Whisper Marsh watching, waiting, commiserating - Printable Version +- Ruins of Wildwood (https://relic-lore.net) +-- Forum: Library (https://relic-lore.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=23) +--- Forum: Game Archives (https://relic-lore.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=26) +---- Forum: Relic Lore III (https://relic-lore.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=34) +---- Thread: Whisper Marsh watching, waiting, commiserating (/showthread.php?tid=3614) |
watching, waiting, commiserating - Taima - Jan 23, 2013 [dohtml]RE: Taima is sprayed by a skunk.
January 22nd; Late morning; Light snow; 5° F/-15° C
Borden had told her to stay within the pack territory. Not once but on several occasions. The speech never changed, no matter how many times she had heard it or however many times he rearranged the words. It was just "blah blah blah, Taima don't go too far. Taima, no exploring today. Taima, stay here." Since her encounter with the dark-pelted man and her most recent lecture given a few weeks ago, her curiosity for the 'outside' world had merely been kindled after this morning's "Taima, be careful" from her father.
Being careful, she realized was something she could quite happily do. With the mind to keep her eyes peeled and her ears up, the young Lyall took an hour's journey to the southern part of her home. One hop and a frivolous skip effortlessly brought her over the territory borders and, in what seemed like no time at all, the girl was skirting about the tree line that made up the perimeter of Cedarwood Forest. Humming to herself, she trotted about, craning her neck about as she pressed her nose to the ground, searching for something of interest. Some time ago, she had learned from her Uncle that during his time between packs, he had hoarded away things of value.
Taima tried to compile a list in her head, thinking of all the things he had mentioned - things a lone wolf would have needed or depended on or simply liked. Frozen mice, frozen birds, bits of flesh, deer antlers, bits of animal hide... Coming to the base of a seemingly characteristic tree, she mused to herself with a loud "HmmmMMMm." Circling about the base of the tree, she tip-toed around it, then playfully stood upright against its trunk with her forepaws firmly against its bark as she peered around to its other side.
Once back down on all-fours, she cast a skyward glance at its branches, staring until five large snowflakes landed on her nose. Shaking her head from side to side, she went back to investigating the old pine tree's roots. About half of the tuberous roots were arched up from the ground, creating several perfect places to stash away secret treasure. Ever so attentive to where she placed her paws as she clambered over a root that had grown around a large rock, she made her way around the tree once more only to feel the earth give way beneath her feet. A gasp sounded out as both of her stocky paws slid forward, her elbows scraping against the large root she had managed to scale. She peered down into the hollow she had unearthed then let out the most ridiculous greeting, "HERRRRROOOO?!"
She laughed to herself as no one answered her, but no more than two seconds after she had opened her mouth, a pair of beady eyes peered back at her from the depths. Something was in there and it hastily scurried about out of sight. Her eyes widened and her tail wagged as she started to dig, trying to make the opening of the tunnel a little larger. "Herrrro?" she repeated with a giggle, stopping for a moment to see if it would move again. Before she could even say another word, or even begin to ponder what belonged to the funky stench that had reached her nostrils, she saw a flash of a white stripe... then... an even thicker cloud of the odor was sprayed into her face!
A scream echoed through the forest as she withdrew her head and wriggled away from the burrow. Her eyes kept closed as she flailed about on her side, raising her paws to her muzzle and face to wipe the mist of stink from her face. She coughed and sputtered, unable to get around the reek that had assaulted her senses. Pffff, so much for being careful... RE: watching, waiting, commiserating - Datura - Jan 23, 2013 [dohtml] [/dohtml] RE: watching, waiting, commiserating - Taima - Jan 24, 2013 [dohtml]
She continually gasped for air, trying to right herself and get back on her feet so she could run as far away from that tree as was possible. Her mind screeched and screamed as she was temporarily decapitated, hoping she would at least be able to see in the next few minutes that passed. She could barely hear the sound of another approaching over her panic. As though her flailing couldn't make this particular scenario any worse than it already was, something heavy and large fell right on top of her. With her luck, she could only hope it was the being who seemed to have been looking for her. Her watery eyes immediately opened and she squirmed in fright; she hadn't anticipated him arriving so soon... and in such a fashion. "GET OFF OF MEEEEE!" she screeched, unable to properly identify who or what had decided to tackle her and subject her to more suffering. "Giiiiitttt!"
Panting as she wriggled her hind legs to no avail, she blinked a number of times before she was able to catch sight of a blurry, plume-like shape she assumed was his mahogany tail. Her eyes, once seemingly plastered shut, widened in realizing that this dude was not one of her brothers. Half a whimper was uttered, the sound overcome and replaced by a growl and defiant threat, "If ya don't get off of me, I'm gonna give you to the count of three before I... before I... ohhhh.... ow." She winced, the terrible smell of skunk starting to spur an impending headache.
She lifted an ivory paw, pressing it into his side as she huffed, tears falling from her eyes in attempt to recover themselves. "I'm not all right," she frowned, simply laying on the forest floor. "I can't see." Great, her conscience moaned. So, now what? You're far away from home, no one knows where you are, and this dolt found you...
Taima sniffed a couple of times, her eyes closing again as her temples throbbed. She tried to roll over, to cradle her nose in-between her wrists. "Did you get it?" she snuffled, the fur on each of her cheeks starting to become stained with tear-streaks. "Is it gone?!" RE: watching, waiting, commiserating - Datura - Jan 24, 2013 [dohtml] [/dohtml] RE: watching, waiting, commiserating - Taima - Jan 26, 2013 [dohtml]
"Don't worry, I scared it off," he announced, the obvious prideful tone biting at her ears. She glowered at him, his figure appearing no better than a hazy outline. Are you sure 'bout that? she had wanted to test him, absolutely, positively certain that her stink-bomb aggressor still laid in wait, hidden safely in the shadows of his lair. Though the young man coughed along from the stench that was now well-embedded in her face and neck, he suggested that they leave the area.
Another half-whimper left her as she stood up on shaking legs, her eyes repeatedly blinking in hope that her vision would return to the way it was before. Once sure she was able to walk, she turned to face the youth, whose brilliant rust and gold fur stood out almost conveniently against the stark white-and-brown of the forest and marsh. Taima took a small step toward him, focusing on the dark splotch of black that she knew was his nose in the middle of his face. Another step made her ears draw back, suddenly feeling so very self-conscious about her physical state.
"L-lead me?"
The simple request sounded foreign in the girl's ears and, though she appreciated that he had been there and arrived at just the right time, she inwardly hated how weak it made her seem and sound. "Please?" She tried to smile, confident by now that she must have looked utterly lame in his eyes. She would never admit it openly just yet but something about him reminded her of one of her imaginary pack mates, and merely his presence attracted her to him, namely the sound of his voice. The apparent nerve and grit struck a chord and she unexpectedly discovered that she wanted to know who he was... to see who he was. Two tears fell from each of her dull citrine eyes, realizing that she was afraid for the very first time in her life. RE: watching, waiting, commiserating - Datura - Feb 07, 2013 [dohtml] [/dohtml] RE: watching, waiting, commiserating - Taima - Mar 03, 2013 Gosh, Sarah, sorrysorrysorry for the wait! Also feel free to PP them walkin' around, going wherever... <3 [dohtml]
She kept trying to blink out the unwelcome sting of the skunk's foul mist, the relief only coming gradually as more time passed and her eyes continued to defend themselves with tears. He instructed her to take hold of his tail, this oddly-shaped blur that only came into focus as he held it out to her inches from her snout. If she concentrated hard enough, the bristles of the golden plume could be picked out, tufts of gold easily distinguishable from the end comprised of burnt sienna and umber hues. She keenly craned her neck forward, her forepaws shuffling forward as she opened her jowls. "But no yanking," he firmly instructed. Taima's brows rose but she gently and gingerly clasped her teeth around her aid's tail, swallowing beforehand as not to slobber all over his assumedly gorgeous fur.
She was able to pick up the scowl on his face but it did little to dampen her spirits. Renier and her father could do worse with such dark words and the harshest of tones, and this haughty knight's hard tone barely fazed her. With the means to follow him and not get lost while she recovered her eyesight she felt her heart take flight as he told her that he would not let any more harm come upon her. Taima nodded slightly, smiling all the while as she waited for him to lead the way.
What's yer name? her mind started to question, the thrill of knowing this young man sending her to such great heights as they walked. You must be very brave to have scared that retched, smelly creature away. Are you from around here? My name's Taima. I can't... I can't see you properly but I can tell you're... well... I like you. Thank you for saving me. I don't know how I can repay you but I think I know how... I think. On and on her mind rambled and she kept quiet, impatiently waiting for her vision to clear and her senses to sharpen again. Oh, to think she could enrapture him, to discover and fathom the idea of one's first crush... even as he had actually and literally fallen on top of her. RE: watching, waiting, commiserating - Datura - Mar 13, 2013 [dohtml] [/dohtml] RE: watching, waiting, commiserating - Taima - Mar 15, 2013 [dohtml]Note to self: Taima age = 7 months; roughly 7-8 human years old.
Minutes passed and as her bronze-armored knight continued to lead her away from the skunk's hollow, she stared happily at the back of his head. Then, all too soon, he turned and Taima's eyes widened as she stared into his face. Her left eye was first to improve; the pitch black pupil eagerly taking in the angles of his jawline, the russet hues of his ears and forehead, the vibrant color of his irises which perfectly matched his coat, and the sharpness in which his fur laid smoothly along his nape. He suggested that she clean up, then asked if there was a nearby place to wash herself off. Her brows brazenly formed a scowl on her face as she questioned the intelligence of her guide. Where exactly was this kid from? Didn't he know what water smell-- ohh. Her train of thought derailed itself as she remembered that skunk spray still hung heavily in the air around her and, instantaneously, she felt another wave of embarrassment wash up and over her every hair of her being.
Taima nodded, her scowl melting from her masked features as she let go of the boy's tail. "U-um," she stammered, looking around her before confirming that the trees of the Cedarwood stood at her back. "There's a marsh near here. If we keep walking we should find the edges of it." She sniffed, attempting to blink her only right eye to no avail. In attempt to remember how the Marsh looked like in the autumn when she had last laid eyes on it during an impromptu adventure on the outskirts of her home, the girl closed both her eyes.
"I remember it had... these... tall reeeeds," she recalled, the word unnaturally strained as she tried to describe the place her savior was looking for. "But I dunno if the snow covered them all. If we... If we keep moving away from the forest we should find it?" She looked at him expectantly, all the while hoping her description of the place helped him. The snow seemed to stretch for miles beyond the tree line, but if her directions for finding the place were sufficient, then the pair would be able to discover the edges of the iced-over swamp, nearly void of cattails and wildlife but perfect in getting rid of most of the stench that penetrated her mottled coat. RE: watching, waiting, commiserating - Datura - Mar 15, 2013 [dohtml] i am addicted to quoting that lyrics that don't fit the situation: |