Take Back the Crown

Nameen's hand instinctively flew to the hilt of her sword when she heard the low but distinct growl. She whipped towards where the sound came from, dropping her hand when she saw that the corner was as still as it had been seconds ago. The only thing she could make out was dust, some of it settling after being disturbed by someone or something. If anything, it was an indication that there had been something there.


Grateful that Thora had volunteered to fetch the rest of the band, Nameen stepped towards the spot and knelt down to examine it further. The dust had since settled, wiping away any clues that the thing had left in its escape. She sighed, frustrated, and stood once again.


Upon hearing Valeiah's comment, Nameen scowled irritably, but said nothing. We shouldn't jump to conclusions that quickly, she thought with her eye narrowed. Though it is a possibility...


@L1d1ja @soundofmind @OlKaJa77 @Danika @plasticlizard022
 
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Praise the voice of reason. What Valeiah said made much more sense, but at the moment, there was no way to know for sure if it was true. Although, it did explain the sudden disappearance of the... well... shifter, he guessed. That would be a hell of a joke to play on poor Thora, though. Someone could've gotten hurt.


"There's nothing wrong with exercising a healthy amount of caution. Especially with the nature of our mission." He tried to clear the air a bit as he watched Nameen inspect the decisively empty corner of the ship. There was something or someone there, but not anymore. He couldn't think of any other reason to explain the phenomena besides Valeiah's.


"But that does make sense." Even though he didn't like the idea.


@Rydellius @L1d1ja @Danika @OlKaJa77
 
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Listening intently for his next orders, Foxrun was startled when a cry came from the opposite direction of where yaroslav steered. He whipped around, confused when he saw a frightened Thora. Something about a sea monster? He rushed over, "what's going on?" Concern laced his words. He then noticed how frantic she really was now that he was in front of her and a sudden irritation washed over him. An overwhelming sense of, protection?? Is that what this was??





@plasticlizard022
 
Thora bashfully hid her shaky hands behind her back. "There is a sea monster below deck. It is just Bo, Oceana, and Nameen with the horses. We cannot leave them alone," she rambled quietly. She had a death grip around her stone necklace as rubbing her thumb gave her no solace from her fear of this monster.


@GalacticRam
 
So I did hear her right. "But, how would it have gotten down there?" He mused, peeking around her to the door that led below deck. He then quickly added "I can help look if you like?" He didn't want to make her feel bad if there wasn't a monster. But, what if there really was one??? It would have to be a rather smart creature to sneak past all of them above deck. Especially considering how many there were.


@plasticlizard022
 
"I do not know," she sighed wearily. "I know nothing about the creatures of the sea. I fear it is messing with our minds!" She went to grab the door when Oceana burst through. Thora heard her yell at Dorian and it dawned on her. It wasn't a monster, it was a shapeshifter. The nymph's natural olive skin faded to a ghastly shade of white. "What?" she whispered, her voice dripping with embarrassment.


@OlKaJa77 @GalacticRam
 
Valeiah rolled her eyes and went back to petting her horse. Alo turned around a bit when he heard Oceana yell. He snickered a little bit.
 
Oceana's face was dark with a potent mix of rage and embarrassment. She saw Thora's likewise expression and sighed, deflating slightly.


Without thinking she gently grasped her arm.


"No need to worry, Thora." She said softly, tired and alert all at once. "It was just Dorian. Playing a trick on us."


Then realizing she had touched the nymph she quickly drew her hand back, blushing.


Turning away, she stepped gracefully across the deck despite it's rocking, up near the helm next to Yaro, watching the waves ripple across the sea.


@plasticlizard022 @Lo Alyssa
 
Thora felt the absence of Oceana's grip and looked down at her feet. "Thank-you for your kind offer," she whispered to Foxrun before disappearing below deck once more. She covered her face with her hands, completely embarrassed that she had overreacted and people noticed. She plopped down in a corner and her horse slowly made its way over and lowered his head. She pet his nose and sighed. "I have made quite the fool of myself," she admitted to the horse. She hoped that if she hid away for some time that her embarrassing outburst could be forgotten. How stupid she was to think it was a monster!
 
The shock of the door bursting open was one thing, but then the realization that it was all just a sick joke was something all to itself. "What?!" He nearly hissed the word. Playing pranks was something he had done many times. But this was crossing a line. This was taking advantage of your companions' fears, which didn't settle right with him. He saw the flush of color drain from the poor Nymph's face. And then her quick words, followed by an even faster exit. It wasn't often he felt anger, seeing as he was usually the one causing it in others. She had such a gentle nature about her, and for someone to have used that to crush her already low spirits? He was seething, and it was almost as obvious on his face as the yelling elf who stalked away. He turned towards the last place he noticed the warrior standing, hawk perched carelessly on his shoulder per usual. And made a path directly towards them.


@plasticlizard022 @OlKaJa77 @L1d1ja
 
Bo had just kind of stood and watched as everyone left, sighed in reignation, or flushed with embarassment (some even a mix of such things). He himself felt a bit silly, falling for the trick, but he'd rather have been prepared if it weren't one. He would've easily moved on from the incident if it didn't ruffle everyone else's feathers so much.


By the time Thora had come rushing back below, Bo had already sat back down on the floor. He considered going back up on deck, so that she could find solace among the horses, and be more alone (although Valeiah was still there... and Nameen), but he figured that it would probably be more peaceful staying put. Above was an upset Oceana and possible confrontation of Dorian, who he had yet to formally meet (now though, he wasn't too sure if he really wanted to meet him so soon, after the trouble he caused).


So instead, he took a deep breath, trying to relax. He overheard Thora mumbling to herself, and the horses, and he could tell she was thoroughly embarrased. Hesitantly, he walked over to her and sat next to her and the horses.


"You know... I used to have the worst kind of nerves. One time I was camping out by myself - it was just a normal night, in the forest - and I was travelling. I couldn't sleep at all because at every noise I'd jump and... well," he smiled, continuing casually. "I uh, might have fried a few rabbits. Thankfully I've gotten better at controlling my reflexes now. So you know, I don't strike a person with lightning if they sneak up on me or something. That was quite a long time ago for me though," at least two decades.


"But I find it kind of funny in hindsight," he snorted, laughing a little. "I mean, of course I feel bad for the rabbits, but, I mean," he really didn't know why he thought it was so funny. "Ahaha, I'm sorry. This probably sounds like a random story, haha. But really, what I mean to say is, you don't have to worry about it. Speaking for myself, I don't think any less of you for being scared. I mean, look at me! Haha, I'm the biggest person here and I'm terrified of the ocean. But all of us here know that it took a lot of bravery and courage for all of us to get here and choose to join the princess on this journey."


He hoped he didn't sound like he was babbling pointlessly. He was trying to be encouraging, really.


@plasticlizard022


(Ay,, i hope this is ok i typed it really fast on the way to class. Hope it makes sense)
 
Thora looked over at Bo and listened intently to his tale. She chuckled at his story and stretched out her knees that were pulled to her chest. "I suppose that is quite humorous," she grinned. She found it quite odd that such a large, intimidating man could be so frightened of such trivial things. If anything, it made him more endearing, more real. She let out a deep breath. "Thank you," she smiled. She appreciated that he didn't make her feel small for being embarrassed or afraid. She gave him a small hug, quick albeit for she didn't wish to cause him too much discomfort. "Truly, thank-you."


@soundofmind (it was perfectly fine!!!!)
 
Bo tensed up way too much at the unexpected hug. He didn't register that he should probably hug back or even just relax until the hug was quickly over. Still, he smiled back, but exhaled in relief. "Anytime. And uh - just, for future reference -if you ever need anything, I will do my best to help." But maybe not if it was a hug. It needed to be one he was prepared for.


@plasticlizard022 (aaa phew)
 
Dorian just watched the elf shout from where he sat perched on Garrett's shoulder. 'How to piss off the elf? Mess with others.' He noted for himself.


'What are you talking about?' He instead asked the elf. 'How did I piss you off from all the way up here? Please do tell, I want to know how to do such a thing.'


@OlKaJa77
 
"Likewise," Thora offered though she wasn't sure just how much she would be able to help. She would try her best if the situation ever arose though. She saw Bo's body tense after the hug, but she didn't regret it. In fact it made her giggle to herself. She didn't usually like to make people so uncomfortable but she found his reaction to her affection rather amusing. It was also a nice distraction from the rocking sea and her disappearing embarrassment. She thought to herself, 'Perhaps, well just perhaps, I can manage this boat trip.'


@soundofmind (I started to ramble hahah whoops. My bad :P )
 
Oceana heard the shifter's voice echo in her mind.


She almost didn't resist the urge to throw her knife and make a bird skewer out of him, but then she remembered his offer to find a woman who knew the songs.


And he was also Garret's familiar, the kind Mage probably wouldn't like his familiar on a pike.


That's what really spared him.


So instead she flung a particularly ripe fruit from her waist pouch at Dorian, it whizzed through the air and burst apart in a stinky splat on his feathers.


Her deadly aim caught him right in the sensitive bits at the base of his bird-ly neck.


"You're lucky your Mage is kind, bird." She hissed mockingly,


"Else it would have been a dagger instead."


And stomped away, hoping the dreadful creature would just leave her alone.


@L1d1ja
 
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'Chuckles, you are one rude shit and I do not know what you are accusing me of. Care to explain?' Dorian asked as he flew off and landed on Oceana's shoulder, deliberately shaking off the mess out of his feathers and onto her. 'What were you freaking out about down there? I went down to check before returning here and you were all quite spooked.' He added, using his normal tactic: admit to being there, but not to what you were doing. Plus he was one of the few people capable of lying through an open telepathic link while still making it sound like pure truth.





@OlKaJa77
 

Phaedra listened to the commotion, but did not react, her focus strictly on the wind patterns and on Yaro barking orders now and again for another rush of air to the sails to keep them to their destination as quickly as possible. Her eyes would occasionally wander to those on deck, speaking to one another, and those going below deck and back up. She pondered briefly what in Algoran could have been going on down there. She heard less ruckus from the horses than the people down there. She didn't realize how truly paranoid people were. Perhaps it was mostly the location - the feeling of being trapped in close quarters. Phaedra counted herself lucky that she could simply up and fly away if she so wished to.

Bringing herself back to the present, she pushed another burst of wind to the sails, helping to speed their ship along.​
 
Oceana was finished with the familiar's babble.


"I know it was you." She said menacingly, colder than she had spoken since the beginning of their journey.


"You take me for an idiot? I'm much too experienced with humans who pretend to be something else."


Sliding her knife a few inches out of it's sheath, she let it catch the light, watching the blade glimmer with rapt attention.


"The thing is," she murmured softly, eyes alight with something pained and a bit demented , "is the man wearing the monster or is the monster wearing the man?"


Squeezing her cerulean eyes shut, the elf shook her head and slid her knife back into its leather sheath.


"Please just go, Dorian." She rasped, nearly pleading.


"I'm sorry for yelling at you. Just go."


Before I hurt you... She thought to herself.


Oceana hated that so many of these people seemed to set her emotions off like kegs of powder. She suddenly hated all of them and just wanted to be alone.


She thought about leaping off the boat into the sea, sinking into the depths, cold and dark and solitary. She couldn't hurt anyone down there.


Then she remembered her dream. The sickening blackness wrapping around her, making her go mad and murderous. Killing her.


It would hurt. I have a mission. A destiny. I have to fight Kavacht and his darkness.


Finding Kìgyo is secondary.


And killing myself or my companions is definitely not on the list.


@L1d1ja
 
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Foxrun, surprised that he and Oceana seemed to agree on something, spoke up as well "the only thing worse than getting caught? Is being dishonorable when you do." He then sneered at the bird as well "don't get me wrong, better timing and this would have been classic to me." He admitted, cutting his eyes as he continued "but covering up your own insecurities by toying with someone else's is more than shameful. You think you're so clever? Do you not realize just how transparent you've become?" He practically spat the words at him. "I don't even know you and I can see through the little games you play." This certainly wasn't the way he wanted a first impression to go. "You had best listen to the elf while she is being so generous." He had seen her mad, but not like this. And she was quite a fright when she wasn't serious. So if she really intended to do some harm, he wasn't sure how well this trip would be after all


@L1d1ja @OlKaJa77
 
Dorian started to reply 'Look, sweetheart-' but was cut off.


Somewhere from the direction of where the door down to the lower decks was, a growl came, not unlike the ones he had let out to toy with people. It was followed by scratching at the door from the inside of the ship.


'If I'm supposed to be toying with you, then what was that?' He asked, true concern lacing his thoughts.


@OlKaJa77 @GalacticRam
 
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The elf whipped around to glare at the fey. Her anger for Dorian had died out but rose suddenly in defense of the familiar.


She had an odd way of rating allies, she supposed.


"Foxrun no one cares about how you see through things. No one cares about anything anyone ever does! Especially if they're human!"


Her finger was like a dagger, jamming into his chest with every word.


"And you're one of them too! You have their rancid blood rushing through your veins. Pretenders the lot of you!"


She couldn't breathe. She couldn't think. The words were just pouring out of her mouth of their own accord. Her eyes were burning; she blamed it on the lack of air.


"Why was I exiled for her lies and destruction?! Why did they cast me awa-?!"


Her ears twitched at the growl from below deck, stopping her rant instantly.


"Thora! The horses!"


And Bo and Nameen and Valeiah, she tried to say but the humans' names were stuck in her throat.


She was already rushing to the door before Dorian had finished speaking.


Drawing her elven daggers, she flung open the door.


@L1d1ja
 
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Dorian also shifted to human. If there was one thing that he didn't want to happen, it was for others to be seriously hurt. He drew his weapons and watched Oceana throw the door open. All he saw in the dark were two shining orange eyes before whatever had them turned around and dove back inside the ship, quick and agile, and soundless.


Without waiting, he raced after it.
 
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