Author: Vajra, Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2019 1:56 PM, Post Subject: A Dangerous Safari [p]

Mira was beaming with smiles when her new friend said he wanted to see the tall-necked lizard too. When the merman asked her not to look his way for a little bit, she nodded and covered her eyes with her hands while her back faced him, until he was done. Was it a new game they were playing? Once he said he was ready to see the great lizard, she turned around and pointed at his new legs. "¡Piernas! ¡Qué sorprendente!" Now that he could follow, she beckoned for him to come along as she headed past the fort towards the jungle. "¡Vamos, es así!" The thick foliage made the understory shadier than expected, large leaves big enough to use as fans stretching out every which way. Tangled roots covered the ground like coiled ropes and the hooting chatter of unseen exotic creatures echoed all around. It was much warmer and more humid here than on the shoreline with the trees trapping moisture like a sponge. Strange animals that resembled pigs with long snouts scuttled away as they approached and vibrant bear-trap shaped 'leaves' snapped shut when an unsuspecting insect landed for a rest. 

With every few steps the girl kept looking up, trying to see if they were close to one yet. After crawling through tropical underbrush, they came upon a clearing with what she was looking for. "¡Esios, esta aquí!" Her excited voice pronounced his name the best she could as she jabbed a finger towards the tall herbivorous reptile. Its neck was taller than one could imagine! With feet as large as boulders and legs thicker than century-old oaks, it bent its neck down to pluck a mouthful from the treetops. Its immense size meant it moved quite slowly and its skin was thickly layered like an elephant's. There were a few of these taking their time with trimming the upper canopy and some other unknown lizards below. These ones also were herbivorous, taking great clumps of grass in their mouths. They had a large fan-like bony plate extending from the tops of their skulls, like a shield. And from their skulls large pointed horns were displayed to warn potential predators they could defend themselves if need be. To Mira they looked like bulls, even though they were lizards. "¡Lagarto toro!" She whispered loudly, motioning to the triceratops.

From the clearing's edge a few feathered lizards emerged, eyes watching the triceratops' young. One of them started to come close only for the parent to snort and bellow, turning its head to point all three horns its way. Watching the thieving bird-lizards leave, that gave Mira an idea. Taking a clump of grass in each hand, she let go of her orb to approach the grazers. The orb began to levitate gently, trailing after her. In a dangerously bold move, she tried to hold the grass before the triceratops wondering if it would eat it. The thing sniffed and snorted, trying to determine this new small creature holding food in front of it. Dropping the grass clumps on the ground, she wiped her hands on her dress as she waited to see what it would do. The beast's eyesight wasn't too keen, and being docile by nature it started chewing the gift of food she had brought. Turning to look at Hesios, she waved with a smile. Was she telling him to come closer?

Author: Hesiodos, Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2019 8:54 AM, Post Subject: A Dangerous Safari [p]

Well, she was certainly an energetic one! Hesios was somewhat taken aback by the child's enthusiastic chatter, trying to appear attentive and as if he understood a word of it. Brows furrowed, he reasoned that 'sirena' meant 'siren' - or something much like it, anyway. She seemed to understand him at least, motioning to the sky, before adding what he assumed to be her own comment on the weather. Hesios was still trying to pin down just what language she was speaking - and utterly failing - when she suddenly moved, and slid into the water beside him. A yelp caught in his throat, a warning that the water was far too choppy and the undertow dangerous for such a small girl, when he realised that, actually, no it wasn't. The orb bobbing in the surf, held in the girl's hands, gleamed purple and blue, much like its owner's eyes. He watched it, curious, having never seen anything like it before. No wonder she was so attached to it, if it was half as magically potent as it seemed. Her voice brought his attention back to the girl, and she pointed to herself and gave what he assumed to be her name - Mira.
"Hesiodos - but please, call me Hesios. It's less of a mouthful," he said, glad to at least have a name.

Feeling stupid, he tried to follow what Mira was saying, feeling like he recognised the odd word or two, only to lose it a second later. Sliding into the water, he moved to hold position in front of the girl and her orb. While, somehow, she had calmed the waves, he wanted to be ready to ferry her back to shore if the worst were to happen.
"I'm sorry, I don't understand," he admitted slowly, disappointed to have found Mira wasn't upset by his being there, and wanted to talk, only for him to be too slow to understand.
"I came to see what kind of animals lived here," Hesios offered, thinking that it was the logical next step in this conversation. Following Mira's pointing finger, he saw the feathered lizard get to its feet, somewhat shakily, and make its way back inland. It didn't seem too much worse for wear, and would no doubt think twice before stealing shiny objects. The siren found he was relieved that Mira had not killed it. It was just an animal, picking up something it found attractive. It hadn't tried to hurt anyone or the like - it was just fond of pretty things.
"I'm glad it's okay," he said, "And that you got your orb back. It's rather special, isn't it?"
While he admired the sphere, and was curious about it, he wasn't going to dare trying to touch it - and not just because he'd seen the fate of those who had meddled with it. It was just poor manners to start touching other people's stuff without permission, no matter how pretty or mystical.

When Mira made a dash for the shore, Hesios followed, worried he had offended her somehow. But no, she came back with a stick, and began to draw in the sand. Pulling himself so he rested somewhat out of the surf, the siren watched as Mira drew a most incredible looking animal. It had legs like tree-trunks, a long, whipping tail, and a long, long neck, with a relatively small head perched atop the end. When she added a tree next to it for scale, he turned incredulous eyes to her.
"It's that big?" he asked, awed. It took him a moment to figure out what the gesture she made next meant, but soon as he grasped it, he nodded, sodden hair bouncing.
"Oh, I'd love to see one!" Hesios replied with obvious enthusiasm. Belatedly, he realised that he wouldn't be going anywhere as he was.
"Just give me a moment," he said, mentally preparing himself for the less than pleasant change from aquatic to landbound form, "Would you mind looking away for a bit?" Last thing he wanted was for someone to catch him naked on a beach with a child.

He began the change once he was sure that Mira had turned her back, keeping his noises of discomfort to a minimum. It was a tingly, itchy, somewhat painful shift, his body retracting fins, spines, and scales, and giving him legs, toes, new muscles, and all that he'd need to pass as human - and, more importantly, walk. Luckily he carried clothes with him for such an occasion, and he hurriedly pulled on trousers and shirt, ignoring them being sopping wet. They would dry off soon enough, and even if they didn't, he was a siren - he was used to being soaked.
"Okay, I'm ready Mira. Lead the way," Hesios said, unable to keep a smile from his face, so eager was he to see this massive animal all thoughts of danger or nerves had been banished - for now.

Author: Vajra, Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2019 2:09 PM, Post Subject: A Dangerous Safari [p]

At the voice Mira turned and her eyes lit up with a smile, gasping with amazement at what she saw. "¡Una sirena! ¡Que bonita!" She pointed at him, purple-blue eyes wide with wonder at his bright colors. She was too young to understand the difference between a mermaid and a merman, like most children were wont to do. Despite not speaking Adelunian common, she responded to his start at conversation with nodding. "¡Hola! El cielo es azul y claro hoy. ¡Hay muchas nubes blancas y nubes esponjosas!" Waving her hand back at him. She motioned to the sky, and then the white clouds drifting lazily with the breeze. Noticing he was partially in the water, she pushed herself off her rock and slid down. The large crystal orb bobbed up on the waves and she held onto it, kicking her feet. The little girl didn't seem to mind getting wet, keeping her shoes on while paddling. Although her spirit was young, the orb she carried was much older. Like a large lustrous pearl, it shimmered with blues and purples not unlike Mira's eyes. With the presence of the sphere, the waves surrounding them were calmed and lapped gently against the sand and rocks. "¿Cómo se llama?" The girl asked the siren. Pointing to herself she added, "Soy Mira."

"La isla es muy grande, muy linda. Pero hay muchos grandes insectos y lagartos aquí." She pointed at the stunned lizard which was regaining consciousness. It was unlike any she had seen before, walking on two legs with lots of feathers. But it had also tried to steal her treasure, so she punished it. Now that she had her orb safe in her hands, she was no longer angry at the bird-lizard or the giant rodent. "¡Hay grandes lagartijas que son tan altas como los árboles! ¿Quieres ver?" She waved and stretched her arms wide to convey how tall and how big the herbivorous Bakulaw lizards were, asking if Hesios wanted to see them for himself. With a pause, she wondered if he understood what she was saying. Mira had only met two people who knew what she was saying without asking more questions. Maybe she should draw it for him? With a push of her orb, the waves gently moved her ashore. Wringing out her dress on the sand, she went to find a big stick, and ran back. With stick in hand, she started drawing the shape of a brontosaurus. With four legs like a horse, a long tail, and a giraffe-like neck, she was proud of her picture. She then added a tree next to it, to show how tall the tree was compared to it. "¿Quieres ver?" She asked again, pointing at the image and making the shape of glasses around her eyes. 

For a being she had never seen before, Mira had no fear or worry. She didn't think he wanted to take her orb, he didn't look like the scary people who tried to chase her back where she met a pretty lady who made them go away. She learned certain faces were 'bad' or 'good'. People who made 'bad faces' would try to chase and grab her, or even try to separate her from her precious thing. 

Author: Hesiodos, Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2019 7:20 AM, Post Subject: A Dangerous Safari [p]

Hesios's observation of the outpost was interrupted by faint…screaming? He furrowed his brows, and found himself leaning forwards to catch more of the sound, trying to pinpoint its location. His eyes narrowed, he scanned the foliage for any sign of whoever was making the noise, finding nothing but leaves, flowers, and trees. Surely the people in the outpost would hear it, and come running to help, if not at least investigate? No-one had made a move that he could see when a plumed lizard burst from the bushes, something shimmering clutched in its fore-claws. Hesios didn't have time to admire it - or even ponder it - for after it came a child, apparently the source of the screaming. She…didn't seem at all in trouble, however. In fact, it seemed like she was chasing the lizard. Without an ounce of fear, she stamped her feet and shouted, pointing at the lizard currently making off with what seemed to be a stolen bounty. Hesios lurched forward on his perch, almost diving back into the ocean with a half-baked idea to head the lizard off, and help the girl retrieve whatever the shiny object was. Sure, he'd be too late to grow legs and chase after the thing, but maybe he could…splash it or something? Unless it decided to go for a swim, there wasn't too much he could do, but he didn't want to just sit here and watch.

Before he could even move more than an inch, lightning sparked down from the sky as jagged bolts, striking the lizard. Stunned, it fell and lost its grip on its plunder, which was a smooth orb. The girl moved from joy to anger once more as the orb began to roll down a sandy incline, and Hesios this time did dive back into the water. If that orb rolled into the ocean, he wanted to grab it before the tide swept it away. While the girl obviously knew magic, there was no way he would let her venture into the water after a trinket, no matter how important. Again, he needn't have worried as a rodent was the next to snatch the orb, just before it reached the water. The mammal's triumph was short lived, as it was sent rocketing through the sky by a…head-butt? Hesios winced at the meaty thwack!, though it seemed it had won the girl back her orb. It must be really important to her, he supposed, by the way she danced and sang to herself. Sinking beneath the waves once more, the siren contemplated all that had just happened. It really was a surreal thing to have seen - a magically powerful girl, feathery, thieving lizards, head-butted rodents, and the way the girl sang. He didn't understand the language, but he didn't understand many things on land. Maybe it was just a language he hadn't encountered yet. It might be worth talking to her - after all, he wanted to understand more about those who lived on land, and she seemed brave and curious enough that he felt it would be enlightening to try talking. Sure, it meant approaching someone and opening a conversation, and yes he had seen her headbutt an animal clear into being airborne - not to mention summoning lightning. There was also the whole language barrier thing, too.

In fact, the more he thought about it, the less of a good idea it seemed.

How would he start a conversation, anyway? 'Hello, I see you like shiny things and chasing native wildlife,' because that would go down a treat. Or how about he mentioned how he'd watched from the sea? That wasn't creepy at all, having a century old siren watch a girl. What if appeared to say hello, and she screamed for her parents and he got harpooned or something? He doubted defensive parents would listen to any explanation he had to offer, preferring to ensure their daughter was safe. Or what if the girl just took  matters into her own hands, and he was the next one due to be struck by lightning? He didn't want to end up fried for simple curiosity, but the more he dwelt on it, the worse an idea it seemed. What had he been thinking, deciding to brave the big, wide world outside the ocean, going to become a healer of creatures great and small. He couldn't even think of how to introduce himself to a child without thinking of a hundred and one ways it could go terribly wrong.

Swimming towards some rocks near the shore, Hesios hauled himself onto one of the flatter ones, sitting with his tail in the water.
Stupid idea, Hesiodos. You should just go home and torment fishermen or something. Y'know, unless they laugh at you too, he berated himself. Out at sea, a spray of water heralded a whale breaching for air, and despite himself, the siren couldn't help but smile a little. Sure, he'd messed up before even achieving anything, but he couldn't help but be in awe of the majesty of nature. His musing was interrupted, however, by footsteps and giggles. With a sinking feeling, he turned his head, and saw the girl, light as a seabird, climbing over the slippery rocks. She perched atop one, her orb clasped in her hands, and watched the birds soar. The siren hesitated - diving back into the water would no doubt alert her to his presence, but staying her without saying anything would also be both rude and creepy. He had to say something, didn't he? Maybe she wouldn't have noticed him watching before. Maybe it would all work out okay?
"H-Hello," he stammered, offering a small, nervous smile and a wave of one webbed hand, "Lovely weather we're having."
Almost as soon as he said it, he wanted to find the nearest tangle of kelp and hide. How utterly inane. Still, it was a start, right? Oh tides, he hoped she understood him…

Author: Vajra, Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 2:04 PM, Post Subject: A Dangerous Safari [p]

From the lush foliage and overgrowth of flora, the faint sounds of screaming were rapidly coming closer. Bursting out from the wide palm-shaped leaves of some exotic plant was a brightly colored feathered lizard holding a large round shiny object in its talons. "¡No, devolvérsela!" A small child tumbled out from some shrubs, getting up to continue her chase of the fearsome beast. Huffing and puffing, she balled up her fists and shouted, pointing an accusing finger at the bird-lizard in the process of making off with her precious treasure. "¡Ladrón de aves lagarto!" In plain sight from the siren, Mira then stamped her feet as the orb began to spark. Out of the blue, several bolts of lightning zigzagged from the clear sky hitting the feathered lizard a few times. Dazed, the thieving creature lost its focus and hurtled to the ground with a crash! The orb rolled out of its claws, now sliding down a sandy slope. Her joy at recovering her precious thing quickly turned to yelling and chasing the next mischievous creature who wanted to add a large shiny sphere to their collection.

This time the thief was a land bound furry creature, rodent-like in nature. Sniffing and pawing at the strange lustrous object, its ears pricked up at the child's battle cry and turned its head only to receive the full force of a flying headbutt. The poor thing went sailing into the air while the dark-haired girl was reunited with her orb at last. Holding it above her head, she then smiled and hugged it close. Her attention was caught by the sound of the waves, and bright purple-blue eyes looked out longingly at the sea. Holding her beloved treasure, she walked out on the sand towards the tides. Finding a rock, she climbed up and stood to see. With the orb in her hands, she waved it about and the water followed. Singing to herself in an ancient tongue, Mira twirled and danced making the waves swirl in eddies around her. 

A multicolored crab skittered by, and she stooped down to look. She chattered at it for a while, and the crab did its sideways walk to the nearest cover. Now close to Fort Dinclaire, the beaches were less obscured by trees. Carefully stepping down she tried to find a taller rock to see farther out. Being so small, if she were an ordinary child running along the tide pools would be extremely dangerous. But when the tide pulled her about, she giggled and using her orb was able to push back towards the sand. Shoes and dress soaking wet, she finally found the rock she was looking for. Sitting on top, she held the orb between her arms and knees watching the sea birds fly on by. The spray of water in the distance signaled the presence of a whale. Bakulaw's waters were a rich feeding ground for marine life, still pristine even with the encroaching presence of human settlement.

Author: Hesiodos, Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2019 11:21 AM, Post Subject: A Dangerous Safari [p]

The isle certainly looked picturesque, with its lush greenery, warm sunlight, and silver sands. Birds circled lazily, so high that the were specks against the clear, blue sky. All in all, Hesios thought, it would be a rather nice place to spend an afternoon, if not longer. Treading water, the siren looked over the beach, weighing his options. There were lots of rumours about this place, none of which really filled him with a desire to go for an idle jaunt along the coast. At the same time, he had to admit he was curious. He had heard there were unique lifeforms on Bakulaw Isle, and he wanted to see them. Yes, he had heard that people had been killed, maimed, or otherwise injured, but surely the creatures had just been defending their territory from unknown threats. From what he understood, this place hadn't been populated by anyone but the native animals, so of course they would react with hostility to anything new. Wouldn't people do the same?

Still, even rationalising it so, Hesios wasn't eager to haul himself from the water, onto the beach, and undergo the somewhat awkward process of adapting his body for land, only to be blind-sided by an irked beast. Ah, if only there were a handy inlet he could follow, wide and deep enough to offer security, even as he studied the life around him. Even if there were such a thing, though, it would most likely swiftly become freshwater, and thus unsafe for him to swim within, at least in this form. With a powerful swish of his tail, Hesios moved forwards, diving beneath the waves as he did so. Skirting around the beach he had initially seen, the siren swam around the isle, seeking an inlet, or even a handy rock he could pull himself onto so he could better watch the shore. His family thought he was mad, not for wanting to venture out and see the world, but because he simply wanted to go out and help. Also the whole being better with animals than he was people might not have helped. Who had ever heard of a siren who was uncomfortable with people? If it was an animal, he had no trouble interacting with them, but as soon as you involved people, he fell apart, and all his wits abandoned him.

A structure caught his eye, and he surfaced near the shoreline. A fortress, and a heavily reinforced one at that, if he was any judge. Which he wasn't, by any means, but the walls seemed stout, and the people hardy. Unsure, Hesios clung to a rock as he watched the activity around the outpost, wondering what its purpose here was. Who had built it? Did they realise they more or less invited disaster building here? He had to admit, that kind of stubbornness was, in a way, admirable - or reprehensible, depending on the motive. If they wanted to learn about Bakulaw, then he could see himself approaching them - maybe. The possibility of a shared interest in this place was a lure, but if it would be strong enough to see him leave the shoreline, and come and find out for sure was another matter.