Graded [Arborhaven City] Lost and Found

[LadyOfStars]

This roleplay focuses on a group of orphans as they attempt to adapt to their newfound loneliness and try to navigate without the wisdom and experience of their parents/guardians This rp is par of the Isekai Hell roleplay.

Location: Arborhaven, Ryke
Weather: Cool,, Clear Skies
Time of Day: 9:30 Pm


Around the foot of the ancient tree lights flickered into existence as candles were lilt in homes and lanterns were lit on the streets. Even as the sun set, the town's brightly colored decorations were impossible to miss from the outside. Banners, mascots, and vendors beyond counting littered the streets of Arborhaven for the annual Festival of Aegrizora. The massive tree was not only shelter for these people, but it provided them with food as well as safety when danger came knocking on their door. Many believed that the tree was magic, alive, and some believed it was a sleeping deity, but there were never any signs to prove these claims. All the same the people celebrated the giant.

As night fell the city seemed even more lively as music played on every street by live bands and people parading through in massive crowds. Travelers continued to flood the entrances to the city as they arrived on foot, by carriage, and by boat. Even government officials and city leaders were down in the city, leaving their offices on the tree dark and mysterious.

Sadly not everyone was here for harmless merriment and the city guards were stretched thin. Festivals, especially of this size, were prime targets for low-lives like gangs, bandits, and slavers. Then there were those who just happened to end up in the city on the day of the celebration. Haruki the cervitaur was one such person. Misfortune in the south had lead the young teen north and a need for food and shelter brought him to the nearest city. To say he was nervous would be an understatement as he moved through the city's alleyways out of fear that the dense human population might mistreat him. They were very uncommon in the forests and plains his herd once inhabited and all the stories he'd heard of them were filled with talk of war and fighting. So far the festival had none of that, but he did not want to take any unnecessary risks.

He probably would have stayed in the shadows if it were not for the rumbling of his stomach insisting he face his fears and get something to eat. His stomach tightened and growled once more and that was the last straw. Cautiously he emerged from the alley was bathed in the bright light of the lanterns and bombarded by the many voices and sounds that filled the street. His ears flattened against his head and he slowly approached a nearby food stall. He clutched his family spear close to his chest with his left hand and reach out with his right hand to grab what looked like a piece of tree bark, but as he pulled it closer to smell it he could tell it was definitely not bark.

"Hey! That jerky ain't free kid!" A large woman declared as she raised her butcher's knife and pointed at the slither of meat in Haruki's hand. He hadn't even realized she was pointing at the jerky because panic set in and fear made his adrenaline shoot through the roof. "Pay up or put it back!" As the lady swung her knife once more, Haruki was taken back to the battlefield where his herd was slaughtered and immediately his body reacted. The cervitaur turned away from the vendor and dashed into the crowd, still clutching the jerky in his hand. "Thief! Thief! Guards help!"

It wasn't long before Haruki had his own entourage of city guards trying to pursue him through the crowded streets. The lights and noise of shocked pedestrians continued to fuel his panic as he shoved and galloped through the festival.

At the docks a group of suspicious fellow were bribing their way into the city by paying the guards. As they turned a blind eye the group the suspicious figures entered the city with concealed weapons. They blended into the crowd and went with the flow of traffic as they started to search for their first victims.

 

[Elvario]

Ceylan
​

With his adventures in the Holy City of Vegard behind him, Ceylan used a portal to make his way back to Ryke. From there, he'd spent a few days at the capital, before deciding his next course of actions. He'd heard the Festival of Aegrizora was about to take place in Arborhaven, something he hadn't yet experienced. Whilst he wasn't the type of person to get excited about festivals and whilst he wasn't eager to start making merry, he was interest in the culture surrounding it. He'd also picked up on rumours about the city's giant tree was a sleeping deity. Being the Syncretist High Priest that he was, he wished to come look at such a thing with his own eyes and confirm whether or not there was any truth to it.

Looking at the tree was easy, as it stood very, very tall above the rest of the city. Ceylan couldn't help feeling impressed by its marvellous nature. Less to his liking were the many banners, mascots and other decorations. As much as he respected the culture, he felt like these decorations distracted from the natural beauty of the tree and the city below it. The music was nice though. Every now and again, Ceylan stopped for a bit to listen to it. He wasn't entirely at ease, however, as he'd spotted a few pick-pocketers already. He didn't own much, but that didn't mean he was willing to part with what little he did have without doing so on his own volition.

As he was making his way through the crowded streets when he started to feel something was off. Without thinking he used his [Divine Senses] in an attempt to figure out what it might be. However, as he focused upon these senses, he lost his focus on his immediate surroundings. The latter made it so he didn't notice the commotion of shocked pedestrians, nor the sounds of shoving, galloping and panic that was heading his way.

He only spotted that part when he could feel himself being thrown to the ground by a kid on horseback... no, wait, a kid on deerback... wait... a kid with antlers on deerback? He wasn't sure what just happened, so he ended up blinking a few times whilst taking gasps of air after getting it knocked out of him from the impact. After a bit of self-healing to get rid of his scrapes and bruises, he finally spotted what he'd collided with. A cervitaur. That was a species he definitely didn't come across all that often.

As he was still trying to figure out what was transpiring and brushed off his clothes, he could hear someone calling out 'thief' and 'stop him' from somewhere further off. A quick gloss didn't make it seem like the cervitaur had been stealing coin purses or anything of great value, so he figured he'd take a rather large gamble. He'd stop the guards and test how well his speaking would work on them. “I'm sorry, he's with me. I told him he could get something, but forgot to give him any money. How much does he owe you?” Ceylan said, as he took out his coin purse to pay them and hoped this little lie wouldn't make him go bankrupt due to the kid stealing anything of great value and running off before Ceylan would be able to ask him to return it instead.

He also wasn't sure if the guard would even buy his lie to begin with, as he wasn't exactly the best at deception. Then again, they likely didn't want to make a big deal out of this either, not on a busy day like this, so with some luck they'd realise his intention to resolve this quickly and without added drama, making them go along with it regardless of whether they believed him or not.

• [Divine Senses] – Religion C, Sixth Sense D – Character's connection to the gods allows them to sense dangerous/evil magic and curses that might go unnoticed by others. - Grade C – 3 Post Cooldown. (0/3 CD).

 

[Orikanyo]

Shaoko Kato


​

"...hes gonna get in trouble..." And lo and behold, the four legs did. The butcher lady was always quick to start yelling at people, even if they just walked a few feet away from her stall. Yelling about how people should buy things from her, how her stuff was so very much better, even disparaging people for the classic excuse of "Sorry, don't have the money right now" and getting all uppity. She was, as always, an annoying loud mouth... Shao had seen this before, a few times. Espeacially kids, touch something, figure out what it is, get called out as a theif...

Well, that's whats happened to him. People opened their mouths to quick!

He had a wallet! he had money.. not much but some... if they just shut up and let him pay for it, he wouldn't be close to running the moment they started yelling!

It'd save the guards plenty of yelling too.. Dumb people doing dumb things to dumb kids who act dumb cause they got scared.

Dumb!

He hadn't been here long, but hes PRETTY certain hes getting how this place works.

And hes thankful those adventuring people don't ask too many questions on who you are, why you sign or, or what your age is.

He was an adult when he died, now hes small. Maybe it was how his race or whatever was.

Either way, he was small and oft treated like a kid, suited him.

....Hmmm...?

Oh? Look, that guy...

Looks like he was playing nice.

Shaoko would stop his inner thoughts for a time to watch whats going on there with interest, leaning forwards on the park bench he had currently perched himself upon. he wodnered how this would turn out...

 

[EMIYAman]

Tia
​

Small soft steps pattered along a dirt road. Bare feet stepping against the earthy texture moving at a leisurely pace. A young girl strolled along the countryside her body seeming to blend in with the dark of the night save for her stark white dress. She had been walking for hours now but she was neither tired nor impatient she simply walked moving her gaze to anything that caught her interest.

Such as the object which caught her interest now. A great tree, bigger than she had ever seen before so big she could see it easily in the distance. As well as the countless structures gathered at it's base. The place before her was nothing like the forest she had lived in and unlike her home the structures around the tree had little stars which illuminated the night. Her eyes were used to having to see through the dark of the night, so the new lights which shined even though they were much smaller than the big light in the sky was surprising to her. Her eyes twinkled with curiosity and her mouth gaped slightly as she looked on a new feeling of awe washing over her. With renewed vigor she sped up unsteadily. Having only walked up until now moving to a run was new to her and it took her a bit to get into the flow of the movement of her legs and arms. As she nears the strangely patterned dirt and the irregular wood structures around the big tree she began to hear sounds.

A melodic airy sound almost like the wind was singing echoes all around, as well as the plucky vibration of strings and topping it all off was the cacophony of people singing and dancing. To her it was downright terrifying. The sounds were pleasant on their own but together it was too much for her. She was used to the natural sounds of the forest but this was unlike anything she had heard before. The noise made her think a threat was around every corner and caused her to dart her eyes and head around wildly looking for predators. Suddenly uncomfortable and feeling a uncertainty she had never felt before like an animal she bolted while covering her ears. Unfortunately for her this only brought her further along her previous trajectory and before long she was at the entrance to the town. When she felt the noise only grow worse she took stock of her surroundings before her eyes widened. All around her were people. They looked just like her yet different coming in all shapes and sizes. They made sounds of their own communicating with each other in a way which reminded her of the four legged furry animals of the forest yet it was long and weirdly pitched compared to howls and barks.

She softly and timidly strode among them taking careful measured steps and averting her eyes from theirs. Lest they perceive her as a threat. She had never seen a collection of creatures in such vast numbers before. If they were alone she could ambush one but in such a large group she would be killed by the others. Along with the sounds many smells met her nose all kinds she couldn't possible identify. Though the one that she could was a familiar one. It was the smell of flesh but it was different along with it came other smells some like plants and others reminding her of smoke. Her instinct to consume flared and she followed the scent to it's source.

Coming across a large person using an big stone claw to cut up flesh. He didn't seem to have his own claws so maybe that's why he was using someone else's though it obviously wasn't made of bone or chitin. The man didn't notice her skulk around his food stand probably because she just barely came up to the counter with it being at shoulder level. She longingly gazed at the meat, the others around her hadn't attacked her and either glanced or ignored her entirely, it was probably because she looked like them. She knew others would attack you if you try to steal their food and there was so many around her she couldn't possibly steal it without everyone seeing her. Such a large pack was no doubt constantly on the watch for predators and scavengers trying to take food so all she could do was watch. As her desire to consume grew and grew a plan formulated in her mind. She reached her hand under the stand unseen and reached for a smooth rounded object near the man. (Elasticity F) Her arm stretched and the human form she had partially collapsed causing the elongated arm from the eldow down to transform into a fleshy red tendril. She gripped the object and tossed it causing it to clatter and crash into other objects within the man's stand. Startled he looked over just missing her tendril retracting and reforming into a hand. As he moved to investigate she ran up grabbed a piece of raw meat and ran off just as quick. She ran into a secluded alleyway so as not to be ambushed while eating and she was unsure how to consume with this body but her instincts and the drooling of her mouth prompted her to put it in her mouth, biting off chunks. A stray dog walked up to her beckoned by the smell of food upon seeing her with the meat it growled thinking itself able to take a small human. She licked the blood from her fingers and looked upon it, deadpan. Her gaze held no emotion only greater hunger. She raised a hand to the dog. It was wary but thinking she would give it scraps like so many others it approached sniffing her fingers and licking her hand. A tendril shot from her hand the bone at the end piercing the dogs skull. [Flesh Spike F] The tendril proceeded to tear the dog into chunks and she then ate those too. Licking the blood from her hands once again she walked out the alleyway content for now. A small trace of blood marring her lip. Invigorated and geting more used to the sounds and people she walked among them her curious eyes taking all the newness in. Like a person who had a four legged fawn body or another person with ears like the dog, they reminded her of the forest.

• [Flesh Spike]- Feature: Retractable Claws, Elasticity F - Tia shoots a fleshy tentacle from her hand stabbing into her prey with a bone spike protruding from the end. - Grade F - 0 post Cooldown​

 

[LadyOfStars]

From his current location in the city, Ceylan's [Divine Sense] give a small tug in the direction of the great tree. The sensation was sinister, wicked, and malicious. There was o denying that dark forces were at work within the city, but the origin was yet undetermined and the target of that darkness was somewhat unclear. Ceylan wouldn't get to investigate however as he was trampled by a racing deer who was pursued by city guards.

Haruki leapt over another child and dipped behind a crowd, taking cover in the shadow of another food stall. His head and antlers poked out and he searched for the guards, only to find they had been stopped. A human with canine ears? it seemed that the man was...lying for him. From where he was, Haruki could see the look of disbelief on the faces of the guards and the vendor that he had stolen from.

"So your...friend just ran you over? That's regular for the two of you?" They were ready to press the issue and arrest Ceylan along with the young cervitaur, but the vendor stepped forward and held their hand out, taking the meager payment that Ceylan offered. "I just want my money." With that the vendor turned and headed back to their stall. The guards looked to one another, reading the disinterest in one another's faces and coming to an agreement. "Keep a closer eye on your friend." They warned before they departed. There was an entire city that needed their attention and they were certain there were far more interesting crimes happening than a stolen piece of jerky.

Slowly Haruki's panic settled and he regained control of his heartrate. Hesitantly emerged from the shadows and started towards his hero with his head down. Usually his herd would avoid canines; wolves. hunting dogs, and foxes were all typical enemies for them. This time however he was saved by one and had caused so much trouble for the stranger. "Apologies." Haruki expressed softly as he brought his eyes up to look at Ceylan. "I...I was very hungry and...then I was very scared." His hooves stamped at the ground repeatedly and he pulled on his fingers anxiously. "Here." Abruptly he raised the piece of jerky, shoving it at Ceylan.

Unbeknownst to everyone on the street, the commotion had drawn the attention of the shadier figures in town. Hearing people talk of a cervitaur was enough to pique their interest and there was no way they'd pass up the chance to apprehend such a rare specimen. However, to their surprise, when they arrived to the scene they found more than just the deer boy. "There, on the park bench." One of the men pointed out the kitsune who had found himself perched nearby. Two rare finds in the same city, it seemed they had struck gold today. "Thank that blasted tree god for this miracle boys." The slavers chuckled amongst themselves and although they wanted to rush and snatch the two kids, they couldn't afford to draw the attention of the entire street. They'd need to be patient.

Tia's cruelty went unknown by the many pedestrians on the street, but other animals did not overlook the smell of fresh blood in the alleyway. Several birds flocked to the nearby rooftops and descended into the alley to search for a meal for themselves. While her dark deeds went unnoticed, Tia herself did not. An older man toting around his own toddler on his shoulders happened to bump the girl. "Oh!' He quickly stopped and looked down at the girl, spotting the blood on her face her looked around for her parents but didn't spot anyone with her right away. "Where's your mommy and daddy?' The little boy quickly asked before his father could speak up. The duo looked to Tia, hoping that the girl was not alone.

EMIYAman Orikanyo Elvario

 

[EMIYAman]

Tia
Interactions: Elvario
​

She had emerged from the alleyway now roaming through town the great big tree looming over her and stealing her interest at times. Her instincts drew her to it so she could never quite tear her sight away from it for long. Her attention was diverted when she came across a young human with a body much like an animal of the forest. It was communicating in those strange barks and grunts which varied wildly in pitch and tone. These sounds were so complicated and detailed she wasn't sure what it was trying to communicate. The one it was speaking with was more similar in shape to the other around them but had the ears of a dog upon its head. As she watched them some distance ahead of her she idly wondered what it would take to eat them and how she could do it. Though she was too wary of the overall herd to try, yet her innate desire to hunt kept her mind poised.

It was for this reason she was not surprised when the large human bumped into her. Her muscles were always taut unless she desired otherwise and she weighed more than she looked so she barely moved from this collision. The tall human, a male of his species made a sound of brief surprise. She turned to look up at him with an unexpressive face but her eyes twinkled with curiosity and a healthy degree of wariness but not fear. The small human upon the taller ones shoulder looked upon her as well trying to communicate with her in its much higher pitched voice. She discerned it to be a pup, which evoked a familiarity within her. She titled her head watching them closely and attentively. She observed the movement of their mouths, the twitches and curves of the tongues and could make out the vibration in their throats which produced the sounds. Her mind moved rapidly taking in as much detail as possible. When she didn't respond to them the older man sheepishly yet still worried for the lone girl got closer and crouched down to her level as best he could. He repeated the sounds slower, possibly thinking he could not be heard when the real issue lay in a lack of understanding entirely. Her eyes stared unperturbed like still pools of water. She picked up a pattern her ears catching certain sounds and pitches being repeated, perhaps they wanted her to respond in kind.

The amorphous flesh she was composed of fashioned a full set of vocal cords and other organic structures which formed the human throat. She opened her mouth wide holding it for a moment before making deliberate movements and sounds trying to get the hand of the new anatomy. "a-a-A-w-W-W... WhERe MomMy DaddY." The words came out rough sounding and with odd inflection her lack of experience speaking showing. Despite this she could be understood with little difficulty. Her voice was soft and melodic like the clear ringing of a bell a truly pleasing sound one may not fully expect to hear from a young girl. While she was intelligent and was able to reproduce the sounds, she still had no idea as to the meaning behind them but she was pleased with herself for mimicking them. This pleasure caused her to unconsciously form a small but genuine smile born of her human instincts. She once again looked to the familial duo and took note of others similar to them around her and the way they huddled together. They gathered in groups with the largest keeping close and a physical clasp on the smaller pup. Her being without a guardian may arouse unwanted attention and ire from the rest of the herd.

With not a word more she turned and strolled away from the two. She would be less conspicuous with a guardian of her own despite her status as a predator she was no apex predator and as such she could be killed if she was not clever enough to survive. She returned to find the animal humans who reminded her of her home. They were the most comfortable to be around due to the familiar smell they exuded. They could both protect her as one of their own within the herd and if the opportunity presented itself more nourishment. She sidled up to the dog eared man then copying those around her grabbed his hand looking up at him with an curious but otherwise deadpan expression.

 

[Elvario]

Ceylan
​

Mentions: Haruki @LadyOfStarts | Dog-eating monster EMIYAman

Despite being on edge already, Ceylan had still caught off guard by the sensation of something sinister, wicked and malicious from the direction of the great tree. That said, being trampled by a cervitaur took precedence, so he'd have to delay checking up on the tree for a while.

Ceylan knew his lie wasn't really holding, but he'd already committed to it. “He can get a little rowdy, yes, I apologise for not having been able to discipline him any better.” He gave them a short bow and felt quite some relief when the shopkeeper was okay with simply taking the money. It also looked like the guards were letting him off with just a warning. “Of course, I will, thank you and have a good day.” He said, with another bow towards the guards.

To Ceylan's surprise, the kid hadn't just sprinted off, but actually returned. He even offered up the stolen goods. He silently thanked the gods he'd interfered, as this kind of kid clearly wasn't the average street-rat. With a smile, Ceylan replied. “It's okay, keep it. I'd be a terrible priest if I was to take food from the hungry. If anything, we should find a place to get you a decent meal, it'll be my treat. In return, though, why don't you tell me what brought you to Arborhaven?”

Before he could await an answer, he felt his hand being grabbed by someone. Surprised, he turned around to look at the really odd girl that had grabbed him. If she didn't have the utmost deadpan expression ever, he'd just consider her to be another lost child. With it, however, he wasn't so sure. Considering he'd recently used his Divine Senses, he couldn't check if she was behaving oddly due to some magic or a curse. He quickly looked around to see if she'd grabbed his hand due to wanting to escape someone by associating with him, but couldn't spot anyone in the crowd that seemed to be after her.

Instead, the best he could do was use [Appraisal E] on her in an attempt to see if he'd learn anything. Hopefully he'd see some things he could help for with. Until he'd know more, he decided to treat her like a regular lost child. Whilst he wasn't the best with children, he at least knew not to immediately ask them difficult questions like 'are you lost' and the like. In the best case, it'd just make them cry, in he worst case, it'd make them run off. It's why he started with a much simpler question. “Hello there. I'm Ceylan. What's your name?”

• [Divine Senses] – Religion C, Sixth Sense D – Character's connection to the gods allows them to sense dangerous/evil magic and curses that might go unnoticed by others. - Grade C – 3 Post Cooldown. (1/3 CD).

 

[Orikanyo]

Shaoko Kato


​

The kitsune sitting on his perch wiggled, waggled and twitched... Heightened Sense (hearing) F caught something on the wind... Someone mentioned Kitsune... Hmm... Someone was looking at him likely. the animal in him also felt off right now, like a predator was watching him... The boy slipped off the bench and stretched up with a long big yawn, canine fangs bared for the world as he got the final bits of stretching in. He shook his body abit, straightened up his tail, and focused on the scene infront of him again.

...Now there was a little girl...?

Just who was this dude? offering food and being all nice and stuff?

Maybe he was a freak.

Maybe he was actually a nice dude.

Maybe he was actually a big dog in a guy costume?

Whatever, everyone else was doing it, he may as well bug him to... The eyes bothered him still... Something made him feel like he was being hunted... The fluffy tail of his stood on end as he made his way over, joining the growing massive children currently around the guy.

"Hey mister, mister Doggy. Whats with the crowd you playing a game or sumthin?" He had his hands folded behind his head, his tail swishing back and forth like a feather duster. "Can I play too? Got a feelin' i'll be playin' hide and seek soon so I wana get some practice..."

He paused for a second and looked at the others there. Looks like he had a kid already, so... If he was a bad guy, it was better to have another around so the deer kid doesn't get kidnapped or something. Plus that feeling is not going away, better to team up with fellow street rats than anything.

He was a street fox, but, yea know.

"...Hide and seek somewhere with alotta folks so the seekers can't catch you easy is best." He dropped most sublties, he was a smart kid, but he just hoped this guy was picking up what he was throwing down.

 

[Beetlebuggo]

Wonton Denver - Interactions Open


"Wanyaoh.. Papa Meta really wasn't kidding, this festival is huge!" A 4FT orange creature donning a dark blue bandanna exclaimed in awe at the display..

The happy tunes of the bands, the stands serving their items, overall a bunch of people having a great time!

His eyes trailed over to a bunch of kids surrounding a guy, but shrugged it off. He was a little hungry first after all that walking!

"..Should I eat a tomato..? Or buy something here..? Eh, I'll just check the prices and see what they have." He noted to himself as he set down his trusty spear and looked through his essentials bag..

After getting some out, he tied it shut under the head of his spear, and started waddling along the line of stands, browsing the food items and checking costs...​

 

[LadyOfStars]

Hearing the way that the little girl spoke was worrying as a child her size could usually speak the common language far better than that. He quickly assumed that maybe there was something the matter with her as he had seen his fair share of touched people come and go from the city. His son however thought the girl's way of speaking was funny and couldn't hold his laughter in. "Her affliction is not funny." The man quickly scolded as he looked upward to the boy. When next they both looked down, the girl was gone, moving through the crowds. "Hey!" He quickly tried to follow her but the liveliness of the street distracted and confused him. "There Papa!" The boy pointed to where he could see the dark-haired girl and the beastfolk. "She's with her daddy!" That was all it took for the man to feel at ease. With a heavy sigh and turned away and he and his son went back to their day.

Haruki was surprised once more by the kindness the stranger was willing to show him. Not only had the man saved his from the city guards, but he also offered to find him something more to eat. It warmed Haruki's heart and made him miss the days when he would go gathering with his family. Before he could answer however, a small human would draw both of their attention downward. While Haruki normally felt no particular way towards humans, this one was somewhat unsettling for some reason. She didn't seem afraid or sad, but he held out the piece of jerky to her. "Are you hungry?" The cervitaur inquired shyly.

Ceylan's skill would peel back to curtain on Tia's disguise and reveal to him her true nature. Her monster identity was now known to him and the information was his to do with as he pleased.

The arrival of another kid to the conversation startled Haruki and he withdrew the offered jerky before taking a few steps back. "A fox?" He tilted his head in confusion. The town seemed to attract beastfolk just as much as it did humans and he hadn't even been here very long. Who knew what else they would see. The weird way the boy spoke about the game was also confusing, but Haruki didn't want to speak up and embarrass himself.

All along the street vendors had set up their stalls and pitched their wares to anyone that passed them by.

"Kabobs!! Two for 1 Ryke!"

"Fashions from the the capital! Everything on sale!"

"Yakitori! Fresh yakitori! just 2 Rykes!"

The symphony of voices were endless and there seem to be a decent price on everything that was being sold. Some of the goods would need further inspecting to determine their quality, but nothing was too expensive. One stall in particular had a group of shady figures standing in front of it, somewhat loitering. They held their food with little interest and their eyes seem to constantly wander.

 

[Beetlebuggo]

Wonton Denver - Interactions Open
​

He perked up at the Kebab sale, and promptly noted the deal.. 'Hm.. 2 for 1 Ryke.. Kebabs are good.. But I really wanna try that Yakitori! .. Oh! I have enough for both! Kebabs first though, cause protein!'

He did a little hop before waddling up to the Kebab stand.

"I'll take the 2 for 1 Please!" And handed the required amount of money.

He also felt like striking up conversation.

"So.. Nice festival right? It's my first time around here.."​

 

[EMIYAman]

Tia
Interactions: Elvario
​

She clasped the dog eared mans hand in a firm grip. She was fascinated by the act. Originally she was just mimicking others but her new human instincts were changing parts of her in way she had never felt before. She couldn't know this but her species was one meant to assimilate the genetic information of other species unto themselves and grow as a result of this, constantly improving. However this meant they took on many aspects of their prey and she was a particularly unique case among her kind. Because of this she had all the aspects a human did, from anatomy to mentality. To put it simply she was now a social creature. And this comfort that came with spending time with other had come to light in this moment.

No child could help it, the comfort a parental figure could offer and the joy in their pure hear at their affection. It was a little thing and its not like she saw the other creature as a parent but all the same she felt comfort and security. So her human instincts flared and her face morphed into a genuine smile an expression of happiness only the young in their ignorance and vulnerable state could show. Her face sported a wide grin which was reflected in the twinkle of her eyes. She looked up at the man who's hand she held. Smiling up at him. Ignorant of her wrongs or rights or how the man saw her. She merely earnestly lived in the moment showing not a care for anything beyond it as she soaked in the emotions she had only recently come too. Enveloped in them as she became just a bit more human.

The dog eared man made sounds at her and smile grew excited to interact and practice the response she had recorded from the other humans. With a stare directly into his eyes she opened her mouth wide making deliberate movements and making sure to move her tongue properly and vibrate her vocal cords just right. "Daddy." She grinned this one almost haughty, satisfied with herself for assimilating herself so well into the herd. Her base instincts inherent to her kind influencing her to communicate, learn and become close to the dominant species.

 

[Elvario]

Ceylan
​

Mentions: Haruki @LadyOfStarts | Dog-eating monster? EMIYAman | | Shaoko Orikanyo

Ceylan was rather shocked when his worst suspicions were not only confirmed, but even surpassed. This little girl was most definitely a monster, but she was also masquerading as a human. Were he to have had less of a shock or more experience in hiding such a thing, he might've been able to keep acting casual, but those nearby would've definitely noticed Ceylan taking on a concerned look and withdrawing a little from the girl after observing her more closely during his [Appraisal E].

He didn't quite shake loose her hand or call for the guards, however, as he figured there might still be some sort of diplomatic solution to it. He doubted her name was 'daddy', so she pretty much confirmed she wasn't able or willing to answer his question and instead was just repeating random words. Come to think of it, a lost girl would've been asked about her parents in a city like this, so it was likely one of the few words she would've continuously been picking up on. That said, he'd better dispel any confusion it might cause the ones around him. “I'm not, but I can help you look for him.”

For what little his [Insight F] was worth, he could tell she was genuine, but it was clearly not for the typical young-human-girl type of reasons. Ceylan was desperately trying to make sense of this. Was this monster planning to attack a busy festival like this by pretending to be an innocent girl? There was a fair enough chance for that to be the case. At the same time, it felt more like she'd been sent in or brought along, as her actions didn't seem to be all that purposeful. Perhaps she'd been brought along with other monster that had gotten caught?

With too many possibilities going through his mind, Ceylan only noticed Shaoko approach him by the time the kitsune called out. He quite disliked the way the kid addressed him, as the 'mister' title seemed fake with the 'Doggy' added to it. Ceylan had never been good with kids, but this one seemed particularly troublesome. Then again, it'd be hard to take the troublesome crown from the monster-kid currently holding his hand. Ceylan wondered if he had somehow angered a god of orphans or goddess of family, for him to be punished by getting troublesome children thrown at him in rapid succession.

As if his monster trouble wasn't troublesome enough, the kitsune was giving some pretty unsubtle hints at what was going on. At that rate, the kid might've as well admitted he was in trouble with some people being after him. Ceylan didn't know what for, but one didn't need to be psychic to pick up on the fact that there were some shady groups hanging around in town today. Perhaps there was some truth to his earlier fear that he was being tested by some god or goddess of family... He wasn't ready to be a dad yet though.

He sighed, deciding he needed more time to figure all this out and coming up with a way to get it. “I'd prefer if you address me as Ceylan and I'm not all that into hide-and-seek. Why don't you join us for a late breakfast or early lunch instead?”

On the assumption that was good enough, Ceylan would lead his new 'family' a bit further towards the tree itself. After all, he still wanted to figure out what was wrong with it, after he'd felt such a concerning sense coming from it. That said, he'd stop at the first location that would meet all three of his demands. [1] Looking affordable. He wasn't poor, but he definitely wasn't rich either, so taking three kids for luxury dining would be a bad idea. [2] Was relatively busy. If there were people after the kitsune, he'd rather not take them all to a place where their entire group could be scooped up out of sight from anyone else. At the same time, the chance of losing someone in a place that was too busy for him to keep an eye on all was also a risk. It's why the edges of busyness was where it was at. He briefly debated leaving the monster and seeing if she'd be picked up by the ones after the Kitsune, but decided against it. [3] Having a place to sit at for all four of them. Being at a table gave just a slight bit of privacy and made it a lot easier to keep an eye on all three of these kids, compared to eating something whilst standing in a busy street or plaza.

Praying for a small miracle to find such a place, he'd eventually settle on something. “Alright, feel free to order anything under 5 Ryke.” He told the kids, as he himself decided to go with a simple vegetable stew. The type of dish was normally made in pretty big pots, so it was pretty cheap but still had good value for what you'd spent on it. He figured the monster wouldn't be able to order for herself, so he'd take this opportunity to learn something. If she was omnivorous, she'd probably try to vegetable stew as well and the monster being omnivorous or herbivorous would be a whole lot better than being with a carnivorous one. “Two vegetable stews and some bread, please. Oh, also a jug of water, please.” He told whomever would come take their order, as he nodded for Shaoko and Haruki to order up as well.

With the food ordered, he could finally get to some more serious business. “I don't think I've gotten either of your names yet. Why don't you tell them and also tell me how the both of you ended up in this city?” Ceylan himself was obvious here to start up a family of misfits. Ceylan himself was trying to bring order to his thoughts. Between finding a good way to get rid of the monster before it could bring any harm to anyone or get herself killed for being a monster in a rather busy city, figuring out what to do with this kitsune and whomever was after him for whatever reason, wanting to know what was up with the tree deity in this city and honestly wanting to fawn over the cervitaur for being such a nice kid that it made Ceylan rethink his lifestyle and debate starting a family of his own, his visit to this city had suddenly gotten a whole lot more exciting and complex.

• [Divine Senses] – Religion C, Sixth Sense D – Character's connection to the gods allows them to sense dangerous/evil magic and curses that might go unnoticed by others. - Grade C – 3 Post Cooldown. (2/3 CD).

 

[Orikanyo]

(An exit)

Shaoko kato


Like a flash, once the attention was elsewhere, the fox disappeared,

perhaps at another time or place he may appear,

but perhaps not.

There, now not.​

 

[LadyOfStars]

The vendor handed Wonton two fresh kebabs and happily took the strange creature's money. He was surprised when the customer wanted to talk rather than move on. Not that he was complaining, it had been a long day and he'd had very little conversation. "Grew up here myself and even though I moved away, I always come back for the festival." The man started to cook some new kebabs and he wore a soft smile as he thought back to his first time at the festival. "It is a bit more of a tourist attraction these days, but that's aright." He then held out one more kebab for Wonton. "Here you go kid, on the house. Enjoy the festival."

The shady figures that had been skulking around the festival were still moving around unimpeded. They followed the group to a nearby eatery and stood across the street to watch them all. "How long we gonna wait to snatch the deer kid?" one of them whispered. The group leader quickly elbowed his colleague in the side and hushed him. "Shut yer mouth. We move when I say so."

Haruki was nervous about dinning at a human establishment, but when they got there he saw more than just humans seated in the eatery. There were a variety of avian people especially. When Ceylan ordered vegetable soup, Haruki raised his hand quickly after and ordered the same thing as well. His eyes wandered back and forth between the canine man and the little girl , whom he was not the father of. "I'm Haruki." He said warmly while looking at the dark haired girl. He looked back to Ceylan and bowed his head. "Thank you again for helping me earlier, and thank you for this meal as well. I haven't had anything warm in a while." Standing at the table due to lack of cervitaur furniture, Haruki's hooves clopped repeatedly on the floor with excitement at the thought of a meal he did not have to prepare himself. "What are you guys doing here?"

Beetlebuggo Elvario Beetlebuggo

 

[Elvario]

Ceylan
​

Mentions: Haruki LadyOfStars | Dog-eating monster? EMIYAman

Ceylan only turned his eyes away from the Shaoko for a second and the child had already ran off. Perhaps the fox really only needed someone to lead him away from the potential kidnappers. Whilst a 'thank you' would've been nice, the run-off would at least save Ceylan some money. Being generous was always an odd thing when your own livelihood was mostly reliant on generosity as well. In the end, he decided he'd let it rest and hope for the best. After all, he had other, more immediate concerns to worry about.

One good thing to come of this was that the deer kid finally introduced himself. Another good thing was that Haruki went with the vegetable stew as well. Good food at relatively low prices, just how Ceylan liked it. Sadly enough, Haruki didn't answer Ceylan's question and instead turned it around on him. Perhaps the kid was nervous, if the hoof clopping was any indication, so Ceylan figured he'd answer first. “I am here to visit the tree. Rumour has it that it's a deity and I wished to confirm or deny those rumours, although I picked up something rather malicious instead.”

He then looked to Tia. “Although it seems like I'll be having to figure out what to do with this thi... girl first.” He realised he'd almost called Tia a thing, which might not be the most subtle thing to do. “Anyhow, what brought you to this city?” Ceylan tried again, hoping he'd get an answer this time around.

• [Divine Senses] – Religion C, Sixth Sense D – Character's connection to the gods allows them to sense dangerous/evil magic and curses that might go unnoticed by others. - Grade C – 3 Post Cooldown. (3/3 CD).

 

[EMIYAman]

Tia
Interactions: Elvario
​

She followed the dog eared man holding his hand all the while. She stuck close making sure his scent stuck to her so the others would know she was a a part of his pack. The man seemed cautious she could smell a hint of fear upon him. She considered if this was a normal reaction to another of their species first integrating into a pack... or if he knew. She eyed him trying to size up how much of a threat he would be, and her chances in a fight. He had dog ears so he must be a predator. So he was probably tough, especially at his size but his hide wasn't all that thick and she couldn't see any claws. She took stock of her human body. There wasn't much here that could ward off predators and no discernable biological advantage over other creatures. Humans weren't that tough, or that fast though they had decent stamina but not much else beyond that. With a start her eyes widened as she realized her thinking ability was the result of the human species. Was that their advantage? Her mind did feel more active than before, and certain concepts she would not be able to comprehend before are now known to her or at least its possible to understand them. In the forest the most clever of creatures tended to survive and she herself had learned much to survive and hunt. Was this a similar case with Humans? The fawn spoke to her picking up the sounds she focused upon him listening intently to them. She still didn't understand the barks but she could tell some were more unique while others were repeated more often. She didn't know the proper sounds to respond with so she said nothing. Instead she got a bit closer and sniffed him a few times familiarizing herself with his scent. She liked it, reminded her of the forest. She smiled at that.

They reached their destination and with a start she stopped almost walking into the dog eared man. They were walking into one of the structures. It remined her of a cave but it was smooth, large and lit by fire and little stars. She was wary of the fire but even she knew stone didn't burn, though she could also smell wood within the structure but could see no trees. It was rather strange. Within she saw other humans with packs of their own they appeared to be eating. Yet she saw no corpses or the carcass of a recent hunt she saw what they ate and she could smell and see it was meat but it was unlike anything she had seen before along with a smell that was so complicated her nose went this and that trying to follow it all. The dog eared man sat upon wood which had been shaped and peeled. Following his lead she sat right next to him unsure of many of the things and sensations around her. Her eyes wandered in wonder. As she took in her surroundings she interrupted by a bowl placed in front of her. It was filled with some thick liquid substance and plants. This must be food. She sniffed, it smelled... good? She wasn't sure what to think of the smell but she found her mouth salivating. She tried to scoop the food out of the bowl into her mouth only to retract her hand from the heat. Her body could withstand high temperatures for a little bit but she wasn't expecting it to burn. She once again looked to the dog eared man and saw him using another wooden object. She looked down and saw she had one of her own she picked it up awkwardly doing her best to imitate him. She scooped the food and put it into her mouth and while it was hot she was ready for it this times it passed down her throat and tasted the full breadth of its flavor before was broken into its base components by her body. It tasted good. With vigor she scooped the rest into her mouth rapidly spilling a little here and there.

As she ate the other two spoke to each other. She listened picking up certain sounds and intonations but other than that she just continued eating. Soon she finished her bowl, she scraped what she could from what remained but even that was gone before too long. While she got more nutrients from a corpse she found this tasted a lot better even if it offered much less biomass. She perked up when she noticed the dog man looking to her and trying to communicate with her. She once again listened with the utmost interest in the sounds. She looked up at him a pensive look upon her face yet again almost like she was mulling over his words. "Daddy." She spoke. Then she reached over and took his bowl beginning to eat what was in that as well. She paused briefly letting out a small burp then continued to eat.

 

[Beetlebuggo]

Wonton Denver - Haruki LadyOfStars | Tia EMIYAman | Ceylan Elvario

"You too, Mr!" The happy Waddle Dee said, giving the Kebab Merchant an extra Ryke as tip for the extra. Skipping off to another stand and getting some Horned Rabbit Stew for 3 Rykes, he sat himself down on a table next to the group..

Eating a Kebab happily, the social lil guy turned to who he presumed was the caretaker.

“Nice Festival, isn’t it? I heard the food was good, man that was an understatement!”

 

[LadyOfStars]

"A deity?" Haruki echoed before his eyes wandered down to Tia. The little girl was certainly hungry, which only became more apparent when she snatched Ceylan's bowl. He seemed to protest being her father, but his caring for her and her addressing him as such made it hard to believe he wasn't. "My herd...' The young buck paused for a moment and inhaled deeply. "They were killed by....ogres. I am looking for a new herd and stopped here for the night." The memories were still fresh in his mind and the loneliness was still strong in is heart. He wiped away the tears that came to his eyes and pushed his bowl of soup over to the little girl. His appetite was now gone.

While the group mingled and met the small orange stranger, a different group walked by outside. A group of holy men and woman, garbed in robes adorned with the tree on the back. "All are welcome to tonight's service beneath the tree!" A masculine voice announced. "Celebrate with us as we pass on the teachings of Aegrizora!" Another voice said. All around the group flutter fairies and pixies, at their feet crawled other forest creatures. The people in the street had mixed reactions towards the group. The tourists were enticed and in awe of the sight of these people and their magical creatures. The residents were far less interested and most paid them no mind.

The slavers who had been waiting and watching, were getting tired of doing so, it was time to make their move. Suddenly smoke bombs erupted in the crowd, plumes of black rushed into the sky and into any open buildings like the restaurant everyone had been eating in. Panic erupted in the streets and screaming filled the neighborhood as the pedestrians started to scatter. "Split up! You two grab the dog and we'll grab the deer." The boss instructed.

Right away two men, lightly dressed, and wielding daggers started making their way towards Ceylan very quickly. The other two who were dressed the similarly and armed with he same weapons, rushed towards Haruki. However the smoke had startled Haruki and he grabbed hold of Tia's hand as panic and desperation set in. "Grab 'em!" They would all hear the leader command.

EMIYAman Beetlebuggo Elvario

 

[Elvario]

Ceylan
​

Mentions: Haruki LadyOfStars | Dog-eating monster? EMIYAman | Goomba Beetlebuggo

Whilst Ceylan was glad to discover the monster he'd accidentally picked up was either herbivorous or omnivorous, he wasn't happy to see the thing was also gluttonous. He wasn't happy to see it was completely incapable of communication either. Well, perhaps he could at least correct one thing. “No.” He shook his head when it called him 'daddy' again, sounding a little strict and angry to convey disapproval. He pointed to himself. “Ceylan.” Hopefully that would help.

The small orange creature (Wonton) that approached them out of nowhere was a bit of a distraction, but not an entirely unwelcome one. That said, Ceylan didn't wish for an extended conversation, not when he had to figure out how to get rid of a monster and help a cervitaur. He figured he'd give a polite reply in an attempt to brush the guy off. “It's indeed quite the thing.”

He also noticed his question had made Haruki rather depressed and for good reason. “I'm sorry for your loss.” There wasn't a whole lot that Ceylan could do, but at the very least, this was someone he actually wished to help, much unlike the monster that had latched itself onto him. “If you wish to, I'll see about helping you in any way I can.”

He couldn't wait for a reply, however, as he noticed the city's holy men and women enter the streets. They were one of his main interests here, so he was naturally drawn to the parade. His religious knowledge was not to be trifled with, but theory and practice weren't always the same and it was the practical worship of Aegizora and the tree altogether that he wished to observe and learn from. The ominous feeling he'd gotten from it only strengthened that desire, as now there might be something worth investigating on top of it.

Sadly enough, he wasn't granted much time to take in the scenario. Plumes of black smoke rushed into the area before Ceylan knew fully well what was happening. He'd never expected anyone to be audacious enough to kidnap someone in a place like this, where it was pretty busy and crowded, especially with the parade passing by. Whomever these people were likely had some amazing tricks up their sleeves or had insider contacts into the city's ruling class or guards, for them to be this brazen with their actions.

The realisation didn't help much, as Ceylan couldn't exactly do much to defend himself. He had no weapons, no strength and no fighting skill. The only thing he could do was to try and locate Haruki and heal him if he was to put up a fight and get wounded. He wasn't sure how the monster would react either, but at this point, he was a little too shocked by the current events to care. Of course he tried not to be grabbed by the guys coming after him, such was only a natural reaction. However, even in a panic he wasn't stupid enough to think he'd be able to put up an actual fight. Hoping to dodge them for a least a little while, perhaps enough for some guards or something to interfere, was the best he'd be able to shoot for. He didn't wish to just try to make a run for it either, as he didn't with to leave Haruki with them.

 

[EMIYAman]

Tia
Interactions: Elvario
​

The dog eared man made spoke to her. As before she listened trying to find the ins and outs of the way this species communicated. She noticed a anger and in his voice though it didn't seem particularly strong as he probably would have bit her by now if it was. He spoke a short harsh intonation with a facial expression of disapproval. He pointed to himself and made a very deliberate sound from his mouth. She listened closely taking it in. She wasn't sure what it could mean but it seemed to be an identifier? Maybe it was his position in the pack or his title. She made sure to repeat it back hoping to assuage any anger he gave her food after all "C-Ceylan" she chewed on the word trying to understand what it meant to him.

She saw that compared to other animals his kind could shift their faces into many different shapes and expressions. She decided to take more note of facial expressions from now on. She moved a hand to her own face, did she have those as well? She began to pinch and knead her face trying to artificially put it into different expressions before it settled back into an impassive look save a small smile. She was smiling? Did this mean she was happy? She looked around herself at the surroundings so different from where she had awoken filled with so many people making sounds and expressing such a wide array of emotions. Then at her two pack mates, she found that yes. She was happy.

As she was going through the dog eared mans food she noticed how the other two members of her pack were speaking to each other. And the four legged one smelled unhappy. She slowed her consumption and looked at him. He was safe, and had food why would he be unhappy? Maybe he misses his old pack? She didn't know how what was the proper thing to do when pack mates were unhappy. The four legged one looked dejected then pushed his bowl over to her. She offered no challenge to his action but even as she ate his food she felt... worried. The only animals she saw refuse to eat were ones about to die. Her face morphed into a frown and her eyebrows knit together as she looked at him in concern. She wasn't sure what to think she had never grown attached to anything before especially not potential food. Though, she had also never had a pack before.

She wasn't able to think on her new feelings for very long before smoke began to fill the area. She smelt large amounts of fear soon after and screams and yelling accompanied it. At first she suspected a fire but besides the smoke there was none of the tell tale sensations that came with a fire. Suddenly she felt a something grab her hand and tug her away, in surroundings such as this where visibility is low she would have consumed them quickly but she could tell it was the fawn. She didn't, want to eat him. She let him lead her wherever but she tried to sniff out the dog eared man, Ceylan. If this was an ambush from another pack, she'd devour them.

 

[Beetlebuggo]

Wonton Denver - LadyOfStars EMIYAman Elvario


One moment, things were going well as Wonton was conversing with the dog-eared man...

The next? It all went to Shit. He heard screaming, people clamoring to navigate through this black smoke.. and lots of footsteps.. getting closer..?

He still saw the group however, but noticed one was missing..

Realizing this, he immediately spread awareness to the others. "The Girl! Wasn't she next to you just now?! We have to find her!"

However, moments later a bunch of guys went to grab the other kid and the man....

So, as such, it was a normal thing to stop bad guys, right?

Using the smoke to get around, he went in from behind, engaging one of them with a [Moon Drop Slash]

• Moon Drop Slash - Jumping F, Fighting Style [Spears] E [Penetrating - weapon can ignore grades of an item when it is used to defend. ] E, Steady Hands F - Jumps forward and performs an overhead thrusting blow at the target. - Grade E - 1 post cooldown

 

[LadyOfStars]

The first duo had found their target, Ceylan was defenseless and easily picked off, just how they liked their targets. One man grabbed hold of the canine's arm with a tight grasp, as if he were grabbing gold. "I've got him!" The man cheered loudly.

"Great now let's get..." He heard someone moving behind them, but the smoke concealed the short figure well enough to allow Wonton to catch the man off guard. "Gah!" The spear pierced his light armor and ripped through his flesh and then bones as it was drove into his ribs. "B-Behind...us." The man struggled to speak, hindered by the blood the pooled within his body and the spear that was stuck in him.

"Huh? What the hell?!" The man's grip on Ceylan tightened and he pulled the priest in, wrapping his right arm around the dog's neck to hold him as a hostage. "Back off! Or I'll cut your friend open like a fish!" The slaver raised his dagger, keeping it leveled with his belly and watching the smoke for his attacker.

On the other side of the restaurant, Haruki pulled his spear from his back and breathed heavily as he tried to focus on the current threat while also trying to battle the dark memories that played in his head. "St-Stay close...friend!" He tried to be brave, but his shakey voice betrayed his courage. He let go of the girl to properly hold his spear, but just as he did, a figure rushed him and grabbed hold of the spear as well. "A buck like you will bring a shiny penny." The slaver taunted while attempting to wrestle the weapon from Haruki's grasp.

"I got the other kid. boss!" The last slaver rushed pass Haruki and his assailant to find, Tia. No she wasn't some rare beast, but plenty of wealthy families would pay for a child of their own. He moved with his arms outstretched, searching through the fog for the small target. "Come on kid, come with us." The man whispered.

EMIYAman Elvario Beetlebuggo

 

[Elvario]

Ceylan
​

Mentions: Haruki LadyOfStars | Dog-eating monster? EMIYAman | Goomba Beetlebuggo

Just before all the chaos started, Ceylan had been able to get in one happy sounding “Good!” towards Tia, in an attempt to make her learn his name rather than call him 'daddy' all the time. Lucky, she was picking up on it pretty nicely.

During the chaos and to his surprise, Ceylan saw the orange creature being oddly combative. It pretty much jumped through the smoke to attack one of the kidnappers as if it was just another Friday.

The same couldn't be said for Ceylan himself. He felt himself being grabbed onto and while he tried to pull himself loose, he definitely didn't have enough strength to overpower his opponent. As a result, Ceylan found himself being held hostage. Now... that was a mistake. On the kidnapper's side, at least.

Whilst Ceylan wasn't confident in his strength, he was very confident in his ability to heal himself, should the need arise. The latter was why he was a little less scared and risk averse as the average person would be in this type of situation. It's why he didn't think twice to kick his leg backwards, hoping to kick the guy in the nuts and pull himself loose from his grip the moment he'd be distract by a sudden pain in the crotch area. Ceylan knew that if he were to get stabbed as a result, he'd be able to heal himself later, so he just needed to mentally prepare himself to bite through the pain and get away from these kidnappers with all of his strength. What little pride he possessed was still enough to make him prefer a risky trick over being a damsel in distress. He'd also verbalise that sentiment. “Don't worry about me, focus on stopping these men!”

He also figured he'd attempt using his [Divine Appraisal] (at a D grade) to see if he could learn something about these kidnappers. As he did, he looked around in the hopes of spotting Haruki through the smoke. Weak as he was, he was already set on doing anything he could to prevent these bastards from being able to take off with him.

• D Grade Ability Cooldown [0/2]
• Divine Appraisal (D) – Magic Affinity D, Magic Range E, Magic Targets E, Appraisal E, Religion D – Character uses their [god]-given appraisal ability on up to 5 targets within a 30ft/10 metres range – Grade D – 2 Post Cooldown.

 

[EMIYAman]

Tia
Interactions: Elvario LadyOfStars
​

Her pack was being ambushed. At first she wasn't sure as to what was going on but now she was certain. She could hear the sounds of people screaming and the tapping of feet running every which way. It was somewhat startling the forest had never truly been quiet but the sheer number of people along with the panic and fear around her was deafening. She kept her nose aloft turning it this way and that trying to find Ceylan. The fawn who taken her away spoke to her, he sounded frightened. She found herself feeling frustrated if they had stuck with Ceylan then they could have fought off their rivals more effectively, but this smoke had separated them. For a moment she heard Ceylan shout aloud his voice partially overshadowed by the other sounds around them. Then she heard a deeper foreign voice coming from the same direction Ceylans voice had, this must be their pursuer. With her face morphing to an expression of animalistic rage. As if in response to her anger the tips of her hair which almost touched her feet wriggled agitatedly.

No sooner than she had chosen to kill Ceylans attackers, had the fawn been taken as well. She had stepped away from him when he removed his hand from her and that was all it took for one of them to grab him. Feeling fully enraged from other attacking her pack she turned around before hearing on of the assailants call out. She wasn't sure what he was saying, but she reasoned he must be looking for her. They had taken Ceylan then the fawn an now they would try to take her. She couldn't bring herself to run. So if she would not run, then the only thing she could do was follow her true instincts. As a predator. As the smoke obscured most vision she partially shifted her form. Her facial expression melted from her face until only a cold steely gaze remained. She sniffed the air looking for the foreign scent. She was familiar with the smell of her packmates by now so the one she didn't recognize would be her prey. Her head whipped to the side as she found its location. She started to slowly walk diagonal from it just far enough so he wouldn't spot her easily but also to flank it as it got closer. One of her arms stretched and collapsed its human form into a bulbous fleshy tendril. She formed olfactory sensors upon the tip and let it extend away from her for a few feet. It snaked across the ground silently following the scent of the human. Once it had fully stretched out and was away from her body, she screamed out. "Ceylan!" Her voice carried and would no doubt be picked up by the preys ears. She put as much fear into the sound as she waited for it to catch up to her. She stood still hiding the connection from her body to the tendril behind her. Once her prey approached, she flashed him a smile. One that didn't meet her eyes which were cold and inhuman. The smile wasn't meant to get it off guard or even to intimidate. She didn't even realize it was there. It was just that even though she had changed to be almost akin to a human, she still enjoyed the hunt. Her tendril would slither along the ground behind them before raising it self to an angle pointed directly at the head then struck [Flesh Spike F].

• [Flesh Spike]- Feature: Retractable Claws, Elasticity F - Tia shoots a fleshy tentacle from her hand stabbing into her prey with a bone spike protruding from the end. - Grade F - 0 post Cooldown