Fantasy Hide and Seek [Okko and Darvus]

[Pompet]

Name: Okani (Okko)
#548573
Art by me
Note: 1x1 with CrazyChickenLady



Predawn hung its chilled periwinkle blanket over the small unnamed valley that resided sleepily in the central western part of a rural forest landscape. The region was familiar only to visiting weather and wildlife. Human beings rarely graced any small portion of its virgin wilderness. One could easily wonder how a modern world even existed beyond these long stretching mountain ranges and lakes. Honey brown eyes peeked from the fluffy confines of a soft woolen blanket, blearily making out the familiar forms of the tiny sleeping loft. Birds were already singing their morning songs to one another in echoing chorus through out the slowly waking woods. Soft dark eyes that belonged to a white furry soft face watched the blue haired girl stir. A warm nose pressed her cheek and Okko gave a sleepy giggle, "good morning Mama" she said, lifting one ochre sleeved arm to softly pat the alpaca's neck. The two were curled up on a sleeping mat made of woven pond reeds. Every inch of this little home was hand made by the peculiar humanoid being that was Okko. From her knitted blanket which was a perfect match with Mama's wool, to even the very walls that were covered in carefully painted designs all the way onto the pitched ceiling. Mama's little house consisted of just two rooms and a stone fireplace. The downstairs had a hutch across from the hearth and one high back chair made up of a wicker frame and tedious wool upholstery. It was an understatement to say she was handy, the young girl of unknown origin seemed to posses skills and knowledge beyond her years.

Today would be no different from the last two years' worth of days. Come rain or shine, she always kept herself very busy with giving the best life style she could to Mama and Papa: the residing alpaca and frog that chose to remain familiar with her when she first happened upon their quiet part of the woods. The first matter of business was always food, which she kept organized in bound batches in in hutch down stairs. For the most part, Okko ate as Mama did: vegetation. It didn't occur to her to eat other things as eating in and of itself felt strange but appropriate. She knew of cooking but didn't feel a need for it since her company wouldn't eat it anyway. She did make efforts to brew tea now and then. There was a meadow not far from their pond that she harvested from every couple weeks. Truly, Mama didn't care where or how her raw grasses were presented, whether she ate in the meadow or in the house; it was Okko who seemed to have this odd urge to store their food. It was at that precise moment, as she leaned into the hutch to pull the bundles from its stores, that the first peculiarment occurred. It wasn't more than a blip: A tiny red glow in the upper peripheral of her vision. It was just enough of a presence to warrant an upward glance but she found nothing there. The anomaly was gone just as soon. Okko didn't think much of it and continued her morning routine: Breakfast, open up the house, greet Papa, water the mushrooms that circled the house, clean the house, look for something new to make. Though it seemed the weather was cooperating today, the last few days left most of her wood and reed supplies soggy. Perhaps a new dry shelter could be next on her list. "Collecting clay and stone it is." she thought out loud.

 

[CrazyChickenLady]

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• CrazyChickenLady
• Jan 23, 2021

Darvus Snowflare drawn by Pompet

Name: Darvus
Drawn by Pompet​

How long has it been?

The snow white form of a Shire horse-sized dragon was splayed out along the plush grass that blanketed the forest floor. Fur ranging from soft to silk sprouted from his cranium, ran down the back of his neck, legs, encircled his neck like a mane, consumed his back, rode down the spine of his tail and ended at the tip in a large, silky tuft. His wings were feathered, reminiscent of a swan. Bovine ears with fine fuzz poking between miniscule scales perked at the sudden rapid flapping of a crow, then folded back lazily. Eyes of intense shades of blue were a striking contrast to the canvas that he was. He could blend in perfectly with a snowy backdrop. Blue hues idly scanned his heavily wooded surroundings. He couldn't remember how many years he spent isolated in these woods.

His mind vividly recalled the horrors he had witnessed on his home island. His kind were dragons that took on the form of humans when they were graced with the presence of humankind. For generations his kind traded and traveled undetected.

Until their true identities were discovered.

The fact that his race were pacifists meant nothing. Mankind's fear of the unknown led to the drake witnessing the genocide of his race. Being the sole survivor, he was uncertain if fortune had favored him or forsaken him.

He had left his island and settled in this vast forest swelling with wildlife. He built a house of stone, making improvements as his craftsmanship honed over the years. Humans were a rarity, and that is just how he wanted it. He was content with befriending the animals. The prolonged time spent in their company tuned him in to their behaviors and feelings. He could feel what animals wanted and needed.

A tickle brushed the section of scales between his nostrils. The drake nearly crossed his eyes, espying a rabbit greeting him. A gentle smile pulled at his maw, and he held still as a pair of paws followed.

 

[Pompet]

It would be a project that could take her weeks, those were always good. Time opened the opportunity to put lots of tiny details into every part of it. The river bank that their pond's streams connected to was an easy choice for finding hearty stone and clay. She spent a great portion of the day carrying stone by stone back to Mama's house. There was a small stone collection still piled behind the house from when she made the fireplace, along with the whittled wood and stone tools that leaned under its eaves. Occasionally she would find an impressive stone that she couldn't manage well and on such occasions she muscled it over to the tree line to roll to the house another day and perhaps with Mama's help for some.

As she deposited another well proportioned rock to her collection below the thin aspen trees behind the house, there it was again: the strange red glow just above her peripheral. She looked up faster this time, but saw only the forest canopy above. As the week continued, it began to happen more regularly and she began to think that maybe something wasn't right. The smallest pit began to wriggle its way into her stomach; something was amiss.

In the evenings a grand green and pink frog with proud yellow eyes always called on Mama with two or three flowers curled in his fat gummy hand. He would perch just outside her door and await for her to answer. If she waited long enough, he would sing to her: Mama always waited a little longer. Okko was returning late that day, the dusk light guided her fleetingly back to the house, once it left her in darkness, the baritone melody that belong to non-other than Papa escorted her the rest of the way. She smiled happily as she spied from a round the last turn on Mama and Papa. The warm light from Mama's house fell on the plump shiny form of the gentle alpaca's caller as she opened the door to him. It was as though the two shared a smile before Mama received his flowers and welcomed him inside the house. Okko giggled and snuck around to the other side of the pond, she loved their love story and liked to imagine they were sharing tea by the fire while they waited for her to return. Papa hummed another melody to Mama while Okko sat in the dark at the bank of the pond and cleaned her hands and feet.

It was chilly tonight, there was a moisture in the air that felt like rain. Okko considered the window of stars above curiously, no clouds though... she thought to herself. Just then the most peculiar thing obscured her view. It was a large red eye, the pupil dilated in surprise as they made eye contact, Okko blinked in shock, going so far as to stumble backward to her feet only to fall back against a tree, but it had already vanished. Her heart was in her throat, her eyes were large and leaves fell from the shaken tree. Papa's singing stopped, he and mama peeked out from the front door at Okko in alarm to the sound of her hitting the tree. Okko's eyes went from them back to the hanging air where the ghostly red eye was just seconds before. Swallowing hard and pulling herself back to her own feet, the colorful blue haired girl cautiously joined Mama and Papa inside, looking all around before she closed the door. When she turned around she forced a smile to Mama and Papa, "well fancy finding our humble home in the company of non-other than the splendiferous Papa! It's very nice to see you." she nodded as the plump frog made himself comfortable on the small table beside mama's high back chair. Papa gave a pleasant chirp and a nod back to the young miss and he settled himself back into his seat on the lilypad doily that was his special seat of honor on his visits.
As Okko passed the two of them, she excused herself, "I would love to share my progress on the current construction but I'm afraid I have a very early start tomorrow and I must be off to bed. Please enjoy your evening you two." she curtsied and Mama looked at her in earnest. Okko tried to dispel the concern on the alpaca's face by happily hurrying up the stairs, "A'night!" she called.

 

[CrazyChickenLady]

The drake's nostrils quivered. The scent of rain had always been one of his favorite smells. It differed here than the rainfall that occurred on his island of origin. The forest possessed an earthy odor while the ocean permeated his homeland. The scent of a tropical rainfall was misses, but he couldn't imagine going back.

His clawed feet dug into the loose soil as he maneuvered himself between tall pines. He could make out the cold gray of storm clouds in the gaps that separated the treetops. He could sense heavy rainfall would hit. He didn't mind getting caught up in the rain. Fresh water soaking his body was refreshing and puddles were a delight. It made curling up in front of a roaring fire with a hot beverage after drying exponentially cozy.

He was located approximately ten miles from his house. Flight would get him home within minutes. However, he typically preferred to take his time. That, and there was the nagging paranoia of potentially being spotted by a human. He was aware the odds were practically non-existent, but past trauma had him tethered.

A few minutes elapsed before the first drops touched his nose. Field mice were stranded beneath a bush. The dragon halted by the bush. It was obvious to him they weren't at their desired destination. Swan-like wings fanned out. It took a few moments for the mice to come to the realization that the towering reptilian could be used as a moving shelter. They scurried beneath him as he resumed his trip. When the mice no longer needed him, they were replaced by rabbits and other various small creatures.