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Post by Zaku on Dec 9, 2008 16:39:50 GMT -5
Within a few hours the snake creatures have built a formidable base. Walls and turrets adorn the wooden walls. Scouting teams are sent out into the forest to survey the area.
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Post by Christi on Dec 9, 2008 16:43:35 GMT -5
Aila rest down upon a branch near the area where she'd first seen the creatures, surprised by their progress. They had built a place for themselves so quickly and it seemed quite unfriendly to her. Her kinsmen were foolish indeed if they thought waiting to be the other option, but then they'd not seen them as she had and she certainly hadn't explained herself well enough.
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Post by Zaku on Dec 9, 2008 16:58:21 GMT -5
She can see patrols and scouting teams heading into the forest.
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Post by Christi on Dec 9, 2008 17:00:52 GMT -5
This was not good. She had to make it back before they came across the tiny village and she'd have to make her kinsmen listen to her for once. She may not have been too fond of their overt cautiousness with things, but they were still her family and friends. She pushed off of the branch to start back for the village, a bit weary of her travels back and forth... for someone larger, the distance was not that great, but for her size it was akin to miles.
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Post by Zaku on Dec 9, 2008 17:03:04 GMT -5
None of scouting parties are heading in the direction of the village yet. But it's probably only a matter of time.
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Post by Christi on Dec 9, 2008 17:49:36 GMT -5
Aila made her way back, pausing a moment to rest on one of the toadstool tops to catch her breath. Once her breathing was back to normal and her heart rate had slowed more, she slipped down from the fungi and head back into the village. Some how she was going to have to try to convince them to leave behind this haven and move on to more safer areas.They had no blood-feuds with any other of the clans and she was sure that one or another would welcome them into refuge. The problem now was how to get them to listen. She pondered this as she head back for Iya's. She'd call a meeting of the elders and get the whole village there to listen and tell them exactly what she'd seen. And if they didn't listen... well, she was sure there'd be some who would follow her and the rest who would be too stubborn to believe it or too cowardly to leave the safety of their home would have to deal with the consequences.
"Aila child, you better not have gone back to that place when I'd strictly said we would wait," Iya claimed when the troublesome young Wisp had pushed quite rudely through the door, barely making sense with her excited babbling.
"Its true though Iya-elder," Aila said respectfully, "I knew they would be trouble and I thought it unwise to wait. I know you think me rash for my actions but would you rather be found and captured like insects by the Swallow's beak?"
Iya thought this over. While it was true that the child brought more trouble upon them than it was worth, she had found many useful things for them in her wanders and if these beings had brought concern to this little one who seemed not to know the concept of fear, then perhaps it had best be examined and then decided on what to do. "Very well, I will call a council and you will tell us all of what you've seen. Go send word of the meeting and I will contact the others. We'll decide from there what must be done."
Aila gave a respectful bow before hurrying off to call her kinsmen to the square for discussion.
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Post by Zaku on Dec 9, 2008 17:56:42 GMT -5
She hears loud booms and strange noises from the forest.
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Post by Christi on Dec 9, 2008 18:14:42 GMT -5
The people of the village that had begun to huddle around the square talked in hushed and worried tones, wondering what exactly was going on to cause such a noise and why it was the elders had called a council.
Aila paced the small twig podium as she waited impatiently for the elders to show. Theres no doubt they'd decide it would be best to flee the area if such noises continued. Perhaps someday she'd be hailed as a hero as well, written into the lore of her people. After what seemed like an eternity, the elders finally showed though most seemed none to pleased at the summons.
"Now tell us child, what have you seen and just why do you think it constitutes a threat," Iya said in motion for her to begin her story.
Aila launched into her story, telling them all about these strange snake creatures she'd seen along with the strange objects that she was hard-pressed to describe. The frowns of the elders deepened as she neared the end of what she had to say.
"And all of this is true child?" Iya asked in a concerned manner. Certainly it seemed like it would be of trouble to the village so they come upon them.
"Yes Iya-elder, every bit of it. They have some of their people exploring the area as we speak. When I saw this I came back as quickly as I could to warn everyone," Aila said, relieved that they had finally started to take her seriously.
"This is indeed troublesome... but how to you suppose we could move everyone from the village? It would take days to prepare all we needed and not all may want to leave," Iya replied, thinking it would yield much chaos.
"There isn't time. They must grab only what they need and food can be found along the way. We can ask for refuge with one of the neighbouring clans. We have no quarrel with any so we should not be turned down. As for those that would stay behind, may the Great Mother have mercy and protect them from these beings," Aila said, exasperated that they were still talking about it and not getting started with packing already.
Iya regarded her before huddling with the other elders to discuss what had been said, weary of the the repercussions this could have. After a moment they broke apart and Iya called everyone to attention, "It has been decided then... of us eleven, six have voted that we should leave at once and five have passed this off as trivial. If any of you would choose to stay, then do so at your own risk." Upon having said that, she turned to the girl before her, "This is in your hands now. You know the forest better than we. You will have to lead us in safe passage and act as a leader. We will see to it that your words are listened to."
"Yes Iya-elder, I will do my best," Aila said with a respectful bow.
"Go then, pack only what you need and leave the rest. Our lives are more precious then the items we possess," Iya said, waving off the crowd.
"Meet at the toadstools where I will be waiting and be quick about it," Aila called over her shoulder, already headed for the outer boundary as the crowd began to disperse. This would be a long and arduous journey indeed.
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Post by Zaku on Dec 9, 2008 18:33:06 GMT -5
Aila sees one of the snake men far in the distance. It's going parallel to the village so there is no danger of it discovering the village. It seems to be in a panic. He is covered in blood that obviously belongs to someone else. He seems to be fleeing as well. Something is obviously hunting him.
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Post by Christi on Dec 9, 2008 18:39:30 GMT -5
Aila paused her pacing for a moment, earning glances from the few that had already made there way to the boundary to await the rest. The beings were still a bit off, and in her opinion it was better those beings then her kinsmen, but she couldn't help but wonder if what was after him would be of more danger to her people as they fled from the village or if they need worry about it at all. She was left to think about this as more of the village clan trickled into the group, carrying few of their belongings with some of the younger children crying in fear. She would give them another few minutes at most, but they had been warned to hurry. The last few could always catch up and the rest she would have to assume had stayed. Before long, over three quarters of the village had gathered by the boundary with the six elders that had voted to leave. With no others appearing to me joining the group, she decided that it was time to start. Aila gave a loud whistle to call them attention, warning them not to stray from the group and to be on guard as anything might happen and began out of the village with her frightened kinsmen in tow. She had decided that they would follow the ground for the time being until she was sure they would not be spotted so easily and could take flight.
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Post by Zaku on Dec 9, 2008 18:55:41 GMT -5
She hears a scream from the woods. Seems another one was caught.
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Post by Christi on Dec 9, 2008 19:02:37 GMT -5
Aila was on edge now, wondering what manner of being was after these strange creatures. She had taken on the duty of keeping her people safe and they were depending on her, but surely this would be something out of her league. She considered briefly on having them wait hidden nearby while she scouted ahead to see, but decided it would be better to stay in the group. They were looking to her for strength and would quite likely panic if she left them. She would have to watch vigilantly then and be ready to call for a scramble for safety should something turn up. None spoke and even the children were quiet as she scanned the area in every which way that she could as they walked. She would lead them to the clan that lived near the lake outside of the forest first, and if they were turned down then there were the crystal caverns she knew of from travellers that had stopped to rest at their village before continuing on.
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Post by Zaku on Dec 9, 2008 19:07:07 GMT -5
Eventually they come upon the corpse of one of the snake creatures. It looks like something speared it from the back and then the head. The blows where precise, clean and efficient. The angle of the wounds dictate that whatever attacked it came from above.
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Post by Christi on Dec 9, 2008 19:12:21 GMT -5
Was the creature that had attacked them something that could fly then? This troubled Aila as they often relied on their own flight to escape the land bound creatures that tried to prey upon them. She could only hope that whatever it was, it would hold no interest in her group and they would be left in good health. Even so, she had to keep a tight reign on the group and press them onwards as the body had cause for some doubt as to whether they would survive the trip and once panic had broken out among her kinsmen, she knew it would be nigh impossible to calm them down.
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Post by Zaku on Dec 9, 2008 19:18:39 GMT -5
Eventually she sees another survey team in the distance. This one does not seem to have been attacked yet.
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