Fantasy Cursed Island

[Fangs9090]

Shuffle watched as she tried and fell. She wasn’t sure what Jerry was doing wrong, so she could just hope could figure it out by watching Shuffle. Shuffle leaning different directions, moving her tail to keep from falling, even as she leaned farther than most tailless people could.

 

[Darkling0096]

Jerry grumbled as she could not pull off what Shuffle was doing. Having almost half of your body weight hanging from your rear when you're not really used to it, and you've been dealing with it just dragging along in the interim since it's appearance didn't exactly breed a good understanding of its physical capabilities. She did figure out that trying to lift the whole thing at once with just the muscles within wasn't really an option and made her tip backwards, so instead she leaned forwards, that seemed to work and keep her from falling forward or backward, but did jack for falling to the side.

 

[Fangs9090]

“You can still use your arms, too. Mmm, your tail is also longer than mine. I’m not sure what difference that makes...”

 

[Darkling0096]

"I am using my arms, I've got half my weight on my butt!", Jerry protested, "It moves different.

 

[Fangs9090]

“Hm...” Shuffle thought for a moment figuring out where most of her own weight was. “Maybe hold it low? Then move the end of it for balance?”

 

[Darkling0096]

Jerry tried that, having some success at staying upright with that tactic. Really it looked like Jerry was just lacking practice by this point in balancing with that part of her anatomy.

 

[Fangs9090]

Shuffle smiled, honestly surprised that worked to any extent. “Yeah! Keep trying!”

 

[Darkling0096]

"You think this is working?", Jerry asked, trying to maintain balance.

"I did not expect I would ever see a dragon imitating a tree," Nalla commented, somehow having made almost no noise despite being massive until she spoke. She was referring to how Jerry had limbs pointed in every direction and balancing on one foot, wings and arms extended to try and catch herself if she fell. Getting snuck up on for once, Jerry panicked and hit the stone again.

"Ow..."

 

[Fangs9090]

Shuffle blinked as she looked over at Nalla, putting down her raised foot. “I’m teaching Jerry how to use her tail.”

 

[Darkling0096]

"Hmm," Nalla nodded, "And how is that going?"

"Great until you teleported over here," Jerry grumbled as she got up. "How the hell are people able to sneak up on me now?"

 

[Fangs9090]

Shuffle tilted her head. “Maybe you were too focused on your balance?”

 

[Darkling0096]

"I never have control anymore," Jerry muttered.

"Perhaps that is the problem," Nalla offered, "You seek control of that which you cannot and do not need to control."

"Gods-dammit another one."

 

[Fangs9090]

Shuffle tilted her head, but stayed quiet. Philosophy was way beyond her understanding.

 

[Darkling0096]

"Don't you have something you should be doing?", Jerry asked the goliath.

"I am presently unoccupied."

"Then go find something to do, we're not doing this for kicks."

 

[Fangs9090]

Shuffle shook her head. “This is for balance. Ah, but you can use it to kick, too.” She leaned back on her tail, using it to support her weight as she kicked both her feet at the air.

 

[Darkling0096]

Nalla smiled at Shuffle's example. "Did you know there are animals that rely entirely on that ability to defend themselves?"

 

[Fangs9090]

Shuffle looked over. "Really? But what about their claws? And teeth?" Shuffle couldn't remember seeing a creature down here that didn't have sharp teeth and claws, so she figured that was just a normal feature for animals.

 

[Darkling0096]

"Oh they have those," Nalla nodded, "But they use their claws for digging up food, and their teeth for chewing it, and little else."

 

[Fangs9090]

Shuffle tilted her head. "Weird. I use mine for as much as I can."

 

[Darkling0096]

Nalla shrugged, "There are many beings whose claws and teeth are not suited for fighting." She gestured over to the party, "Look at Joanne. Her claws and teeth are absolutely useless were she to try and fight with them. Her hide is thin and weak, and she has no horns or tusks to defend herself with." She shook her head, "So she uses armor and weapons made of metal and wood to make up for what she lacks, so that she might be able to compete with those that have those things."

"That's not... quite accurate," Jerry shook her head.

"And yourself, your right hand has claws that would be devastating if you chose to use them, you have a long, heavy tail that could crush a human's ribcage with ease, and you have wings. But your left hand has no claws suited for tearing, your teeth are useless for fighting, and you are slow on foot." Nalla gestured to Shuffle, "And Shuffle has all of those defenses and more. Each creature is different." She turned back to Shuffle, "Would you like to see this creature that relies on kicks for defense?"

 

[Fangs9090]

Shuffle looked at Joanne and Jerry and herself, taking note of the things she hadn't really thought about before. Looking back to Nalla, she paused before giving a nod. "Ah, sure. Do they live down here?"

 

[Darkling0096]

"No, the creatures I speak of live on a distant continent." Nalla tapped her staff on the ground. "Observe." The green energy of Nalla's nature magic surrounded and cloaked her, changing shape, until when it dissipated there was sitting an abnormally large kangaroo.

"Oh, those assholes," Jerry muttered.

 

[Fangs9090]

Shuffle blinked before slowly approaching, sniffing curiously at her. That was still Nalla, right?

 

[Darkling0096]

The kangaroo leaned down to poke Shuffle. Kangaroos weren't capable of speech, so she couldn't talk at the moment.

 

[Fangs9090]

Shuffle flinched before sniffing up towards her face. The scent seemed familiar, so she remained mostly relaxed.