Almost immediately upon giving him what he assumed was an 'A-Okay', Timbey promptly ran behind Hayate and buried his nose behind between both of his knees, poking his head through his legs and forcing the human to ride upon his back.
"Oh Timbey... what are you doing?" sighed Simber as she tried to contain her giggling at her son.
"Giving the human a ride, Mom!" he said as he looked up at Hayate through his legs before running around in a circle, probably getting him dizzy.
"Yes, I can see that, just don't get him sick. Well Hayate, thank you for the compliments of our village! Come, allow us to take you the Inn while you're here and treat you to some delights that I hope you'll enjoy."
"Yeah! Ever had a Honey-dipped Grog Eye? Even though they're expensive they're really good!"
As Susan climbed the tree, she would find that the trees felt... different compared to the ones from her land. It was almost as if these trees have never been climbed so high before by human hands or have never been laid eyes upon by human eyes. Such a rush and a thrill one might have to be the first to say that they have marked something of their own.
And then, the top. Yes, the top where the tree's arms finally come to a halt. The fresh air and the bluest of skies can be seen along with... two suns? Not only that but there seems to be Planets as well that you can see. So long Earth for now.
Although, you can sense immediate danger... almost as something is watching you... glaring you down... stalking you...
"You don't belong here..." growls a voice from behind.
If you were to look behind you, you would see the source of the voice. A mighty black Lion's head peering through a bundle of branches and leaves, although the rest of his body is covered and unable to be seen. His eyes are yellow and glowing, fixated upon you and your every muscles. His mane his ruffled, but what long hair he has is kept in braids and beads. Something tells you that better have a silver-tongue to get out of this one.
The cat paused a bit before sighing at Elize, wondering why it decided to help the girl in the first place. "You enter the woods without knowing your way back to the village? Bah, I guess I have no choice then. Follow me Miss."
Hopping down from on top, the cat promptly began to lead the way towards the village, before pausing again, sniffing the air only to look back up at Elize. "Uh, we might want to hurry it up, seems Bola has awoken from his nap. He's going to be hunting soon and I think hunting a human might be of interest to him. While he's not normally aggressive, since the Grogs have been acting up, he's been hunting a lot more prey lately and giving us other creatures trouble."
"I don't think you would like to meet him when he's just woken up either... he can be a bit difficult. So let's hurry!" meowed the cat as it began to lead the way. "Oh! And what's your name, human? I might as well ask in case Bola does come and eat us."
The large blue bird simply watched with a slightly amused look as the smaller of the two humans scurried behind it in fear. So he was right, this one was but one that still learning to thrive on its own. Watching as the two humans conversed and as the little one scurried off, he decided to follow her... though not before looking back at the other one and looking up as the winds brushed gently against the trees in an odd way.
Bola...
Giving him another look, the bird followed behind the little girl, but not before a couple of feathers dropped behind coyly... just in case the boy needed a guide to find them, and protection.
Then, soon enough both he and the girl were alone, and he could hear her offer loud and clear. Normally understanding their speech was slightly difficult, but with her... he could understand her completely. It felt strange at first, but at the same time it felt rather nice. Warmth, not only from her hands but from her voice. It was soothing and it was something he hadn't felt in a long while. Closing in his eyes, he ignored the question for a moment to simply enjoy the time, before deciding that it would be rude not to reply.
"You ask such an odd question for one that I am sure you already know, human. I will happily be your friend, that is certain, and I will keep you safe in this world, you can count on that, little one," spoke the bird to Mercel through their connection before nuzzling its beak softly against her hair.
"...Maybe he just wants some hot cocoa... No? How about some water?" -Later- "HE AIN'T THIRSTY! HE HUNGRY FOR ME DAMN IT!"Jacques could only stand there and watch as the stranger ran away, that strange bird following her. He sighed heavily.
"Why must some things always stay the same, no matter where I am? Either back home or here, I'm just not cut out for people..."
He was about to turn to leave, before the blue feathers caught his eyes.
Does that thing want me to...follow it?
Well, they seemed as lost as he did, and he couldn't just go without trying to help, and he raced after the trail, tucking the stick away at the side of his shorts. It was quite uncomfortable, but he didn't want to pose a threat. He managed to get to where the stranger and the bird had stopped, gripping his knees as he bent over, out of breath.
"Please...Wait...Jacques...my name...just wait... whew..."
-Thank you!- Mercel gave the bird a bear hug, her black hair brushing against his feathers as she squeezed. Relieved that he had accepted her, Mercel was too happy to even care about the bird talking, it just felt natural, somehow. She removed herself from him while still keeping one hand on his head, slightly rubbing it while she sat down. -Do you have a name, frie—
Mercel was interrupted by a familiar sweating man erupting from the unknown, gasping for air as he said something, startling Mercel once again. Predictably making her jump onto her bare feet in suprise, twisting towards him only to squeak in fright when he entered her sight, again.
She put herself between her friend and the tree she had been propped up against, her hair slightly swaying from the momentum of her swift movement. Her tiny face scrunched up like her bed sheets; as her blue eyes looked anywhere but at the man, showing her anxiety. "W-why did you follow me? Wh-what do you want from me?"
edited 21st Apr '15 1:15:46 PM by OhBoyTime
"I...To be honest, I don't quite know. I just feel we started on the wrong foot. I seriously didn't mean to sneak up on you like that. Sorry..."
He scratches the back of his head shyly, looking at the ground at an angle, lightly tapping the point of his foot on the ground. He's quite obviously nervous as well.
"I'm...Jacques, but just don't shorten it to Jack. I hate it. Just about anything else is fine."
The dark-haired thief was stunned speechless. Growing up in a world where gratitude and kindness usually came at a cost, the Monga's offer blew him away. Simber would see Hayate's wide eyes filled with shock, then disbelief, and finally gratitude.
Voice, if you had something to do with this...I seriously owe you one. He thought. Deep inside, Hayate decided that he would do his best to repay Simber and Timbey for their kindness towards a complete stranger.
"I'd love to." Hayate answered, beaming at the mother and child. "Thank you for your hospitality."
edited 21st Apr '15 12:54:38 PM by svenorzokarkoff
Cedric grinned at the mention of chocobos. "I'm Cedric. And a chocobo would be infinitely better than those other birds." The dark haired young man glanced around, searching for the feathery beasts. A few were nearby, feasting. He shuddered.
He looked away from the birds to the odd pair. Cedric cocked his head to the side and frowned. "So...how'd you hear me over those birds, Kirrian? They're kinda loud." He gestured to the surrounding trees. "And how'd you two get here? I woke up in a bush a ways back." He paused, looking towards the heavens.
"...Think it was aliens?"
Before she even realized it, Susan went far.... so far and so high... above the canopy to stand upon a branch seemingly in the sky. She felt the wind on her face... had to spread her arms open and close her eyes, as her hair was swept by the cold, fresh breeze... and then open her eyes again to stare at the planets... the two suns, the vast, intense blue sky.
However, soon she feels the danger... and even such a thrill is pushed back at the promise of danger. Susan turns back, moving back on a branch, light, so light! on her feet as the lion revealed himself.
For a moment, there was uncertainty in her mind... blade or necklace? Dark or light? Instincts battled mind... until finally she took a deep breath and smiled, a hand going up to her heart... and to grasp the necklace in it. Better put her wits to use and a cool head.
"Indeed, I don't! Though I'd wish it wasn't quite so obvious... though perhaps it will serve me well. Then again, I wonder in which way that I don't belong here you mean? In this world? For if so I was brought here, invited to come. If there is fault to be on my presence on that account I'd take it on with the one who brought me here. Perhaps you mean this tree? Unfortunately, if I did ill in that instance it was born out of either ignorance. Best way to punish it is to destroy the ignorance itself, namely by telling me what I did wrong and thus I'd be ignorant no more and such mistake will never be done again. Then again I didn't actually mean to get this far up into the tree... but then I got to blame the wonderfulness of the view, the magnificence of the tree and the richness of this blue sky for pushing me ever upwards... a little bit my weakness for not being able to resist its allure. Or perhaps this is your domain and you care not for visitors, I interrupted your peace? In that case it will be far faster for me to leave than to force me out... far less troublesome too. If this tree is marked for nobody to come in scent, my nose is not keen enough to catch such a message yet... in which case, perhaps you'd like me to make another mark sure to ward ignorant climbers away? I can carve it in three different tongues for you at no cost, more than what I have gotten by the beauty of this view" says Susan, smiling all the while... her hair flowing with the breeze as she even dares point upward, stretch her arms wide and signal the sky when talking about the magnificent view.
"Thus... will you please tell me, Sir, what did I do wrong?"
Mercel didn't know what to think about this man, but she knew what she wanted, and that was to get away. "Please don't follow me." Not shaking as bad as before, Mercel called over to her blue friend and began to walk towards where she remembered the road to be, looking behind her every 10 seconds, or so.
She really didn't want him to follow, what did he even want from her? He said he didn't really know, but Mercel didn't believe that. Dad always said that creatures had intentions, even the dumbest cat had them. Looking over at her blue friend, she smiled; her breathing calmed. He would protect her, he said he would.
Resting beside the road, Mercel grumbled as her stomach growled. Turning towards her friend, she asked, -Are there any safe things to eat in this forest? I'm hungry- Mercel was conflicted; she knew that she could probably get some food from the town the voice had mentioned, even though she couldn't remember its name. But she really didn't want to rely on someone else for it; she would need to go there for shelter, anyways, but getting her own food was something that she just had to do; she couldn't explain it, it just was.
edited 21st Apr '15 4:47:30 PM by OhBoyTime
"Elize... that's a pretty name. My name is Rin, short and sweet just like yours," meowed the silver cat as it looked up at its temporary companion. "As for Bola... well, let's just say that I consider him a hot-head, but everyone else here considers him one of the scariest hunters of the forest along with the Grogs."
"Humans are a rarity in these parts, and he is a cat like me, and we cats can be a bit territorial over our domains... and he considers the forest his domain. I do hope you can at least put up a fight in case we have to defend ourselves," meowed Rin again.
"Don't worry about it," smiled Simber as she led her son and Hayate to the inn.
Soon enough, the three of you enter and you can see a rather interesting sight inside:
Creatures of all kind are inside, and not just from the Monga. Small greenish creatures with long floppy ears, large flat feet, and pointy noses can be seen on top of stools and barrels in the far corner talking with some rather large Mongas. Goblins no doubt in the middle of trading supplies, although if you were to take a closer look, you would notice that there was one green-skin that was far larger than the rest.
Standing at around close to around six feet with broad shoulders and small tusks, you can notice a larger green-skin standing with his arms crossed with a massive ax almost as big as himself strapped to his back. Despite looking serious with his lean muscles and well-built body, he can be seen having a friendly conversation with a Monga nearby; an orc no doubt in the prime of his youth.
Timbey, however, immediately led Hayate to the inn counter and roared at the similar colored bear that was attending it.
"Dad, look! A human! Can we get him a honey-dipped Grog eye?"
"I can see that he's a human son, but-"
"It's alright dear, he's with me," spoke Simber as she caught up. "He's a little lost, so would you be kind to treat him as if he was one of ours for now?"
The larger and more muscular bear folded his arms and closed his eyes, before opening one eye and looking at you intensely, then at his soon who looked as if he was going to whine, and then at his wife who was giving hit 'that' look. With a sigh, he finally conceded and began to whip up the Honey Grog Eye dish before speaking.
"Alright, alright... just as long as you don't hit on my wife, you hear me? I get enough fighting off the others, and I don't need a human stealing my wife!" pouted the bear as he puffed out his chest before handing you the honey Grog eye.
"Oh dear..."
"Don't worry about the dish, it tastes better than how it looks," reassured Tombey as he bounced a bit.
Bola's eyes became slits as he slowly emerged from the branches, showing his entire self without hesitation. Surprisingly, the lion was not on all-fours, but was walking on two legs and hand a humanoid body. He was large and tall with a muscular build to match, standing well over eight feet and balancing himself on the branches of the tree without any effort. He had human-like hands covered in black fur and twin tails both wrapped in leather. He wore leathery armor covering his chest and legs, but his lion-like feet were left bare as his claws were showing. Baring his fangs that were sharper than razors, Bola swung a double-sided dagger made out of bone before approaching Susan, sniffing her carefully before growling.
"You are not from here, Human. Scent, too clean," twirling the dagger and looking as if he would strike at any moment, Bola continued to observe and smell, "Scent smells to wrong and... strange. Almost as if you were kept hidden from the wilds and left in the city... but, there is no human city nearby for you to be this clean, so where did you come from, human?"
"While I appreciate your compliments and your offers of peace, they do not answer my question." Bola cracks his neck and leans down, staring deep in into your eyes as if to see if your next words are true or not.
"Where did you come from, human?"
Better choose your next words very carefully to convince the great hunter and not make him think you trying to think he is but a fool... for what you do here could either bring you great rewards in a powerful ally or consequences in an unintended foe...
The blue bird sighed a bit, hopping that the girl would have at least taken the older boy along this time. Letting out a small caw to call towards the boy, and as with before, he slyly left a trail of his feathers behind as he lifted his wing and gently pecked them with his beak.
At this rate I don't think I'm going to look like a Doriki but one of those plucked chickens... muttered the bird to himself. Still, he didn't want the other one to get lost, and leading him to the road where they were going to be at was the least he could do. People should stay together after all.
It was then that Mercel asked him about food and the fact that she was getting hungry. "That's right, I almost forgot that your kind gets hungry as well. Hm... let me see." For a moment he considered feeding the girl some of the delicious rockworms that his kind find oh so good, but then he realized perhaps that wouldn't be the best thing for such a young girl to eat. Thinking for a bit, the blue bird realized perhaps there is something for her to enjoy. Taking flight, the blue bird flew up into the branches up high, disappearing for but a moment only to return shortly with a branch with three red strange fruit. Placing the branch onto the ground, the bird snapped them off and rolled one towards Mercel before he began to speak.
"It's a Gomta Fruit. Very sweet, but filling. I think you'll like it. They are easy to open, even with your hands, and the insides are very pretty as well. Tastes even better, too," spoke the bird before he gently split open his Gomta fruit and began to eat the purple insides. "Also, I don't actually have a name to be honest. Never really had one nor needed a reason for one, if you want to give me one, I wouldn't mind."
As for the last Gomta fruit, it just sat there... probably waiting for a certain someone to catch up.
edited 21st Apr '15 9:44:16 PM by Patchis
"...Maybe he just wants some hot cocoa... No? How about some water?" -Later- "HE AIN'T THIRSTY! HE HUNGRY FOR ME DAMN IT!"At the sound of the strange bird's call, Jacques stopped right there.
What does that strange bird want with me? Unless...
He decided to run back, just in case something had happened...
I swear, I can't ever get a break, either here or back home.
He paced himself this time, and managed to get there without running out of breath much.
He looks at the little girl again.
"Look, I'm SORRY. But it seems your bird friend over there wants me to follow it. Also, I don't quite like feeling like I'm the bad guy in this here equation. Please, can you at least accept that? The most sincere apology I could possibly give?"
"Honestly? I come from a place quite unlike this one... a place with only one sun and whose planets you can't see with the naked eye. Where trees are much smaller" says Susan, taking a little step back before she started talking, given the invasion of her space... her feet gingerly keeping her balance on the branch "A place with nothing but humans to talk with. A world where the greatest warrior alive can be slain by the most wretched pauper with the pull of a finger..." she says this last fact with a look of true melancholy and frustration on her face.
"I was in a city... in my home, away from all wilderness where in my dreams a voice spoke to me... and offered to take me away from that place of hard truths, of rigid laws and take me somewhere... where things are different. I woke up less than an hour back near the base of this tree, to look upon this blue sky to be captivated by it's sheer, beautiful blue"
"That is the truth, believe it or not" she says, bringing her hand again to her heart and the necklace there "I don't know why I was brought here beyond that I agreed to come"
Mercel picked the strange fruit up and held it to her nose, sniffing it a bit, before promptly taking a giant bite out of it, chewing with her mouth open. Mercel smiled a big toothy grin, some pieces of the fruit still stuck in her teeth. "Yummy!" Not wasting any time, Mercel began to gorge upon the fruit like a ravenous dog, not having tasted something as sweet in a long time.
After having satisfied her hunger in one swift sitting, Mercel thought back to what the bird had said before. "No name, huh? That's pretty sad." Mercel put her hand to her chin, looking around the area, thinking. "Hmm, what about... Terrapin, is that fine?"
The name Mercel had chosen was from an old story that her dad had told her when she was young. It was an odd tale about some turtle outwitting a trickster rabbit; she wasn't sure why she had thought this a fitting name for her new friend, but... it was just right.
After having received the birds response, Mercel began to skip on the road towards the town, whistling whilst her hair hopped back and forth; her father's walking stick stuck in the back of her "Clothing", the tip of it poking out above her head, swaying back and forth like a drunkard, imitating its owner."Come on, let's go! There are so many new things to see," Mercel said, grinning like a maniac... before she was interrupted by the man, again, making her shriek.
She hid behind her friend, again... Asking him a question, "Is he telling the truth, friend? Do you really want him to follow us?"
edited 21st Apr '15 10:58:36 PM by OhBoyTime
When in Houl'Jin...do as the Mongas do.
Hayate was taken aback by the Monga's declaration, but nodded in agreement.
I'm a kid and a thief...okay, so maybe the second bit isn't really applicable yet in Kite, but I'm still kinda young to be married! He thought. Or is the age of consent lower below 16 here?
Looking at the Honey-covered Grog eye (which looked exactly like its name), Hayate gave a mental shrug, and ate it.
Whoa! The black-haired teen's eyes shot wide open with surprise as he chewed. This doesn't taste like anything I've ever had, but...its hell of a lot better than some of the shit I've had.
"I'm don't really know how to describe it...But it's pretty good." Hayate said, grinning at the cub. "You were right Timbey, Grog eye does taste better than it looks."
edited 21st Apr '15 11:10:41 PM by svenorzokarkoff
"E-Eh? How I H-Heard you...? W-Well... I can choose to mute C-Certain things... And only hear others... I only heard at those moments footsteps, alarming sounds like branches breaking and uhm, voices..." Kirrian shifted uncomfortably. Hell, even HE knew nothing of what it was and just went off of assumptions here. "U-Uh... I D-D-Don't think it's safe to k-keep waiting around here...."
Bola's eyes continue to stare, not moving his sights from you for not even a second. Tilting his head he listens to your story, although his stern face makes it hard to tell if he believes you or not, until he suddenly reaches out grasps the necklace around your neck with his mighty hand.
Leaning in, he examines it and stares, sniffing it with his large nose that is twice your own nose's size. Letting go and standing tall on his two legs, the black lion man lets out a purr of delight before giving off a slobbering lick across your face with his pink tongue.
"Your story is strange, as is your clothes and your trophies," says Bola as he points to your necklace and your clothes. "I take it magic brought you here from one of your human settlements. As for voices speaking to you in your dreams, you are probably a fool for thinking that they are real."
Relaxing and putting away the double-sided dagger, Bola eases his eyes and looks at you in a not-so-threatening way. "I am Bola, and I live in this forest. Now, I take it that you are pretty lost, for a human who was brought here?"
"What kind of questions do you have?"
Seems as if Bola and you have got off to a good start. Let's try and keep it that way, shall we? Anyway, you can probably take this opportunity to ask the large lion hunter many questions about the forest, seeing as he has lived off of it for a long while. You could always ask him about the village, the inhabitants of the forest, or whatever else you may desire. The decisions are yours.
Terrapin paused a bit, before swaying his head and cawing a bit in embarrassment that he was found out. Eventually he looked at Mercel and nodded.
"It's true, plus he doesn't mean any harm, I believe, besides," Terrapin promptly rolled the Gomta fruit and plucked it into his mouth before shoving it into Jacques arms, almost as if telling him to eat it. "I did say I would protect you if trouble arose, didn't I?"
Returning to his post in front of Mercel, he rubbed his beak over her head, trying to calm the little girl as best as he could and reassuring her that everything would be alright. "I trusted you when you fed me... and you trusted me when I fed you the fruit... so wont you trust me again in this situation?"
It's the least I can do for being given such a lovely name... thought the bird to himself as he watched and waited to see what would happen next.
"Told ya so!" barked Timbey as he smiled as best as a bear could before bouncing up and down again.
The older grizzly simply grinned as he watched you dig into the rather large eye. "Glad to see a human actually eating the stuff, normally we don't see your kind touching it because it's too 'gross' looking. You got great manners kid, and a great appetite. If you'd like, I got other recipes you can try if you want. I got some really great stuff that'll knock you off your feet kiddo!"
"Dear, last time you cooked one of your original recipes the poor Goblin couldn't walk... we had to roll him out," murmured Simber to her husband.
"He was puny! This guy is a man... sort of, he can handle it. Tell you what boy, if you can prove me wrong and eat one of my Grogma Egg Soups, I'll let you stay here for the night for free. Deal?"
Simber simply shook her head and placed one of her paws to her face, before sighing aloud, while Timbey looks up at you and cheers, "Do it! I never seen a human take on Dad's cooking before!"
Something tells you that this might be a really terrible idea... however, at the same time, a free place to stay doesn't sound to bad either. Not only that, you haven't had any other indication of where to go next since the voice spoke to you and securing a place to stay for the night would probably be the best course of action. The decision is yours, after all.
edited 21st Apr '15 11:48:57 PM by Patchis
"...Maybe he just wants some hot cocoa... No? How about some water?" -Later- "HE AIN'T THIRSTY! HE HUNGRY FOR ME DAMN IT!""Aliens, huh? Technically ...yes. Since alien means unknown. We got here through unknown means. Which is a fancy way to say I at the least don't know how."Rickie pondered. Let's not mention the voice for now, can't risk one of these youths freaking out. He thought to himself. "We might find answers up there, but we should not dilly dally. If night falls and we've not found any kind of orientation or shelter whatsoever we might be in for a rough night, I tell you."
He finally said, before steeling himself and picking up the pace again towards the clearing, eyeing his surroundings.
Ced stared at Kirrian for a few seconds and thought, Fuck, Voice, when you said endless possibilities...I expected a little more...pizzazz. "Ok...so do you literally not hear anything except the sounds you want?" He reached his arm to seemingly scratch his back, but snapped instead as a test.
"Yeah, it's probably best if we get going. Smoke means civilization, usually." He began to follow the slightly older man. "So...what was life like for you guys, you know, before this."
The snap didn't affect Kirrian at all as he already had his back turned to cedric, but when he started talking on how it was before this...
"I uh... Was in, college." Was all they got out of him. It seems like even though nothing really bad happened Kirrian seems less than willing to share what his lifewas up until this point. "A-And you, R-Ricky?"
edited 22nd Apr '15 1:08:03 AM by Nickpws
OOC: When will we reach Namek...I mean the village??
"I used to wear them, but somehow my base sight is corrected now. Weird." Rickie pondered as he kept walking. "But not really my first concern right now. Nor why Kirrian seems to be able to manipulate sound. I have a theory about it, but I'll explain as soon as we reach that clearing. Really, this isn't the place to chat about what happened."
With that being said, Rickie doubled up his pace, not bothering to talk more.
edited 22nd Apr '15 2:52:44 AM by AtomicNut

Eyeing the man with distrust, Mercel began to edge away from him, lightly tapping her bird to make it follow. "That's fine, but don't follow me!" Mercel began to speed walk away from that location, looking back every now and then to see if he followed.
Once she thought she was a safe distance away, she let out a sigh of relief and sat down with her back against a tree, her bed sheets loosely crumpling against the rough bark. Looking into the amber eyes of her companion, Mercel felt a compulsion to touch its head, to make a deeper connection with the blue bird.
Mercel was pretty much operating on her instincts right now, following the flow of her compulsion. After initiating contact, she asked the all important question with her mind, the one the bird would need to accept to be hers. -Would you like to be my friend forever more? I would really like it if you did, but u-uh...- She stammered, slightly nervous, -Only if you want to, of course.-
The birds amber eyes were in stark contrast to Mercels as she sat there, her eyes locked with its. Waiting to see if it would accept or deny her request in its own special way.
edited 21st Apr '15 8:54:23 AM by OhBoyTime