Rethe returns the smile and places a hand on Layali's shoulder, channeling energy to heal her. "Well, I am glad it didn't come to such danger. I think you did well, considering the monstrosities we faced," he says, his expression taking on a more bitter note as he looks over the collapsed bones.
Shaking his head to clear the thoughts, he takes a step forward, looking up at the pseudodragons perched above. "We owe the two gratitude for alerting us about those fiends before we stumbled upon them. Perhaps the least I could do would be to assist their friend if no one else is heavily wounded," he says, looking back around at the party. "I would need some time to rest before providing any more aid for anyone else however."
"After watching you a bit Rethe I've got the hang of that spell too, does anyone else feel wounded enough so that I should use it?" Chara asks the rest of the group.
"I have a few castings in me I'm sure. Then we should be on our way again!" Chara pauses "Actually little dragon friends, tell me do you know what made those creatures?"
Djon nods in agreement and says "Good thinking Chara. We don't want to have any more undead roaming about the forest."
With a curious chirp, one of the Pseudodragons on the branch tilted their head at her, and several chirps from the uninjured one on the other end made it pause for a second. The day was continuing on, the warm of the air of the afternoon even permeating the canopy now, so that the dimness of the forest was touched with a warm breeze, uncaring of the bones that lay in two places nearby.
There was a curious sound from the other pseudodragon that had arrived with Warrok, sort of a growl and a 'cheep', that made the first one take wing, to land carefully on Chara's shoulder. There was the sense of "attention" that everyone could get, and it looked from the piles of bones to Chara, and back at the others before back up at the branch it had been on.
"Notsosure.FromishardbecausetheywerefrombeforetheywereMaybehelpingcouldshow morebutflyinghurts"
Chara smiles. "Well don't worry about the flying we can carry you little ones, but we want to see the forest protect just as much as you. You think you can show us more?" Chara reaches over and scratches the head of the little one on her shoulder.
Good to see they are happy again, no matter how fleeting.
Layali thanks Rethe for the healing. "I believe healing our winged friend here would be a good idea."
Holding out a bit of food again in one hand and her arm out as a perch, Layali waits to see if her new comes back for a snack.
Warrok watches his new friends and the pseudodragons, cocking his head slightly to listen to the forest around them. "Funny little dragons, sound like small birds but have hearts of giants. I like them."
Rethe smiles at Chara. "Oh? That sounds good. Considering all the monsters we've been running into, may prove pretty useful," he says with a chuckle.
"And yes, I agree," he says to Layali, before directing his attention toward the one perched on Chara's shoulder. "Especially if you'd all be so kind as to help us find the area they may have come from, we certainly don't want you to have any trouble taking to the air in case there is anything else around. If your friend will come down, I'll see if I can fix up that injury."
A tilt of the head came from the little dragon on Chara's shoulder, and an almost comical blinking as it picked up Rethe's intent. Looking back up at the dragons on the branches, it trilled something at the others, and a couple seconds later, the one with an injured wing moved to the trunk of the tree carefully, but stopped there, looking back to Rethe. When it spoke, the tone was slightly different from the one on Chara's shoulder.
'Come closer.'
Chara's head flicks round at the ominous call from the tiny creature.
Huh? That's not their regular tone..
Chara shrugs and edges closer slowly. "Okay, what for?"
The fur on the back of Rethe's neck bristles a bit at the unusual tone and the curious request. Still, they've been kind to us so far... he thinks to himself. I can't imagine they'd attack us now for any particular reason...
"Sure," he says, taking a few slow steps forward. He keeps his hands up in a non-threatening gesture, so as not to alarm or distress the small beast.
When Rethe stepped close enough that the Pseudodragon can transfer from the trunk to his hand, it does so, taking care to make sure the injured wing is jostled as little as possible. You can see the tiny form seem somewhat relieved, as it travels up his arm to settle comfortably at his shoulder. The fact that the wing is braced somewhat by his neck and armor seems to be helpful. It heaves a tiny sigh, and then looks at the two with what could be amusement. Not having much exposure to them, it is a bit hard to tell.
'It is too painful to fly, and I would rather not hurt more. I have done that enough.' There is the slight tone of amusement, and a weight of years on the mental voice that all of you can feel.
Rethe chuckles a bit, feeling silly for his concern. It's older, is that it? No wonder its speech is smoother than that of the others.
He nods to the small dragon. "Ah, I see. Well, hold still a moment, and let me see if I can't help you out with that." He places his free hand on the creature's back, trying to avoid touching any particularly sensitive area, before he channels energy to heal its wound.
There were curious chirps from the younger pair of Pseudodragons, but all of you can feel a subtle sense of relief as the older Pseudodragon receives healing from Rethe, and then bobs his head in appreciation before launching itself from his shoulder to return to the branch.
'It works. The rest will heal. You have my gratitude', the wing that had been drooping was being tentatively stretched as it examined the regained range of movement. Perched up on the branch, the little dragon looked somewhat regal, its tail curled around the perch.
The other pseudodragon was happy for any food offered, energetically (but neatly) eating it and looked at Layali's hands for more, then looked back at her as if disappointed. The one that was perched on Chara's shoulder was leaning into the petting with a slack position of bliss, soaking up the attention.
Chara gladly continues to pet the small pseudodragon on her shoulder. Chara then asks the one on the branch. "You seem a bit older than the rest, do you perhaps know what caused those undead or at least where they came from so we can investigate?"
There was a slight pause as the older pseudodragon considered her question, and everyone got a sense of a shrug. 'Where anything comes from-- Magic. In time someone uses it, or with enough time, it uses itself if there is a need.." Quietly reveling in the having the use of its wings back so quickly, the Pseudodragon stretched them again. The stinger on the end of its tail tapped against the bark of the tree almost contemplatively. '..Or a direction. If you wish to have a name to call me, "Rath" is as convenient a name as any.'
The warm afternoon breeze brought a stirring of leaves and the scents of damp forest with it, the wind heated by the sun on the uppermost leaves, but leaving only the smell of grasses and the faint edge of fungi. Somewhere in the forest a branch snapped and leaves rustled.
Curiously, the elder regarded Chara calmly. 'We can help-- I suspect that they would be happy to-- but I must ask 'why'? Why investigate? What drives you so far from home?'
Layali reacts to the branch and leaves, bow coming to the ready. Perception: (or add 2 more if it's an animal of some type).
Layali address Rath, "We hunt abominations which encroach our territory." Layali describes what she has seen of the beasts for Rath. "[b][/b]"
"I do it for curiousity and also because they damage our home just as much they damage yours Rath. I do understand that magic causes a lot of these problems but very rarely is the magic itself the driving force. It is the tool no doubt, I want to know who is using that tool for these forces and stop them. Call it righteousness if you wish but I prefer this to be a peaceful forest." She replies to Rath quite calmly.
"Well said sister Chara." Djon says proudly.
The little dragon that had been hoping for more food from Layali took when when she raised her bow, flapping up to the branch on which the elder sat and settled, stretching out to relax, not paying much attention to what the others were doing. The pseudodragon on Chara's shoulder looked at her, picking up on her tone, then to the elder, settling more comfortably on her shoulders.
Rath looked into the breeze, scenting it for a moment before it turned its head to look back down to the others. 'Nature is not peaceful', it said to Chara, then looking at Layali. 'I have not seen those before', it said, examining her memories of the creature. 'However, we can help. As long as you can keep us safe, and give us food, we will help you search.'
Chara folds her arms "Nature is far more peaceful than the realm of man and their use of their magic. It is more a matter of perspective here but yes we shall keep you safe and feed you." Chara smiles a warm smile at Rath.
"So which direction then my friends?" She asks the Pseudodragons.
Warrok shifts his weight, continuing to lean on his spear, listening intently to the first extended conversation he's heard in many days. "I am happy to protect you, little ones."
The Pseudodragon on Chara's shoulder looked at her with a chirp, not quite understanding her question. Still, to be helpful, the one on her shoulder started thinking aloud. 'Direction?Towhat?Thereisastreamoverthereandsomeverynicetreesthatway,andooh !Thereisareallynicefruitbushoverinthisdirectionbutyouhavetomakesurenottoeat toomuchbecausethenyouwontbeabletoflyaswell'
There was a sense of minor amusement from Rath, as well as a sense of long-suffering, but beyond that, the others said nothing. The Pseudodragon beside Rath had its eyes closed, and it was entirely possible that it had drifted off to sleep.
Rethe nonchalantly raises a hand over his mouth, itching his nose to conceal a small amused chuckle, then takes a few steps in the direction that the skeletons first approached from.
"I imagine this should get us started on the right path to begin with, yes?" he asks, primarily of Rath, and waits for the rest of the group to follow or the pseudodragons to say otherwise.
Layali agrees following Rethe, "The path left by these abominations should be easy enough to follow back."
Chara nods at Rethe and begins to follow Layali. She has grown to trust most of Layali's instincts when it comes to finding creatures out here in the wilderness.
Djon also follows taking up the rear guard as the group heads off. "Remember, these things don't exactly need rest, food or shelter. We may be on the hunt for awhile." Djon points out.
The path that the skeletons have taken is not hard to discern at all. All one needed to do was follow their eyes, and those with sensitive noses received even more.
Shredded bark on the bigger trees, the pungent scent of their sap visible, divots torn out of the ground from the gouges of claws, and mutilated carcasses of any creature that was unfortunate enough to get caught-- which thankfully were few of the larger animals-- marked the trail that the skeletons had taken. There was no direct line to the trail, it seemed that they had simply been set loose to rampage however they would.
The Pseudodragons winged by, perching on branches and circling overhead as they followed the trail, save for the one Layali had fed, this one perching on her shoulder whenever possible and occasionally asking jumbled and very fast questions that often got distracted from their original point. The other, that had given its name as "Lura" Kept overhead and stopped when they did. Noon turned into evening, and the trail had turned them more East than South.
During the trek Layali questions her new friend about his life, asking where and what they usually hunt hoping to keep an eye out for similar game to offer the pseudodragons. "I don't believe I ever got you name little dragon. I am Layali Amani, huntress of the Rosebarrow." She scratches the dragon under it's chin and that spot between it's wings it can never seem to reach.
"Hmmm, this seems to be an issue." Chara is getting worried about the fact that they were just left to rampage with no direction.
"I wonder where they were raised then, did the necromancer kill the owlbears and raise them on the spot or did he bring them here himself in a cart or something then raise them." Chara is getting worried that the next attack will be just as haphazard as this one.
Chara begins to think of the lay of the land and where if there is a cave, or an alcove or someone which would be away from view where one could go about experiments unimpeded from interlopers.
Perhaps a necromancer is hiding, or worse.
It takes some focus for Layali to parse out the little pseudodragon's words, especially since they were more thoughts, passed directly from the little dragon to her. A high-speed barrage of images and sensations colored through and through with its emotions made it difficult to focus while it was talking. Still, she managed to figure out that its name was Xyamin, and it was the youngest of three. Lura was the older, and Rath was the Oldest. It usually hunted anything smaller than it, and was not too picky.
Their current location was in the southern Fierani, and while the area was not shunned, it was one that was often not lingered in by any Catfolk, save for those that lived in this area, but there was also a bit of a stigma to those that were of the Shadowlyn. More opinionated cats thought that they were affected by the demon's taint by living so close, but thankfully, those that were vocal about it were in the small minority.
The forest in this area was a bit hilly, as they were approaching the mountain range that bordered the forest to the south. While the hills were not imposing for any able catfolk, the hills and trees could make an alcove, and if there was a cave system under them, things could get complicated.
Queue the flashback... :D
" Xyamin do you know if there are caves under there? Is that the source of corruption we seek perhaps?" Layali wonders.
The little not-dragon on Layali's shoulder tilted its head in a slightly curious look, and blinked at her a couple times. Layali could sense that it did not quite grasp something about her inquiry, but it answered anyways. The telepathy had an odd sort of "echo", never mind the fact that everyone was hearing it in their mind.
'Caves?TherearesomecavesbutIhavenotseenmanymaybetherearesomebutwedonotgoin- -wearetootastyforsomecreaturesDospidersscareyou?Therearesomehugeonesthatare biggerthanIamandIcanalmosthearthemthinkingabouthowtastyIam!Whatis "Corruption"?' The interesting thing about when Xyamin used Layali's term, it was quoting her, so it had much of her intonation and intention in it.
Djon tries to keep himself out of the little dragons attention a thumb massaging his temple. He holds his distance from the creatures their telepatic abilities though impressive put a real strain on his mind.
He keeps his focus attuned to his surroundings keeping a lookout for both food and danger.
Layali thinks for a moment, "Little one, you know when you find a berry on a bush and it's ripe and ready to eat? Delicious and sweet. But sometimes you find a berry that looks good, until you turn it over and you can see it's started to rot. That is corruption. The owlbears? Normally with their fur and feathers they are fierce predators in these woods, but stripped of their flesh, and organs, animated by foul magic? That is corruption."
Large spiders eh?
Perhaps can you direct us to those caves little one?" She asks inquisitively, these caves might lead to nothing or maybe to the network of caves Chara thinks is underneath where they are. Hopefully this detour doesn't take them too far away from their mission. As whatever is raising these undead creatures might not be related to the beast, Chara is hoping that the beast is the thing doing the raising or is risen itself.
The little dragon looks back and forth between the the explanation and question quickly, then looked around at the forest. 'OhhhhhhhhIsee!Thatisunderstandable!' Its rapid fire speech seemed to be normal, though the other two were more manageable, Rath more than Lura. It also seemed to accompany its "words" with snippets of impression and flashes of memory. So when it looked at Chara, it was accompanied with the sensation of flying, blurs of trees, worn and overgrown stone trees, and then further along, a cave.
There was a sense of trepidation that accompanied the mental image of the cave, but the Xyamin nodded bravely. 'Icandirect.Itisn'ttoofar.'
Rath perched on a branch ahead, and proffered a sense of consideration with his words that reached the party. '"Not too far" for a nimble flyer.. It may take more than that for those without wings.' The warm air of the afternoon was comfortable deep in the forest as they were. One could imagine the heat on the plains to be most uncomfortable.
"Please brave dragon, let us go to this cave." Layali says, enjoying the warm air.
Chara nods in agreement with Layali and waits to be lead.
Djon prepares a branch as a torch before taking a position at the mouth of the cave.
Reluctantly, Xyamin takes wing to show them the way to the caves that it was talking about, and true enough, the time spent travelling was much longer than thought, as Rath said. This part of the forest was not so hilly as to say that the hills were rolling, but they were certainly not flat. Large, old trees spread their roots deep, and here and there were charred stumps where weather and time had seen fit to remove some of the trees.
Sure enough, there were a good many spiderwebs that could be seen through the tops of the trees, and it they were not dense-- not yet. The sounds of insect life were fewer, but also, so was that of the animals of the forest.. It seemed that whatever preyed on things in this area did not mind a warm meal or two.
The way starts to get even more choked with spiderwebs, but if the path was any indication, the open area led to a large tree with what looked like more than just space among its roots. The dragons had taken to perching on the shoulders of the group, in order to avoid the spiderwebs. None of them looked very comfortable with their location.