one of those sea people? She'd seen a few at a distance, but none close up. How did they know she wasn't just a regular bird? Well, she supposed she'd just have to find out!

Wing dipping, she changed course, heading for the figure. It wasn't until she was close, perhaps fifteen feet away that she saw something was very, very wrong. She'd noticed the strangeness from further away, but she wasn't familiar with sea people, maybe they were just weird. The pallid skin, clouded eyes, utter lack of expression and stilted unnatural quality of the movements however, made her realize that this was not a sea person, and that they were far past needing help. Maybe it was one of the Nuit, and if so she wanted no part of it. Maybe it wanted to steal her body. With the amount of magic it took to make a dead thing mostly not dead, telling a person was a Kelvic was hardly anything.

All this took only seconds to run through 'Chras mind and then she was adjusting her course, rising and turning right, inland. As soon as she did however, the sea around her erupted into a virtual wall of lashing tentacles. Too terrified even to cry out, for a moment it felt as if 'Chras heart would burst from her small chest, hollow bones not enough to contain it.

What followed felt like hours but was perhaps two minutes at most. Two minutes of weaving and dodging, rolling, being sent tumbling from mostly avoided sweeps of tentacles and just barely, barely staying out of the water and out of their grasp. When she finally managed to see herself fully free, and glanced back to ensure there was no final reaching tentacle, she saw glaring eyes just beneath the water, and the corpse slowly being pulled back down to whatever ungodly beast had used it as a lure to start with.

Flying as fast as her wings would take her, 'Chra made it back to the woods, back into the safety of the land and trees. Landing, she huddled near the trees trunk, body bruised, feathers ruffle, beak parted as she panted, terror not yet flushed from her system.

It seemed impossible that she would sleep, and yet she did. Almost as if her mind was refusing to deal with what she'd just seen and was instead retreating into blessed unconsciousness.
Last edited by Fiachra on March 22nd, 2016, 10:27 pm, edited 4 times in total.
User avatar
Fiachra
Player
 
Posts: 118
Words: 100578
Joined roleplay: August 12th, 2015, 7:37 pm
Race: Kelvic
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Medals: 1
Donor (1)

From 'berth to Berth

Postby Fiachra on March 21st, 2016, 7:23 am

Image
22 Spring - 516 AV - Coastline between Sunberth and Zeltiva


With the sun, Fiachra took to the sky again. Still unsettled by the previous days encounter with.. Whatever it had been, she stayed far inland, the ocean barely visible to her right. Enough to keep her course true, no more. It might or might not solidify into a true fear of the ocean, it was hard to tell at this point. The relatively simple nature of 'Chra meant it could easily go one way or the other. She would either move on with this being a hazily remembered scare that might at times make her uneasy, or it might become a full blown phobia, which might be confined to the ocean but might encompass all large bodies of water. Only time would tell.

For now she concentrated once more on the steady beat of her wings and scanning the skies for any threats. A few brief stops to rest, one where an impromptu dive resulted in making a meal of a squirrel too busy scolding a rival to note her, were all that broke up the day. Around six bells, had there been a tower to chime them out, the warm afternoons light picked up a on a veritable treasure through a break in the trees. A small clearing of wild strawberries around a fallen tree, the white blooms making them visible from the air. It was just entering the proper season for them, so there was a chance there was nothing but the blooms yet, still it wouldn't hurt to check.

Rolling off towards the clearing, she circled lazily downwards rather than executing another dive. Flapping her wings, she landed. Hopping about and poking at the low-lying plants, she found to her delight that several of them bore the small, sweet berries already. Immediately she set to devouring them, beak stabbing out and snatching the berries, before swallowing them nearly whole. They were delicious. Sweet with just a touch of tart. Even with the way she ate, the fragrance of the berries lingered in the air, nearly as good as the berries themselves.

So focused was she on the berries and filling her belly that she paid little attention to anything else. After all, she was far from the ocean. Safe.

She missed the slight rustling in the woods. Had she been an expert tracker, or at the very least paying attention she would have heard the rustling getting slowly closer. She did hear the guttural roar that could just barely be understood as a voice screaming out 'Mine!'

The voice belonged to what looked like an animated corpse, pale, gaunt, almost dessicated looking. Withered breasts and nether regions said it might once have been female. Now it simply was. Bulging maddened, red-tinged eyes were fixed on the interloping Raven it tackled, prominent teeth, stained with old blood and bit of flesh clacked together. Having been tackled unaware from behind, not even 'Chra was fast enough to fly before being enveloped in those deceptively strong arms. As the tightened and the gnashing teeth came nearer, 'Chra did the only thing she could. She changed. What was the alternative? As a Raven her hollow bones would be easily broken, and then even if she escaped this instance she would be crippled, just waiting for something to finish her off.

With a scream of her own, 'Chra flailed madly, hands and elbows flying, feet finding their mark. The creature didn't seem phased in the least, not even when 'Chra managed a few solid hits. All she managed was to keep it from sinking it's teeth into her. Still, long jagged nails bit into her upper arms, dragging furrows down her skin as she fought. Always when she got close to breaking lose the creature would regain a solid hold with one of it's dessicated hands, so absolutely single minded was its focus. The strawberry patch, once an island of pleasure and peace was being destroyed as the two struggled. 'Chras naked skin was streaked not only with her own blood but also with the smashed remains of the berries she'd been enjoying only minutes before. She wanted to change and flee, but couldn't risk it while the other had a hold of her. A free hand she was trying to use to pull herself back and away from the creature encountered a rock on the ground. Roughly fist sized, she grasped it, raising it with another primal scream, bringing it down on the others temple. Again and again she brought the rock down until it slipped from her grasp slick with gore. Still the other did not stop, did not even slow although one side of its head was a mess. It's remaining eye stared at her all the more hatefully.

The struggle continued, but with more of an emphasis on Chra's part of trying to get away, to escape. Clearly fighting back wouldn't work, it should have been dead already. Unnatural. The dead should stay dead. Eventually she wound up on her stomach, trying to drag herself away as the creature held onto her left angle, nails cutting in as it tried to drag her closer. 'Chra was not ready to give up yet though, to struggle, to survive was part of who she was. With another scream her left foot rained kicks down on the other and she twisted herself from side to side. Between the blows and the movement, as well as the blood from where nails had bit into her skin making her skin slick she managed to get free.

That was all she needed. A moment. Just a moment. Immediately she threw herself forward, changing as she did, wings beat madly, and although she lost a tail feather to grasping hands, she made it into the air, up. To live another day. Almost all the energy gained from the berries had been lost in the scuffle and two quick changes, but she'd kept her life. And as was her nature she got the last word in, circling over the clearing and the enraged other who stared up at her, teeth still gnashing. The Raven voided her bowels with an accuracy that would have made a city pigeon proud, before winging back onto her course.

She travelled a fair click, at least another two hours before settling in for the night. The slight change to her steering from the loss of a tail feather was vexing but not enough to impede her. The scratches on her skin hurt but they too should heal easily enough, though finding a place to wash them wouldn't go amiss. Not the ocean though.

She shivered slightly at that thought, feathers fluffing.

Perhaps there was good reason most did not travel.. But she'd started out now, she'd see it through. Closing her eyes, she sent a prayer, to no one in particular that the next day would not be so uneventful. Perhaps the occasional boring day was all right.
Last edited by Fiachra on March 26th, 2016, 12:35 am, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
Fiachra
Player
 
Posts: 118
Words: 100578
Joined roleplay: August 12th, 2015, 7:37 pm
Race: Kelvic
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Medals: 1
Donor (1)

From 'berth to Berth

Postby Fiachra on March 21st, 2016, 7:25 am

Image
23 Spring -516 AV - Coastline between Sunberth and Zeltiva


A later start. She stayed in her perch for a good bell after the sun had risen. If she stayed here nothing terribly bad could happen. No dead things used as bait by sea monsters, no dead things that wouldn't share their strawberries and wanted to eat her or something, just.. no dead things that didn't stay as still as a dead thing ought to.

She couldn't stay where she was though. She needed to eat and drink, and even more than that she needed to get back to civilisation. She needed people to interact with. She was still set on finding Alvadas, but even if she'd gotten discouraged enough to give up on that, she still needed sentients to interact with. For any kelvic, short of one that had gone properly mad, turning fully feral was literally not an option. So, though she wasn't happy about it, and it was done with some trepidation and an internal decision to stay properly alert especially when things looked safe, 'Chra spread her wings and started her flight for another day.

Around midday a familiar sound met her ears. One that was usually coming from her own throat. Head swivelling, she spotted another black shape winging up towards her from the tree-line. A wild Raven. 'Chra called out a greeting of her own, waiting for the other to get closer so she could judge the intent. Adult Ravens could get territorial after all. If this one was set on driving her out she'd just keep flying. She had no intention of staying here and necessitating the fight for territory after all. Another call and a tumbling swoop from the other set her mind at ease on that front though. Flipping nose to tail in an ungainly looking but precise manoeuvre she flew towards the other. What followed was a display of acrobatics for no other reason than because they could.

Matching flight paths, leaving as little room between each other as they could, turning, diving or rising suddenly and seeing how quickly and seamlessly the other could adapt. A few times they even linked talons and boomeranged through the air, breaking apart just before they got dangerously close to trees. When that got tiring, her new playmate found a stick, and for a while they played with that, either dropping for the other to try and catch in mid-air or playing keep away.

In an effort to impress, the other, a young adult male, even shared some of his food caches with her, about the highest form of bonding you could get. Caches were normally highly guarded. Part of 'Chra knew her new friend was courting her, and that it was pointless as she would not stay, but it was nice to have even avian company and just have time to play. And play they did.

In the evening the two slept together, a much more comradely feeling than sleeping alone. Memories of the past two days were largely wiped out. This day had been precisely what she needed to keep going.
Last edited by Fiachra on March 26th, 2016, 6:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Fiachra
Player
 
Posts: 118
Words: 100578
Joined roleplay: August 12th, 2015, 7:37 pm
Race: Kelvic
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Medals: 1
Donor (1)

From 'berth to Berth

Postby Fiachra on March 21st, 2016, 7:26 am

Image
Spring 24 - 516 AV - Coastline between Sunberth and Zeltiva


The next morning Fiachra allowed about a half bell of play before setting off to the west again. For perhaps a quarter bell her avian companion trailed her, trying to draw her back into play, to divert her from her course. A small part of her did want to stay, for she was as much Raven as she was Human, but the driving need to find and bond would not allow it. It was one thing to not be actively searching while in a city, since you could just run into your bondmate at any time without trying, but to idle where there was no chance? That produced an unease. A need to go, to move. She could no more deny it than she could her need to breathe and so once more she flew. Wings pumping steadily, spirits restored, she flew.

For most of the day, nothing untoward happened. She flew, she rested and foraged and then she flew on. Her scratches had scabbed over and did not seem to be getting infected, and for that she was thankful. The missing tail feather would be several weeks to grow back, but she was very nearly used to the slight difference it made in her flight already.

Early in the day she found a few berries, some insects. As the day went on the land offered less and less, and her foraging started to turn up less and eventually nothing at all. This was an annoyance, but nothing more. She'd been finding food for herself regularly, going short for one day wouldn't kill or significantly slow her down, it was just inconvenient.

Later in the day, as the light began to fade, she flew lower, watching for another good roost for the night. A peculiar whooshing noise triggered an instinctual reaction long before her sentient brain caught up. She was rolling off sharply to the side before she categorized it as the sound of something moving through the air quickly, and she was sent further tumbling by the air waves that rushed by as the whatever it was dove through the space she'd just been occupying. Having been frustrated in it's first attack, the creature, roughly lizard like in body and a good ten feet from nose to tail tip spun in the air surprisingly quickly, coming back at her, hissing, serrated teeth bared.

Surprised by how agile it was for it's size, 'Chra folded her wings and dropped straight down. Because she was a Raven, and a canny creature, she threw in the occasional and random roll or tumble, zig-zagging through the air but heading down all the same. Hoping to lose it in the tight forest where agile or not its larger frame would slow it down. It proved to be exceptionally lucky that she did take action to duck and dodge rather than go straight down, for only moments into her dive, a liquid went flying past her, just missing an outstretched wingtip, and where her body had been a moment before. Though she did not see it, where the liquid hit a tree below the bark began to bubble and melt.

In moments she was in the trees, and honestly assumed that that would be that. Most predators had the sense to know when their prey had escaped and would stop putting effort into pursuing that which was lost. She'd not counted on the territorial nature of the beast pursuing her. It followed her for hours, into the darkness when her smaller size was barely enough to keep her ahead of it's teeth and acidic spit, as it was a nocturnal creature and saw much better than she. Eventually, wings aching and honestly unsure if she could keep going, she realized she'd not heard it in a while. She hadn't noticed right away as she could barely hear over the beating of her own heart in her ears.

Flipping in midair, talons extended with a defiant scream, she saw nothing, but then, she could hardly see at all in the dark with the moon covered by clouds. Still, adrenaline fading, she did not think she could go on, though she knew she should. She perched in the nearest tree, panting, and fell almost immediately asleep, though she started awake several times throughout the night, certain she was about to die.
Last edited by Fiachra on March 26th, 2016, 9:06 pm, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
Fiachra
Player
 
Posts: 118
Words: 100578
Joined roleplay: August 12th, 2015, 7:37 pm
Race: Kelvic
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Medals: 1
Donor (1)

From 'berth to Berth

Postby Fiachra on March 21st, 2016, 7:27 am

Image
Spring 25 - 516 AV - Coastline between Sunberth and Zeltiva


She didn't die, and instead awoke the next morning from a largely unrestful sleep. Muttering under her breath crankily, travel wearing on her, getting quite frankly fed up with the number of bizarre things that seemed set on eating her, 'Chr launched herself in the air and headed west once more, checking to be sure the ocean was still to her left. Already her muscles ached. She'd just started and she was tired. It was so much easier to scavenge where there were humans or other sentients. Even in poor places like Sunberth, so much was thrown away or left unguarded that it was easy. And human predators might have been smart, but they were so much easier to avoid than the strange and unexpected ones she'd run into so far. She understood them and their habits better, it was much easier to make herself a less easy target than someone else, or to slip away when she did attract attention. No, life in the wilds was not for her. But she still had to travel throughout. She had to keep on, to push through and make it out the other side, and so her wings continued to beat, burn or no.

Several times she settled to forage, but she found nothing. Nothing was ripe yet here. The ground was either dry or still frozen and yielded no bugs or roots. Nor did she even see a convenient pine tree, the lessons from what seemed very long ago to her in Syliras floating vaguely in her mind.

So she flew on. And she flew and she flew, and still there was nothing. She saw a few squirrels, but they evaded her, dashing away to hide in holes or burrows, scolding her. Mocking her fruitless efforts. Waiting for them to come out was a waste. So she flew further. Certain that an opportunity would arise, would present itself, but nothing did. She stopped at a stream, the water moving clear and fast, and filled her stomach that way at least. It offered the illusion of fullness, but the truth was that she was more than hungry.

With the rate she had been pushing herself, the extra calories spent in the attacks she'd thusfar managed to survive, as well as the changes she'd been forced to make, she was near to starving. Successful foraging every day had kept her at a point where she was slowly losing weight, but could carry on and go on. Failure for nearly two days was serious. She starved more quickly in Raven form, but there was no point changing now that she was on the brink, it would only use more precious calories and energy. Her only chance was to push on and hope she hit.. What had that place been called? Zeltiva. Yes. Then she could find something high calorie, steal if she had to, and replace her diminished stores.

She was exhausted and cold when she settled in for the night. Colder than the temperature warranted. Shivering and fluffing her feathers, she closed her eyes to sleep, ignoring the pain in wings and stomach. She would get there soon, she had to.
Last edited by Fiachra on March 26th, 2016, 9:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Fiachra
Player
 
Posts: 118
Words: 100578
Joined roleplay: August 12th, 2015, 7:37 pm
Race: Kelvic
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Medals: 1
Donor (1)

From 'berth to Berth

Postby Fiachra on March 21st, 2016, 7:28 am

Image
Spring 26 - 516 AV - Coastline between Sunberth and Zeltiva


Tired. She'd slept and she was still tired. Her flight was not as straight and true, not as steady as it had been. Her elevation and speed varied. Her breaks stretched longer and longer when she stopped, and still there was no forage to be found.

Again she found a stream, and as she was circling down to drink, to have at least the illusion of fullness, she noted movement, and was somewhat surprised to see a small herd of five deer approaching the stream as well. After spotting her, they proceeded to ignore her. After all, a Raven was no threat to a full grown deer. She briefly entertained the idea of switching and hunting them, but what did she know of hunting them? And what would she hunt them with? Run screaming after them with a rock? Her Human form was not fast enough. It was frustrating to be so close to food but be incapable of acquiring it, but such was the nature of life.

Drinking her fill, she continued on her way. In under a quarter bell however, she saw a pack of wolves moving through the trees. To humans, wolves were dangerous predators. To a Raven however, they were an opportunity. 'Chra perked, up, adrenaline giving her a boost of energy she would hopefully be rewarded for. With a raucous kraw! she circled twice low over their heads before speeding back towards the stream. Looking back she was gratified to see the pack following. Good. She'd been hoping, given the other Raven she'd seen not so far away that this pack would know how to work with a Raven. Even if they hadn't before instinct would have helped them along them way, but it might have taken more circling, perhaps even some tail tugging to get them moving.

Every now and again she would rise to check for the deer, before dropping and calling out to the wolves. When she spotted the deer, she led the wolves around to what she decided was the best approach. At this point they scented and spotted the deer and she was forgotten, her part done. Now she just had to hope that they were successful hunters. She trailed them in the air as they worked together, managing to bring down one of the deer. She waited impatiently as they tore open the carcass. She let the first two eat, knowing instinctively that they were the most likely to be snappy, before landing and sneaking bits of deer from the carcass alongside them. She often had to hop back smartly from snaps and growls, but they weren't honestly trying to kill her. A dead Raven couldn't lead them to another hunt in the future after all.

Full of protein, Raven and Wolves were both feeling fairly somnolent. 'Chra had enough in her for a little play however. She coaxed a few of the younger wolves into games, tugging tails to engage them and playing keep away with sticks. It was dangerous still of course, but everything was, and it was fun. She needed fun nearly as much as she'd needed food.

Sleeping that night in a tree outside the wolf den, she slept easily, knowing that at least one of the predators was on watch.
Last edited by Fiachra on April 5th, 2016, 5:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
Fiachra
Player
 
Posts: 118
Words: 100578
Joined roleplay: August 12th, 2015, 7:37 pm
Race: Kelvic
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Medals: 1
Donor (1)

From 'berth to Berth

Postby Fiachra on March 21st, 2016, 7:30 am

Image
Spring 27 - 516 AV - East of Zeltiva


Waking up feeling revitalized and in good cheer once more, 'Chra returned to the deer corpse. Though largely picked over, first by the wolves and then scavengers over night, there was enough left for a decent breakfast. Flying on a belly full of meat might slow her down and necessitate more stops, but it was much better than the alternative.

Meal done, she spiraled lazily upwards before turning, putting the sea to her left and heading west once more. Wings beating, on and on. Maybe she'd never reach the mid-spot. That was a scary thought. She wasn't even half way yet. It seemed like she'd been flying forever and everything wanted to kill her. Though the other Raven had been fun. And the deer had been delicious. And she was still flying. Probably other people would not be. They'd probably be dead. Really she was amazing and had done so well! Someone should be impressed with her. But there wasn't anyone to tell. Even if she'd been in a city, who would she tell? Find her own soapbox and proclaim her deeds to the world? She deflated internally at this. She was lonely, and she needed. Good job Fiachra, you did so well, you're a good girl. But there was no one to say that. There was only the never-ending beat of her wings. Well, maybe when she got to Alvadas the god who lived there would be impressed with her. People would certainly notice if a God was pleased with her. Yes, that was a good plan. Just keep going.

For a while these nagging thoughts and doubts, usually kept away by throwing herself into her everyday life, by the distractions first Syliras and then Sunberth had provided, quieted. Subsumed by the overwhelming twin beats of heart and wings. This continued for hours. Around midday something in her mind clicked and she realized there was something different on the horizon. It had started out very small, and she'd not paid it any mind, since it wasn't a direct threat. As she gained on it however, it grew.

A ship.

Ships went to places where there were people. She must be close. Surely. Surely! She redoubled her efforts, wings beating faster, not gliding as much, propelling herself forward. She wanted to catch the ship. There were people on the ship and they would go to more people. Even as she gained on the ship, she stayed over the land. The ocean continued to make her slightly uneasy. It took a good half bell to draw nearly even with the ship. It wasn't huge, but it was large enough it was likely a merchant ship. Or pirates or something. Ships weren't really one of 'Chras strong points. Which raised the question of what exactly was. Dumb luck possibly.

In any case, once she drew even, she finally dipped a wing and headed out over the water. She landed, first on some of the rigging, but the sedentary seeming rope was like a live thing in her talons, flexing and snapping with the wind, so she moved to a more solid, wooden perch.

There was one sailor in the crows pit, and who had named that? Ravens were much better, but he did not seemed concerned in the least about her and instead kept his eyes on the horizon. So she spent the rest of the day, giving her wings a break and trusting that this ship was going where she was. It was heading in the right direction anyway.

Towards evening, she was startled out of a light doze by a cry of 'Zeltiva ho!', and so ended the first part of her journey. She took off, winging towards the city, intent on proper rest and food before continuing on to her end goal.
User avatar
Fiachra
Player
 
Posts: 118
Words: 100578
Joined roleplay: August 12th, 2015, 7:37 pm
Race: Kelvic
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Medals: 1
Donor (1)

Next

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests