Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"Sure, I guess. What's a rug?"

 

"It's just a patch of cloth on the ground. Though, there is a slight risk. I don't fully trust the humans told me everything, and I have a feeling this may be a trap. I'll do my best to stop you from getting captured if it is, but you need to take that into account." Artemis says.

 

"Okay. I don't mind sitting on cloth." They say. "Can you carry me up? I can't climb stairs well."

 

"Sure thing. Shall we get going, then?" Artemis asks.

 

"Sure." They say, trotting in circles around Artemis until she gets going.

 

Artemis starts walking back toward the human's settlement.

When Artemis arrives at the human's settlement, she looks up to the guards near the drawbridge.

"I've brought an obedient raptor as the guards in the castle asked me to. I shall take full responsibility for any damage he causes while under my watch, please may we enter?" Artemis calls.

"Please don't cause any trouble." Artemis says kindly to the raptor.

 

The drawbridge was left open.
"Go."

The raptor nods.
"I don't wanna get plucked alive..." They say, sounding terrified.

 

Artemis pets the raptor lightly, before heading across the drawbridge and towards the castle.

 

This startles them, but they soon just keep walking right next to Artemis' foot, practically keeping a feather touching her at all times.

 

Artemis heads into the castle, heading up the staircase, walking onto the right balcony and taking the hidden staircase to the guards.

 

The raptor scratches at Artemis' foot, wanting to be carried up the stairs.

 

"Oh, sorry." Artemis apologises, easily lifting up the raptor and carrying them up the stairs.

 

The raptor's probably less than ten pounds worth of weight, anyways.
"Thanks." They say, curling up into a ball of fluff.

 

Once Artemis reaches the narrow hallway, she gently puts the raptor down again.

"I have brought the obedient raptor you wanted. They are completely harmless, scared of you, even. When I asked them not to cause trouble when entering, they said they had no intention to, as they knew they would face punishment." Artemis says to the guards.

 

"What do you mean, they said?"
"Where do you want me to sit?"
"...This is a joke, right? These monsters can't talk!"
"I beg your pardon, good sir, but I believe you're mistaken." The raptor pleads.
"I... I feel lied to. That rug there... lay down on it and we'll have some people over to interact with you. If no harm comes to any of them, we'll let Artemis speak with the royals."
The raptor trots over and curls up on the rug.

 

"I believe you've been brainwashed to naturally hate raptors and mantises. They are really quite civilised. Where I come from, there was a similar event. Many people were told to dislike a certain group of people based on the colour of their skin, brown instead of light pink. The truth is, the skin colour didn't change anything, both sides were exactly the same." Artemis says honestly.

 

"That sounds like it may be true. You know, the Mantis Matriarch is still a symbol of civility and manners to the youth. Since the ruin, we had feared they only wanted revenge since all our efforts to provide aid were torn to shreds and the resources we went out salvaged. We thought the ruin changed them, but... to be honest, my grandfather had a pet raptor."

 

"Who told you raptors and mantises were ever bad? Surely by the fact the Mantis Matriach is a symbol of civility and manners, a being belonging to a supposed race of bloodthirsty savages, it shows something is wrong." Artemis says.

 

"What's wrong is the dark secrets the true ruling family keeps. We have figureheads that have to sacrifice themselves to prevent the execution of their entire bloodline."

 

"Where can I find the true ruling family?" Artemis asks, "I've heard rumours about the secrets they keep. If anyone knows about the ruin, I'm sure it will be them."