the-raptors-lore

[the-raptors-lore]

While Brine reminisced of old conflicts, a crossway that changed him and led to his present self- Sol was fuming.

Did he just hear right? If it were easy it wouldn't be fun? Of course it would be, he thought! He wanted a tussle not a challenge. A bit of roughhousing, not a confrontation. He wasn't that eager to just win a fight. Not out of necessity nor out of spite, although it would be nice to call victory over a fellow herobrine.

He has nothing to fight for except a bit of fun. He just wanted to rid himself of the spiraling thoughts in his head. Just a small distraction. He's done of the shallow repeating thoughts and endless ramblings in his mind. He does not think when he fights- for what purpose when most prior fights were always decided within seconds with only few exceptions.

Mortals were fragile after all. While Brine could easily be mistaken for one if it weren't for his eyes, he deemed more resilient and combat trained than Sol could've anticipated. Who thought someone with such a soft aura who has only shown kindness and patience could pack a punch quite like that.

It's not that Sol didn't want to win this fight and beat Brine. He simply didn't want the fight to end too soon- Sure, they exchanged some beats and kicks so far, but they just started after all.

[...]

With a low growl the younger brine brought himself to stand again. He's still unsure where the power scale settles, neither know what the other can do in full extend. Still, he knows he can't take too many hits- he can't afford being thrown around like that.

They may not be on equal footing, but this is just for fun. Right? Any fight is for fun in Sol's eyes, although he isn't too eager in fighting those superior to him and getting stomped. Still this fight is between friends not foes. Why not sprinkle in some of his own flaire?

"Well, that's easy for you to say!" Sol's voice blarred, more boisterous than before, and he pointed a confrontig claw at Brine. "Toying with me, aren't you? Throwing me around like a ragdoll? You seem to enjoy this plenty already! Grinning like a viscious animal-"

"You want this to be fun? Then how about you get your head on my level, your highness." Starring Brine down with a piercing sneer, Sol inclined down in one smooth movement, giving him a deep exaggerated bow that appears a little too practiced to be foreign to Sol.

Giving Brine no time to react, he moves to close the distance between them. Before Brine could say a thing he fills the space with his own voice. "Stop talking like you know me! You have no idea what I'm about."

Continued from this post with @dozen-arrows-in-my-chest !

Brine could see that squinting of Sol’s eyes, that familiar face of not being able to see. The little Demi-Deity saw he had a chance whilst the other herobrine was down. Brine could see the faces Sol made and the possible frustrations those brows gave way to despite his toothy grin. Those punches held a lot of weight in them, that much he could read. But if only Sol had realized where his legs were and not his hands.

With a devious chuckle and a wide smile, Brine decided to see what he could really do. The old Aetherian Warrior instincts were strong, and before Sol could fully gain his bearings, Brine reached down to grab one of his legs.

After smiling with all his sharper canines bared, and as hard as he could, Brine hoisted his opponent over his head. He could feel the rush of what he wanted to try next flooding through his mind, so he quickly turned on his heels and dropped into a crouch.

Brine sprung up from his spot after watching Sol fall for only a moment, then bringing his leg up into a powerful blow to the other brine’s back. As he fell back down, he could hardly wait to see what the other brine would try next. It had been such a long time since he had had a good fight, but he had a feeling that maybe Sol wasn’t as good at fighting as he made himself out to be.

- - -

[You know, I had a lot of ideas where I wanted to do with this next part, but I’m very genuinely happy how this came out!

My partner jokingly said Brine should have just jumped on Sol as hard as he could. HEE HOO.]

[the-raptors-lore]

So- she never turned undead after her death. Or were ghosts like allays also considered undead? What makes it so some turn into walking corpses, some turn to ghosts and others turn into nothing at all? Before a headache could manifest, Sirius stopped himself from thinking too much about it. He knew nothing about the topic, nor was it any use to him.

"Syrus-", Sirus repeated. "'Father' Syrus- Orchid mentioned him before. The cleric?" He didn't exactly pay that much attention when he first met Orchid and she told of her upbringing in a village among villagers. Although it's likely he didn't remember Syrus' name for the story's sake, but from the moment the creation of god' apples slipped out. The cleric was the one to teach her how, if he didn't misremember.

Sirius didn't budge from his spot when the vex came flying back into the room. He just wondered briefly where the other allay was left, before moving his attention back to Jenny.

"No wonder she had it rough out there. She was never taught how to fight, was she?", he asked, watching Orchid's uneasy stirring. Who knows how long she struggled on her own out there.

"Are all of you from that village?" With 'you all' meaning all the other spirits as well that only briefly appeared when they met. After a pause to consider how to voice his questions, he made a motion with his hand and continued. "Since you stuck at her side, I guess throughout her life, what happened then? I'll assume everyone was killed there in the village at some point. Otherwise she wouldn't be in the wilderness alone unprepared like that if there was a place to return to."

@the-raptors-lore

The allay looked up to the Illager "Ah I'm sure you're not used to talking to spirits... but yes, I am... or rather was alive once." Jenny started to speak to Sirius."And this may surprise you, but I was a Villager when I was alive. In fact; Betty, Mathew, and the rest of us that follow Orchid were all villagers when we were alive..."

She floated to be close to eye level with the Illager. "As for how I died, well... childbirth is always a health risk." She looked sad for a moment."I never got to see my child after they were born... and if I had known that I wouldn't wake back up, I would have asked to see them." She then perked back up."But the next thing I knew, I was digging myself out of sand and found a baby laying close by. It wasn't hard to figure out that I dug myself of my own grave, but for someone to leave a newborn out in the sands like that was very neglectful..." She looks to Sirius."I never met an Illager in my living life, but I doubt that they would willingly just leave a newborn like that all alone..."

She sounded as if looking for hope that she was right, that Illagers wouldn't just leave a newborn out in the wilds like that...

"... right...? "

[the-raptors-lore]

Gonna reblog that here too since he's kinda the main RP guy rn lmao, considering there's only one active

|| Oh right, I also finished this guy and his steed's refs for artfight.

|| Beep Boop

|| https://artfight.net/character/4021710.sirius

|| https://artfight.net/character/4021727.silas

[the-raptors-lore]

Sirius wasn't sure if it was comforting to have it confirmed that the spirits had been merely people or if it made it more terrifying. He didn't expect to hear of her death- Losing your life while giving birth is such an ironic way to go. Waking back up from the dead, likewise, is an unnerving thought.

He gave the question a moment of thought, letting his eyes wander across the vines and shelves along the walls stopping to look outside. The rain still falling in small waves, speckling the windows in raindrops.

"That... isn't a custom where I am from, if that eases your mind at all," Sirius started cautiously but honestly. He gave the allay a look just to move his attention away again. Staying positive isn't always his strong suit, even with Jenny's pleading eyes putting pressure on him. "But I can't deny that other communities might do such a thing- Cull the weak. Nurish the strong. I haven't heard of mothers just leaving their children wherever in the wilderness. Especially not newborn infants. Near a grave."

"Most usually fall in their teen years, on their first patrol or under harsher training. Then they still have chances to prove their skills or intuiton. Younger than that though? Even illagers spare the young, but I can imagine if times are dire, they just couldn't care for any more children and kept the ones that could fight. Something could've happened to the mother and the others couldn't care for it. Maybe it was just negligence."

"I don't know what to tell you." He finally looked back at her and simply gave her a halfhearted shrug. "I can't say it's impossible to happen. I don't know how much villagers and illagers differ in that regard."

After giving it a pause he spoke up again to get back on track of the story. "What happened to the baby? Were you, like... a zombie at that point?"

@the-raptors-lore

The allay looked up to the Illager "Ah I'm sure you're not used to talking to spirits... but yes, I am... or rather was alive once." Jenny started to speak to Sirius."And this may surprise you, but I was a Villager when I was alive. In fact; Betty, Mathew, and the rest of us that follow Orchid were all villagers when we were alive..."

She floated to be close to eye level with the Illager. "As for how I died, well... childbirth is always a health risk." She looked sad for a moment."I never got to see my child after they were born... and if I had known that I wouldn't wake back up, I would have asked to see them." She then perked back up."But the next thing I knew, I was digging myself out of sand and found a baby laying close by. It wasn't hard to figure out that I dug myself of my own grave, but for someone to leave a newborn out in the sands like that was very neglectful..." She looks to Sirius."I never met an Illager in my living life, but I doubt that they would willingly just leave a newborn like that all alone..."

She sounded as if looking for hope that she was right, that Illagers wouldn't just leave a newborn out in the wilds like that...

"... right...? "

[the-raptors-lore]

'You aplogise a whole lot for nothing,' he meant to comment, but decided against it, letting Betty continue with introductions.

They have names- For some reason that fact surprised Sirius. He thought them annoying before, but now they appeared quite lifely now that he understood them.

He couldn't put in words what exactly he expected allays and vexes to sound like other than undead. Void of personality and individuality, giggles and screeches, really. What even are souls other than leftovers from dead things? Echos, if anything. Floating around like noisy bugs or someones pet.

The moment he understood their words, his view was flipped sideways and back. Thinking for another moment while the allay and vex departed, the illager gave sleeping Orchid a brief glance.

"I suppose we aren't leaving too soon anyway." He spoke half-exasperated from impatience and the situation at hand. Picking up a stranger just to be sent on a side-quest by a third unknown party via letter wasn't exactly on his day plan.

"I guess I have time to listen to your backstory."

"Though- Are you, like.... people?" He had no problems interrogating people for information, with force if need be, but asking questions to a tiny floating blue ghost just made him feel silly.

( My turn; @the-raptors-lore )

She nodded her head lightly. It will probably cost a fortune for what she as done for her... "Thank you." Orchid gave her a weak small smile. "I wish to give you something in return... and don't worry about the clothes, they are to worn beyond fixing..." she gave a slight laugh as she moved both hands to bring forth a satchual from her magical inventory. A trick her mentor showed her...

She opened the bag to show a few small pouches as well as what looked like folded lightly blue cloth with a little silver. She reached in without looking and pulled out a apple shaped object wrapped in dark cloth.

"I want you to have this... for saving my life." Orchid smiled.

It was an enchanted golden apple. The magic still strong as if it was made fresh...

The old Allay with the hat flew up and to the door, wanting to check up on Sirius...

[the-raptors-lore]

Gwyn seemed to have left the room- perhaps to tend to the aforementioned soup or to brew new medicine once Orchid slept.

The new voices almost took Sirius by surprise. The gifted artifact wasn't a hoax after all and actually worked. He expected some drawback as magic items tend to have, but the voices were clear. Yet he could swear he still heard the chimes and whistles underneath.

He practically leered at each of them as they spoke. He'd much rather get going now that they got to rest for a moment rather than chat with Orchids' little familiars, but to his mild annoyance he found the other illager fast asleep. His first thought was to shake her awake but he reconsidered. He doubts Gwyn would be happy for messing with one of her patients, nor does he think Orchid's little "guardians" would let him near her.

He briefly glanced at the glowing pendant tied to his belt before turning his attention back to the spirits.

"I can hear you, actually. Now I do anyway," he started reluctantly. Communicating with spirits is a first for him, even if it's rather simple. "I couldn't understand your yapping before. Since you're eager to stick around may elaborate what's the deal with you guys?"

Sirius did wonder before why these allays and vexes appeared seemingly without Orchid summoning them. A few disappeared, he believed naturally so. Especially Vexes as they aren't made to last. But these two allays and the vex had been circling around on the whole way here and still stuck around with their supposed wielder unconscious. Orchid didn't seem to have an answer to why these followed her. It was his best shot to just ask them directly now that he can.

( My turn; @the-raptors-lore )

She nodded her head lightly. It will probably cost a fortune for what she as done for her... "Thank you." Orchid gave her a weak small smile. "I wish to give you something in return... and don't worry about the clothes, they are to worn beyond fixing..." she gave a slight laugh as she moved both hands to bring forth a satchual from her magical inventory. A trick her mentor showed her...

She opened the bag to show a few small pouches as well as what looked like folded lightly blue cloth with a little silver. She reached in without looking and pulled out a apple shaped object wrapped in dark cloth.

"I want you to have this... for saving my life." Orchid smiled.

It was an enchanted golden apple. The magic still strong as if it was made fresh...

The old Allay with the hat flew up and to the door, wanting to check up on Sirius...

[the-raptors-lore]

[[... I've been possessed

[the-raptors-lore]

For a moment Sirius though the bright bird flying into the hut was still part of a fleeting dream. Even after rubbing his face to usher away the lingering sleep from his shortlived nap, the bird remained along with the items it brought in. He would've never guessed these birds to be used to courier letters.

Upon reading the message, unbothered by misspelled words or misshapen letters, Sirius had to pause and consider for a good while.

Alexander- Well, that isn't a name he recognises and if the letter spoke true then Orchid wouldn't either. He didn't expect her to have a stalker following her. It almost seemed like a secret admirer of Orchid's if the mention of a bigger threat wasn't mentioned along the passages.

It indeed didn't concern the illager. He heard enough stories of impending doom and catastrophies to come- for some to turn out true and others not. If there were dragons, beasts and new monsters at the rise, he wouldn't go out of his way to stop it. Afterall, he isn't a hero who's concerned with saving strangers- let alone the world.

All the while, Sirius wouldn't brush away the generous gift left for him, especially if it was something unique as a new invention. Turning the pendant in his hands, he didn't really see any use in it except the added passive protection. He wasn't one to mingle with magic or lost souls. He could sell it, exchange it for supplies later-

Certainly, there is a good amount of scepticism lingering in the back of his mind. He himself never felt attuned to magic. An item not demanding certain skills or expertise in that field to work makes him doubt it'll do anything in the first place. An enchanters tome doesn't do much unless you know how to handle it. An artifact rendered useless unless you know how to fuel it.

For an item to have such a long effect duration yet only needs a fraction of the time to recharge on it's own sounds too good to be true. One won't know unless he tried it. It'll last a week according to the letter and he could freely spare a day to regenrate the energy, no big deal, according to the letter.

With a nonchalant press on the button, the artifact lit up, but remained rather unimpressive to the illager. With a deep exhale Sirius brought himself to stand up and stetch. There's no time to linger and watch a piece of jewlery to do something fancy. If Orchid recovered well enough, he'd much rather get back on the road. The sooner the better. With that thought he'd saunter along the doors to join the others, and check on his temporary companion. The faint glow of the translator, now haphazardly attached to his belt, following each of his steps as he left the bird behind.

( My turn; @the-raptors-lore )

She nodded her head lightly. It will probably cost a fortune for what she as done for her... "Thank you." Orchid gave her a weak small smile. "I wish to give you something in return... and don't worry about the clothes, they are to worn beyond fixing..." she gave a slight laugh as she moved both hands to bring forth a satchual from her magical inventory. A trick her mentor showed her...

She opened the bag to show a few small pouches as well as what looked like folded lightly blue cloth with a little silver. She reached in without looking and pulled out a apple shaped object wrapped in dark cloth.

"I want you to have this... for saving my life." Orchid smiled.

It was an enchanted golden apple. The magic still strong as if it was made fresh...

The old Allay with the hat flew up and to the door, wanting to check up on Sirius...

[the-raptors-lore]

"Oh, no no-," the witch swiftly placed both her hands on Orchid's and declined the offer as she pushed the gift back gently. She nearly stumbled over her next words the instance she felt the tingle of electrifying magic in her fingers as she touched down on the fabric. "Don't worry your little head over it. Ah- I treated worse, believe it or not! S-strong potions can do wonders if used right."

Gwyndolin's demeanor didn't change a bit, but there was a mischevious twinkle in her eyes as she paused. While she brushed Orchid's offer aside, she wasn't oblivious to what power the item held. No one has reason to cover up just a regular apple let alone try to pay with it. She didn't quite catch the implications; How the illager got a, so labeled, 'god apple' in the first place, what the robes in her bag told of her profession, why Sirius was intent to safe her- He didn't talk in depth with her as seems, nor did he tell her of Orchid's background. Gwyn was left in the dark.

"I'll talk with the big guy about payment. He's the one who brought you in after all and he has a job that actually pays him. So, don't worry about it." she gave Orchid's hand a few encouraging pats before she withdrew her own.

"You weren't caught in a battle or torn apart by beasts- You still have all your limbs! Heh- Your case wasn't too complicated in comparision. A bit scratched up, roughed up, tumbled, hurt and hungry, restless- Got lost in the wilds I'd assume?"

"You might actually be good to go after you rested up and ate something," she mused on, her voice clear and inviting, mirroring familiar villager courtesy as she put her hands together in a familiar gesture. "I have some mushroom stew cooking up in my cauldron- if you don't mind some oddball ingredients in there." She let out a chuckle with a hint of mischief, before she'd finally give Orchid time to take everything in.

[---]

On the allays detour out of the room she'd find herself in a hallway connecting to various rooms. Their doors were ajar and tempting any prying eye to peek inside.

A room filled with dried plants, slivers of metal shavings, spider eyes and other curious ingrediences surrounding flasks and bubbling liquids cooking on glowings stands. The room's centerpiece was a big plain cauldron although it seemed empty and the fire below snuffed out. The brewing room.

Another door at the far end of the hall leading to an empty room, a bed with a cat plush lovingly spotted with soot set atop of it and orderly folded clothes laid aside- except one pile thrown astrew.

Moving on, then a storage for everything not a plant or useful for brewing, and next to it a tiny in-doors garden for festering netherwart. Still, no Sirius in sight.

The hut wasn't too big, rooms woven tight alongside another, but it had rooms for every need. A non-brewing kitchen, although equally adorned with plants and oddities not meant to conventional cooking, a considerably smaller cauldron holds the warm soup ready for hungry guests. Through the windows a stable elevated above the murky waters of the swamps can be seen.

The warm comfortable atmosphere followed each room although each and every of them were touroughly cluttered.

The illager was lastly found in the only adjacent room left to explore. The entrance with seats for anxious family or impatient guests. The chimes of the Allay as it flew about made him jolt, waking him from a bored nap he fell into while he waited on updates. Sirius merely mustered the Allay, observing it for a moment, expecting to be met with either good or bad news.

( My turn; @the-raptors-lore )

She nodded her head lightly. It will probably cost a fortune for what she as done for her... "Thank you." Orchid gave her a weak small smile. "I wish to give you something in return... and don't worry about the clothes, they are to worn beyond fixing..." she gave a slight laugh as she moved both hands to bring forth a satchual from her magical inventory. A trick her mentor showed her...

She opened the bag to show a few small pouches as well as what looked like folded lightly blue cloth with a little silver. She reached in without looking and pulled out a apple shaped object wrapped in dark cloth.

"I want you to have this... for saving my life." Orchid smiled.

It was an enchanted golden apple. The magic still strong as if it was made fresh...

The old Allay with the hat flew up and to the door, wanting to check up on Sirius...

[the-raptors-lore]

"You had the luck to be brought straight to my home! I am used to people sending their sick to me, so it's hardly inconveniencing me." With a whimsical flourish Gwyndolin inclined her head in a half-bow, arms spread out to present the room they're in. "You can say you're in my humble, makeshift infirmary."

As Orchid took the scenery in, she could find empty beds placed against the wall across her. The walls were decorated with roots and flowering vines of varying colours, shelves filled with curious herbs, lightly singed books and, most prominently, plenty of flasks filled with curious swirling liquids inside. The light filtering through tiny windows reflected the murky greens of the marshes behind. It's drizzling outside. Despite the bleak scenery outdoors, the interior feels warm and oddly comforting.

"Oh, that brute?" She waves her hand dismissively, although in a playful manner. "I sent him outside while I did my witch-y duty to patch you back up. I even generously sacrificed a shirt of mine for you. I just couldn't let you rest and heal in those tattered clothes of yours." Speaking true, Orchid's old torn attire seemed to have been replaced with comfortable homewear for the time being, all tinted in a muted red. The bandages too were renewed and hold an outlandishly sweet smell to it. One of sour honey, a foreign herbal scent and something akin to soot. "Your old clothes are in the cabinet beside you. I... wasn't really sure if you wanted to keep them or not."

"It's good to see you alive- I mean so lively! Oh, your friends here were so worried sick! It was heartbreaking, you looked beyond battered, beaten, suffering, sick!" she exclaimed with played dread in her voice while she took hold of the brim of her hat. Immediately letting go of it, she continued without missing a beat, cheerful as before: "But be assured, if you feel your fever flare up, feel free to drink the potion to your side. It doesn't fix you immediately, but it relieves pressure on your head. Alleviates dizziness and nausea. You should be altogether stable again thanks to my relentless efforts."

Continuation from this!

@alphatimeline-orchid

‐---------------------------------------------

"No offense taken," Sirius reassured her unbothered and merely shrugged his shoulders. He's the one who worded it like that; from experience nonetheless.

A sound left him when Orchid mentioned her encounter with camping illagers. It could've been anything from an amused exhale to a scoff.

"No wonder. Most groups are based on- mh, let’s say respect. You gotta butt your heads with them, show 'em what you got, grow some horns. Otherwise none is going to accept you being around," he chimed in to lecture her. It was such a small natural rule he was familiar with from a young age, but Orchid simply didn't experience such.

"Being all…" He pauses again, looking Orchid over. "Soft and passive and all talk doesn't really speak to most." He wouldn't consider her particularly dangerous or physically strong by the looks; and the rowdy and the rough love to pick on those who feign innocence.

[...]

The Allay disrupting Orchid mid speech, the Vex jumping into position, but mostly the sudden wave of dread emitting from them had Sirius alarmed in an instant. Instinctively reaching for the crossbow at his side, stopping only pixels away from it, he registered this wasn't an attempt for a strike but a slip up in Orchid' muttered words.

He froze in place, peering at her. There was a heavy pause as he questioned himself if he even heard right. This couldn't be true, he must've misheard. Such apples can't be crafted if that's what she meant to say out loud.

Still, there is no doubt. Keeping his eyes on her, Orchids expression alongside her little guardians whizzing about like bees protecting their nest spoke for itself. A secret he wasn't meant to overhear.

He slowly dropped his guard again, straightening up ever so slowly. This wasn't the time to interrogate her. Not out here. They've lingered too long in one place for his liking anyway.

"... Speaking of healers. You might wanna see one," he changed the subject almost nonchalantly. Even if he assumed a neutral pose, leaving his hands in the open, away from the weapons at his side, the air felt heavy; too heavy to take a breath or relax just yet.

Without another word he turned and walked up to his ravager, leaving Orchid to herself for a moment. He'd nudge Silas in the sides with his knee to prompt her to pay attention, who in turn decided to ignore him. Chewing on the rest of the hay bale now enclosed in the beast's jaws, she only answered with varied growls and drawn out rumbles, complaining furiously.

Catching his foot in the stirrup, Sirius mounted the ravager in one smooth movement. An easy move while Silas was laying.

Even if he wasn't looking at her, his attention was on Orchid at all times, he listened for movement, her shuffling, the chimes of her companions, any step she'd take, until he turned to adress her.

“Come on. I know someone who can fix you up. I think you'll like them,” he spoke almost too calmly for comfort. Giving her an encouraging nod towards the free space behind him, he outstretched his hand just in case she'd need it. 

Sirius has been considerably nicer than others and had made an effort to help out a stranger, but there's no chance to read his intentions now. Orchid's slip up in words might have tipped the scales to warrant his suspicion, or he truly didn't hear or believe her.

With Sirius' legs crossed once again, sitting on a ravager who isn't too eager to get up just yet, this would be Orchid's chance if she decided to run. On the other hand, if the illager spoke true and did intend to bring her to safety, then this might be her only chance to heal up and rest properly; finally giving her a break from danger.

[the-raptors-lore]

"Hah, you sound so eager to hear about it all of the sudden," he barked a short laugh. Who knew she'd be interested in hearing an illager tale. Sirius hummed a tune and took the moment to think how he'd want to start, suddenly more at ease since they are on the move.

"The tribe I came from is pretty small, but it is told that there once were hundreds of us," he starts slowly. "We didn't differ from other illagers. Trekking from one place to the other, patrolling, raiding, with a big mansion in the middle, the usual. We thrived."

It appears he's mostly reminiscing at first, switching topics at a whim, dropping a few names and moving on, telling of Illager shenanigans, before he actually gets to the meat of the tale.

"Filled with the vigor of battle, the most honoured warriors couldn't tell friend from foe. The fight turned red and the tribe was nearly massacred by its own people. In an attempt to every spellcaster and the ones attuned to magic called forth spirits that then blessed each of our people with a star in exchange for their magic." While Orchid couldn't see it while positioned behind him, he tapped his forehead as if to ephasise the clear analogy. "Not literally, but-" He meant to continue to the resolution, but that was when Orchid cut him off.

"I just mean to say that there aren't many of us anymore and-" He got interrupted again by Orchids muttering.

"Hah, don't tell me the mention of bloody battle was too scary for y-", he tried to shrug Orchids struggles off, but before he could finish the sentence or actually stop to ask if she felt alright, he already felt her fall into his back.

"Hey! Don't die on me!" He flinched, snapping his fingers over his shoulders trying for her to react- to no avail. The Allay and Vex making a fuzz stress even more that it's an emergency.

"Get out of my face-" Practically swatting at the frantically chittering Allay, Sirius shifted in his position to sit sideways to take a hold of Orchid. "I know, I know! I don't know what's wrong with her. Just stop the squeaking." All he did was to lay her down onto the ravagers back and keep her steady so she didn't fall. That's all he could do.

Sirius, accepting that he doesn't have the knowledge or supplies to help, could only to sit tight. Even Silas at some point noticed the tense situation and sped up to a trot, causing for a rougher ride; or maybe she thought the alarmed whistles of the Allays and the Vex were irritating and couldn't wait to drop them off. They moved faster all the same.

[...]

[...]

It starts out faint.

The gentle noise of campfire crackling occasionally interrupted by familiar whistles alongside a soft, reassuring tune.

A new voice. One vastly different from the deep tone of the illager Orchid heard before blacking out or rumbling growling of the ravager that brought her the long way here.

Managing to bring her heavy eyes to a squint, she would finally see the shapes in front of her. But before Orchid could blink the weariness out of her eyes and clear the image before her, her view gets obscured by a certain worried vex.

"Oh, look at that!" Noticing the stirred up Mathew the new voice chimes in, prompting the Allays to turn around.

"Welcome back to the land of living!" The witch cheerfully adresses Orchid, barely waiting for her to regain her bearings. "No really! We thought we lost you when Sirius brought you in. Trudged right through my door uninvited, carrying you into my hut asking if I can do anything. Good thing he did!"

"And your little friends! Such curious creatures!"

// whoop whoop new character introduced [CLICK]

Continuation from this!

@alphatimeline-orchid

‐---------------------------------------------

"No offense taken," Sirius reassured her unbothered and merely shrugged his shoulders. He's the one who worded it like that; from experience nonetheless.

A sound left him when Orchid mentioned her encounter with camping illagers. It could've been anything from an amused exhale to a scoff.

"No wonder. Most groups are based on- mh, let’s say respect. You gotta butt your heads with them, show 'em what you got, grow some horns. Otherwise none is going to accept you being around," he chimed in to lecture her. It was such a small natural rule he was familiar with from a young age, but Orchid simply didn't experience such.

"Being all…" He pauses again, looking Orchid over. "Soft and passive and all talk doesn't really speak to most." He wouldn't consider her particularly dangerous or physically strong by the looks; and the rowdy and the rough love to pick on those who feign innocence.

[...]

The Allay disrupting Orchid mid speech, the Vex jumping into position, but mostly the sudden wave of dread emitting from them had Sirius alarmed in an instant. Instinctively reaching for the crossbow at his side, stopping only pixels away from it, he registered this wasn't an attempt for a strike but a slip up in Orchid' muttered words.

He froze in place, peering at her. There was a heavy pause as he questioned himself if he even heard right. This couldn't be true, he must've misheard. Such apples can't be crafted if that's what she meant to say out loud.

Still, there is no doubt. Keeping his eyes on her, Orchids expression alongside her little guardians whizzing about like bees protecting their nest spoke for itself. A secret he wasn't meant to overhear.

He slowly dropped his guard again, straightening up ever so slowly. This wasn't the time to interrogate her. Not out here. They've lingered too long in one place for his liking anyway.

"... Speaking of healers. You might wanna see one," he changed the subject almost nonchalantly. Even if he assumed a neutral pose, leaving his hands in the open, away from the weapons at his side, the air felt heavy; too heavy to take a breath or relax just yet.

Without another word he turned and walked up to his ravager, leaving Orchid to herself for a moment. He'd nudge Silas in the sides with his knee to prompt her to pay attention, who in turn decided to ignore him. Chewing on the rest of the hay bale now enclosed in the beast's jaws, she only answered with varied growls and drawn out rumbles, complaining furiously.

Catching his foot in the stirrup, Sirius mounted the ravager in one smooth movement. An easy move while Silas was laying.

Even if he wasn't looking at her, his attention was on Orchid at all times, he listened for movement, her shuffling, the chimes of her companions, any step she'd take, until he turned to adress her.

“Come on. I know someone who can fix you up. I think you'll like them,” he spoke almost too calmly for comfort. Giving her an encouraging nod towards the free space behind him, he outstretched his hand just in case she'd need it. 

Sirius has been considerably nicer than others and had made an effort to help out a stranger, but there's no chance to read his intentions now. Orchid's slip up in words might have tipped the scales to warrant his suspicion, or he truly didn't hear or believe her.

With Sirius' legs crossed once again, sitting on a ravager who isn't too eager to get up just yet, this would be Orchid's chance if she decided to run. On the other hand, if the illager spoke true and did intend to bring her to safety, then this might be her only chance to heal up and rest properly; finally giving her a break from danger.

[the-raptors-lore]

Have a funny

mischevious Vex featured from @/alphatimeline-orchid lol

[the-raptors-lore]

"Don't mention it," he waved his hand dismissively. He nearly meant to say that it was just natural to help a fellow illager, but he stopped himself, knowing well it would be a lie.

"You can barely hold your head up. We can discuss that- later." Orchid isn't helpful in her current state nor could he estimate the cost of fixing her up yet. Of course he's eager to hear more of those elusive enchanted apples she muttered about earlier. He'd love that to be an option to obtain, but the time alone in the wilds taught him patience. He'll confront her eventually- in due time.

"Oh, you mean the metal piece? It… is something like a mark of my tribe so we recognise each other if different patrols happen to run into each other." His shoulders slump before he could end the sentence, but recovered quickly as he perks up and turns to face Orchid for a moment.

"You want to hear the story of it? I can tell you some of it once we're moving." The last word had force behind it and was clearly directed at the lazy Ravager that did the exact opposite of it. Getting no meaningful response from Silas, Sirius decided to give her the route at least.

He took something from under his cape, leans forward- practically laying on top of Silas' head- and waved, what looked like, a rolled up parchment of paper in front of her face for her to get a quick whiff of the faint sulfuric smell that wafts from it.

With that, the beast rose to its feet, faster than one would expect for such a hefty creature, threatening to throw Orchid off of her, one way then the other. If it wasn't for Sirius- who has no issue staying in balance- and the collective effort of her spirits to take hold of her to keep her in place she would've surely dropped.

Fighting the urge to sneeze and shake like a wet dog, Silas started trudging forward. The rhythmic drums and metal chain chimes return with her steps as she falls into the same pattern as before. A loud howl-like wail left her. Curiously one could find a certain tune in it- like a distorted, low-rumbling version of a villager rejecting a trade. Utter disagreement.

"Sorry, about that. Should've at least warned you beforehand," Sirius apologized briefly, once he let Orchid go from his grasp. "Silas hates the smell." He waves the parchment in his hand which on closer inspection appears to be a map that has been scorched at a few places

Continuation from this!

@alphatimeline-orchid

‐---------------------------------------------

"No offense taken," Sirius reassured her unbothered and merely shrugged his shoulders. He's the one who worded it like that; from experience nonetheless.

A sound left him when Orchid mentioned her encounter with camping illagers. It could've been anything from an amused exhale to a scoff.

"No wonder. Most groups are based on- mh, let’s say respect. You gotta butt your heads with them, show 'em what you got, grow some horns. Otherwise none is going to accept you being around," he chimed in to lecture her. It was such a small natural rule he was familiar with from a young age, but Orchid simply didn't experience such.

"Being all…" He pauses again, looking Orchid over. "Soft and passive and all talk doesn't really speak to most." He wouldn't consider her particularly dangerous or physically strong by the looks; and the rowdy and the rough love to pick on those who feign innocence.

[...]

The Allay disrupting Orchid mid speech, the Vex jumping into position, but mostly the sudden wave of dread emitting from them had Sirius alarmed in an instant. Instinctively reaching for the crossbow at his side, stopping only pixels away from it, he registered this wasn't an attempt for a strike but a slip up in Orchid' muttered words.

He froze in place, peering at her. There was a heavy pause as he questioned himself if he even heard right. This couldn't be true, he must've misheard. Such apples can't be crafted if that's what she meant to say out loud.

Still, there is no doubt. Keeping his eyes on her, Orchids expression alongside her little guardians whizzing about like bees protecting their nest spoke for itself. A secret he wasn't meant to overhear.

He slowly dropped his guard again, straightening up ever so slowly. This wasn't the time to interrogate her. Not out here. They've lingered too long in one place for his liking anyway.

"... Speaking of healers. You might wanna see one," he changed the subject almost nonchalantly. Even if he assumed a neutral pose, leaving his hands in the open, away from the weapons at his side, the air felt heavy; too heavy to take a breath or relax just yet.

Without another word he turned and walked up to his ravager, leaving Orchid to herself for a moment. He'd nudge Silas in the sides with his knee to prompt her to pay attention, who in turn decided to ignore him. Chewing on the rest of the hay bale now enclosed in the beast's jaws, she only answered with varied growls and drawn out rumbles, complaining furiously.

Catching his foot in the stirrup, Sirius mounted the ravager in one smooth movement. An easy move while Silas was laying.

Even if he wasn't looking at her, his attention was on Orchid at all times, he listened for movement, her shuffling, the chimes of her companions, any step she'd take, until he turned to adress her.

“Come on. I know someone who can fix you up. I think you'll like them,” he spoke almost too calmly for comfort. Giving her an encouraging nod towards the free space behind him, he outstretched his hand just in case she'd need it. 

Sirius has been considerably nicer than others and had made an effort to help out a stranger, but there's no chance to read his intentions now. Orchid's slip up in words might have tipped the scales to warrant his suspicion, or he truly didn't hear or believe her.

With Sirius' legs crossed once again, sitting on a ravager who isn't too eager to get up just yet, this would be Orchid's chance if she decided to run. On the other hand, if the illager spoke true and did intend to bring her to safety, then this might be her only chance to heal up and rest properly; finally giving her a break from danger.

[the-raptors-lore]

Continuation from this!

@alphatimeline-orchid

‐---------------------------------------------

"No offense taken," Sirius reassured her unbothered and merely shrugged his shoulders. He's the one who worded it like that; from experience nonetheless.

A sound left him when Orchid mentioned her encounter with camping illagers. It could've been anything from an amused exhale to a scoff.

"No wonder. Most groups are based on- mh, let’s say respect. You gotta butt your heads with them, show 'em what you got, grow some horns. Otherwise none is going to accept you being around," he chimed in to lecture her. It was such a small natural rule he was familiar with from a young age, but Orchid simply didn't experience such.

"Being all…" He pauses again, looking Orchid over. "Soft and passive and all talk doesn't really speak to most." He wouldn't consider her particularly dangerous or physically strong by the looks; and the rowdy and the rough love to pick on those who feign innocence.

[...]

The Allay disrupting Orchid mid speech, the Vex jumping into position, but mostly the sudden wave of dread emitting from them had Sirius alarmed in an instant. Instinctively reaching for the crossbow at his side, stopping only pixels away from it, he registered this wasn't an attempt for a strike but a slip up in Orchid' muttered words.

He froze in place, peering at her. There was a heavy pause as he questioned himself if he even heard right. This couldn't be true, he must've misheard. Such apples can't be crafted if that's what she meant to say out loud.

Still, there is no doubt. Keeping his eyes on her, Orchids expression alongside her little guardians whizzing about like bees protecting their nest spoke for itself. A secret he wasn't meant to overhear.

He slowly dropped his guard again, straightening up ever so slowly. This wasn't the time to interrogate her. Not out here. They've lingered too long in one place for his liking anyway.

"... Speaking of healers. You might wanna see one," he changed the subject almost nonchalantly. Even if he assumed a neutral pose, leaving his hands in the open, away from the weapons at his side, the air felt heavy; too heavy to take a breath or relax just yet.

Without another word he turned and walked up to his ravager, leaving Orchid to herself for a moment. He'd nudge Silas in the sides with his knee to prompt her to pay attention, who in turn decided to ignore him. Chewing on the rest of the hay bale now enclosed in the beast's jaws, she only answered with varied growls and drawn out rumbles, complaining furiously.

Catching his foot in the stirrup, Sirius mounted the ravager in one smooth movement. An easy move while Silas was laying.

Even if he wasn't looking at her, his attention was on Orchid at all times, he listened for movement, her shuffling, the chimes of her companions, any step she'd take, until he turned to adress her.

“Come on. I know someone who can fix you up. I think you'll like them,” he spoke almost too calmly for comfort. Giving her an encouraging nod towards the free space behind him, he outstretched his hand just in case she'd need it. 

Sirius has been considerably nicer than others and had made an effort to help out a stranger, but there's no chance to read his intentions now. Orchid's slip up in words might have tipped the scales to warrant his suspicion, or he truly didn't hear or believe her.

With Sirius' legs crossed once again, sitting on a ravager who isn't too eager to get up just yet, this would be Orchid's chance if she decided to run. On the other hand, if the illager spoke true and did intend to bring her to safety, then this might be her only chance to heal up and rest properly; finally giving her a break from danger.

[the-raptors-lore]

[...]

[added a link leading to my Toyhou.se, showing all my MC characters, to the pinned post]

[the-raptors-lore]

Sirius’ amused look would falter the moment his mockery was met with nothing but a casual reply. It was no joke then.

Mulling over what exactly he should think of the story, Sirius nodded his head in consideration. It all sounded a little too cliche. A baby abandoned at someone’s doorstep and raised up in a different environment than they were meant to. Like some sort of fairy tale or something. Maybe a lie.

Crossing his arms, he regarded the hurt illager. If she never learned the magic of an evoker, how could she summon her little helpers. If she was raised up by villagers, why didn't she find a new village to huddle up to. Most probably wouldn't bother her if she didn't cause any trouble. She doesn't seem particularily threatening or dangerous.

“I am more surprised they weren’t too scared of a baby illager. Let alone have the courage to raise one up,” he merely commented. Brushing her origin story off as nothing important, he rather wanted to know Orchid's own stance and if she was worth keeping around now that she was conscious.

“That's almost sad. What do you even know about illagers? Other than us being all blood-thirsty barbarians stealing and breaking things?" he asked with a rather drab tone in his voice. He knew villagers would never raise a weapon to hurt someone; still their words were just as viscious. Whatever picture they painted for Orchid to learn, he didn't expect it to be a pretty one.

Orchid’s “most rather plunder than talk”-comment from earlier didn’t fly over his head. It gave him a slight idea of how little she might know of her own kind. Yet again, it’s not like he was without his own biases towards Villagers. Mumbling a "What do clerics even do?" under his breath as he kept pondering on what Orchid would even learn from a village. No survival skills, surely, by how beaten she looks.

Being distracted by Orchid’s lackluster story, the illager didn’t notice his steed indulging in the gifted hay bale. A single person’s inventory wasn’t enough to feed such a beast in the long run- who knows what Silas had to eat lately, but small morsels compared to her sheer size. An occasional muffled grunt could be heard as she tried to stuff the whole block into her maw.

⚡⛈️Open starter⛈️⚡

'Run...'

'You have to keep running...'

'Don't stop...'

That was what she kept telling herself as she ran. She had come across another village and kept her distance... Villagers where always weary of travelers.

Especially if they where Illagers...

She had camped at the edge of the woods for a couple of days, keeping an eye on the village... Making sure they where safe.

She was trying to recover... Till one of the village children spotted her... She did her best to hide from them, knowing their parents would sound the alarm...

She didn't think about heros being in the village...

It happened so fast after the child spotted her... She wasn't paying attention till the child spoke...

They asked if she was ok...

The adults spotted the child...

Then they saw her...

'RUN!'

She could hear the stomping of feet behind her. She could tell it wasn't the golems because they didn't wander too far from the village and she was well far away from them now...

Someone was shouting at her... She couldn't tell if it was one or ten that were chasing her...

She couldn't run very fast... Or far... But when your life is on the line you don't question how you can keep going... You just do...

'RU...'

She tripped... And fell in a small opening, landing on stone... She lost consciousness...

[the-raptors-lore]

// this look of his has been seared into my brain till I drew it

// @alphatimeline-orchid