Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"Right..."
Aral'hrah glances at the sky.
"We better designate night watch. I somehow doubt you all are night shift."

"We could head up the cliff, which might be a long flight, or we could check the plainsdwellers. They've got a farm, too, and a bite to eat sounds good for me about now."

 

"Not all of us."
I agree.

"We could climb it."
Crystal points out.
"But if you're hungry, we could go to the farm."

 

"So... you want to call the shots, or you think the normal night shift will be good enough?"

"If you want to head to the cliffside village, we'll head there first." She says, offering Crystal a hand up back on her staff.

 

"Normal night shift should be fine. I'll be here as well."

"I dunno."
Crystal says, taking the offer.
"I'm not really... drawn to one of them. We're gonna see both, right?"

 

"Okay, then. I think I'm going to sleep outside and let our guests in my den, in that case."
"Thanks, but I am night shift." Orchid admits, the others just thanking Aral'hrah.

"Yeah, of course! No sense leaving one sight unseen when both are right there."

 

I just nod, waiting for Aral'hrah to lead.

"Good! So, let's go to the farm town first. You said you were hungry, and I don't want you to starve or something."

 

Aral'hrah leads the others to a small den that's plenty big enough for the raptors, and the nearby bramble is enough for the other two mantis to get out of the wind behind, Runo falling asleep almost immediately after laying down.

"I won't starve, but if you're okay with that, we can start there." Linoa says, turning that direction.

 

I post myself right outside of the den, waiting for everyone to go in and for Aral'hrah to lay down somewhere so I can know where he is.

"I'm fine with it."
Crystal agrees.

 

Aral'hrah lays down a few paces from the mantis, still in sight as Orchid strolls around the territory, curious.

"In that case..."
Linoa takes off, albeit not hastily.

A minute or so later, there seems to be a griffon tending to some grain, soon shapeshifting into a human to cut the grain with normal farm equipment. They're too occupied with their work to notice Crystal and Linoa.

 

I keep my post, eyeing everyone outside the den, and listening for the sounds (or lack thereof) of the raptors sleeping.

"What are they?"
Crystal whispers to Linoa curiously.

 

You hear extremely faint breathing. They're about as quiet as a subtle breeze.

"I dunno. Obviously shapeshifters of some sort. Do we interrupt?"

 

I silently make my way to the center of the opening of the den, and sit down in it, look at the raptors, and more specifically Eklir.

"I don't think we should. These guys might be well known, and the town might know about them."

 

The other raptors in the den look like one pile of fluff, but Eklir is sleeping entirely separate from the pile and literally sleeping with one eye open.

"Fair enough. Onwards?"

 

I continue to keep watch of the den.

"Onwards."

 

The night is long but uneventful. With the moon still directly overhead, you get a bit... bored?, though that tetm may be a stretch for a robot.

Linoa flies on, eventually being waved down the the guards at the gate, which consist of a lamia, centaur, fairy, and werewolf.
"What is your business here, new blood?" The werewolf asks.
"We're just exploring. Is... everyone a shapeshifter?" Linoa asks after.
"This is a shapeshifter colony... so almost all, yes."

 

"If you don't want to continue, you don't have to. I was thinking of showing you one last sight before your time comes, though." Myria says.

 

"I wish to buy, or if I find that it will be too detrimental to my wallet, to rent."

 

As I enter the midsection of the woods I stop and talk to someone.
"I know you are watching Centauri, there's no need to hide."
Centauri steps out of the shadows and looks into Noton.
"Noton what are you doing here this far into the forest? You never leave your village."
I respond with a rather serious tone.
"As you may have heard down further South there are rumors of a prophet appearing on the island. I need to see if the rumors are true and if they pose a threat to my kin."
"Very well, do you need anything from me." Centauri asks.
"I need you and other centaurs to make sure no one enters the forest without passing your trials of Strength and Astronomy."
"Very well I will gather my kin. Safe journeys."
Centauri leaves and goes deeper into the forest.
Noton continues down the forest until I find a cave and rest there.

 

I take a quick look around me, before focusing back on the inhabitants of the den.

"Woah..."
Crystal says, amazed.

 

"Why not? You know this place far better than I ever will."

You can't find a cave, but you find a makeshift den with a vixen laying inside. It's plenty big for both of you, but she might not be open to visitors mid-nap.

"Are you crazy? We don't intend to sell anything, no offense. Things have been running smoothly for quite a while, and I'd rather stay on the path that's been working for us, all due respect."

Nothing else is moving throughout the night, hold the night watch, which Orchid winds up falling asleep halfway through.

Linoa glances at Crystal.
"Well, we shouldn't be long or an issue. Right now we're just going around sightseeing."
The werewolf nods.
"Alright, you two are permitted entry. Be wary of any belongings; pickpockets are hard to catch."