LJ smiled as she watched her daughter playing happily. She handed JH another Dark & Stormy and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"It's good to be home."He kisses the top of her head.
"Home is wherever you two are."
"Exactly. Being separated from you and our daughter was torture. I'm so glad to be back."
"You should teach her how to use a warhammer," she said, watching Arielle run and jump. "She needs an outlet for all of that energy, and she should know how to defend herself if she ever needs to."
Blodwen thinks about it for a bit and decides that, for her at least, a change of form was in order.
:Okay, eranoyeh. You hunt your way. I'll hunt mine.:
She shifted into a form that looked like a cross between a lizard and a horse, with really sharp claws and teeth and sharp barbs at the end of her tail. The moonlight glistened off her black scales.
:It's a githrahk. They are native to the world I come from. Humans use magic to tame and ride them, but even then, the githrahkizh often find ways to kill their riders. They are deadly hunters. You know, since some of us don't have any weapons or the foggiest clue how to use them.:
:An impressive beast, to be sure. Call me if you need help for anything, hunt or not.: Giving her a quick hug around her freshly scaled neck, Sky turns and silently moves for the forest.
:An impressive beast, to be sure. Call me if you need help for anything, hunt or not.: Giving her a quick hug around her freshly scaled neck, Sky turns and silently moves for the forest.
Blodwen stalked silently through the woods on sharply clawed feet, brambles and branches sliding harmlessly off her scales. Her nostrils flared as she scented for prey. She hoped she could find some mice or rabbits soon. She was getting very hungry.
Stopping deep in the forest, Sky closes his eyes and just listens to the forest. Silently nocking an arrow, he keeps the bow down until hears hears something moving in front of him, it's fur catching on brambles. Not looking toward it, Sky lets his arrow fly. He hears the expected thunk of arrow meeting flesh, but the bellow that follws it is unexpected. "Oh no," he whispers "I didn't think there would be a bear out here. Shapechanger or not, I won't let Blodwen face a wounded bear." Running foward, he shoulders his bow and draws his kukri, thinking how stupid most people would think he is for fighting a bear with such a flimsy bit of steel, magical or not, and no armor. He stops 3 yards from the bear, now free of the brambles and looking for the fool who dare hurt it. "Hey bear, I'm over hear." It eyes flashing, the bear turns toward Sky. It roars and charges, but can't get its claws around the skillful shamanic druid. "Sorry friend bear, but that arrow pierced your heart and I don't have the spells left to heal it." As the bear rears up on its hind legs, Sky leaps up and slams his kukri between its eyes. Sweating profusely, Sky sends the bear spirit back to nature, and begins the process that will clean the carcass and allow him to carry the choicest bits back for Blodwen. When he is finished, Sky looks up to see several wolves watching him, their presence given away from by their eyes glowing in the night. He backs away slowly and lets them have the bear. Cleaning his arrow and kukri, he notes he has been hunting for a couple hours at least. He begins to make his way back to the Eyrie, opting to walk over using a spell.
Blodwen hadn't had much luck at hunting. It was a lot more difficult to do without swooping down from overhead. At last she managed to catch a slow rabbit and gobbled it up in a few quick bites. That at least got the taste of burnt food out of her mouth. She ambled back towards the edge of the woods, and just outside the treeline found a blackberry bramble. She shifted back to human, but left the scales on her arms and legs so she wouldn't get scratched. She happily started picking and eating ripe berries.
Once she'd had her fill, Blodwen decided she should bring some of the berries back to share, but lacking a basket she wasn't sure how. After about the third time she splashed ectoplasm all over everything she finally managed to construct a crude basket. She went to work filling it with the delicious berries.
Once she'd had her fill, Blodwen decided she should bring some of the berries back to share, but lacking a basket she wasn't sure how. After about the third time she splashed ectoplasm all over everything she finally managed to construct a crude basket. She went to work filling it with the delicious berries.
Wanting to have a little fun, Sky climbs a tree and moves from one to the next, looking for Blodwen. When he does find her, she is picking berries. Silently, he climbs down and leans against a tree, watching her and waits for her to turn...
Blodwen finally filled the basket and stepped out of the berry patch, adjusting her arms and legs back to skin from scales. She jumped and nearly spilled the whole basket of berries when she saw Sky standing there watching her.
:You scared me! I had no idea you were there. You're not usually so quiet.:
LoL. :)
Blodwen finally filled the basket and stepped out of the berry patch, adjusting her arms and legs back to skin from scales. She jumped and nearly spilled the whole basket of berries when she saw Sky standing there watching her.
:You scared me! I had no idea you were there. You're not usually so quiet.:
He smiles.
:And you usually aren't so excitable. I see you managed to find sweets you can eat.:
He smiles.
:And you usually aren't so excitable. I see you managed to find sweets you can eat.:
:Mmm-hmmm. Blackberries. Would you like some? I picked some extra to share. I had a little trouble making a basket, but I managed it in the end. I had quite a few berries already while I was picking them, so feel free to have as many as you like.:
:Mmm-hmmm. Blackberries. Would you like some? I picked some extra to share. I had a little trouble making a basket, but I managed it in the end. I had quite a few berries already while I was picking them, so feel free to have as many as you like.:
He smiles.
:And you usually aren't so excitable. I see you managed to find sweets you can eat.:
:Ah, blackberries. I remember them from the time my tribe took a trip down the mountain. Tasty, but I always got stuck by the thorns. So your full? Well,at least the little ones get to taste bear meat soon. Now,: he thinks thoughtfully, :how do we use up all the energy you got from those berries?:
:Ah, blackberries. I remember them from the time my tribe took a trip down the mountain. Tasty, but I always got stuck by the thorns. So your full? Well,at least the little ones get to taste bear meat soon. Now,: he thinks thoughtfully, :how do we use up all the energy you got from those berries?:
He was looking at her in a way that was making her pulse speed up, which was creating an odd effect as their heart rates tended to try to synchronize when they were near each other.
:Ummm, I'm guessing you have some ideas for that?:
Mmmmm......roadkill.
He was looking at her in a way that was making her pulse speed up, which was creating an odd effect as their heart rates tended to try to synchronize when they were near each other.
:Ummm, I'm guessing you have some ideas for that?:
Memories of chance sightings as a child rise in Sky's mind before he remembers their link and pushes them down.
:Yeah, I was thinking since we were alone, and um... husband and wife..:
Sky gets flustered and looks away, blushing. Caring for eggs hadn't left him time for other interests...
He was looking at her in a way that was making her pulse speed up, which was creating an odd effect as their heart rates tended to try to synchronize when they were near each other.
:Ummm, I'm guessing you have some ideas for that?:Memories of chance sightings as a child rise in Sky's mind before he remembers their link and pushes them down.
:Yeah, I was thinking since we were alone, and um... husband and wife..:
Sky gets flustered and looks away, blushing. Caring for eggs hadn't left him time for other interests...
She blushed too. Now her heart was racing. And so was his.
She turned his face back towards her and kissed him.:We'll figure it out as we go. My eranoyeh.:
She kissed him again...
Fade to Black
Fade to Black
Fade to Black
Fade to Black
Keehaar can be seen often alone on a lonely crag. Occasionally a small glowing form can be spotted by him.
"You should teach her how to use a warhammer," she said, watching Arielle run and jump. "She needs an outlet for all of that energy, and she should know how to defend herself if she ever needs to."
JH mulls this over as he watches Arielle, gauging her natural ability against weapon choices. The weapon you wear sometimes reveals more than you wish it to.
"Too bad Warforged isn't here. He'd be able to tailor a weapon for her..."
"...and help me repair the dents she'd likely cause on me as she learns."
"You should teach her how to use a warhammer," she said, watching Arielle run and jump. "She needs an outlet for all of that energy, and she should know how to defend herself if she ever needs to."JH mulls this over as he watches Arielle, gauging her natural ability against weapon choices. The weapon you wear sometimes reveals more than you wish it to.
"Too bad Warforged isn't here. He'd be able to tailor a weapon for her..."
"...and help me repair the dents she'd likely cause on me as she learns."
"I do not mean to interrupt, but why not let her pick a weapon and then give her one that is padded but weighs the same?"
"I do not mean to interrupt, but why not let her pick a weapon and then give her one that is padded but weighs the same?""You should teach her how to use a warhammer," she said, watching Arielle run and jump. "She needs an outlet for all of that energy, and she should know how to defend herself if she ever needs to."JH mulls this over as he watches Arielle, gauging her natural ability against weapon choices. The weapon you wear sometimes reveals more than you wish it to.
"Too bad Warforged isn't here. He'd be able to tailor a weapon for her..."
"...and help me repair the dents she'd likely cause on me as she learns."
JH chuckles as he feels the extent of Arielle's energy and strength of her life force. Added to her youthful exhuberance and inexperience...
"Padding? Already factored that in. Wood too, and maybe some occasional lightning as he remembers her temper. Replacement weapons too. But thanks for the input.
At least LJ knows Repair"
"I do not mean to interrupt, but why not let her pick a weapon and then give her one that is padded but weighs the same?""You should teach her how to use a warhammer," she said, watching Arielle run and jump. "She needs an outlet for all of that energy, and she should know how to defend herself if she ever needs to."JH mulls this over as he watches Arielle, gauging her natural ability against weapon choices. The weapon you wear sometimes reveals more than you wish it to.
"Too bad Warforged isn't here. He'd be able to tailor a weapon for her..."
"...and help me repair the dents she'd likely cause on me as she learns."
JH chuckles as he feels the extent of Arielle's energy and strength of her life force. Added to her youthful exhuberance and inexperience...
"Padding? Already factored that in. Wood too, and maybe some occasional lightning as he remembers her temper. Replacement weapons too. But thanks for the input.
At least LJ knows Repair"
LJ chuckles. "She does have your temper, love." She shrugs. "In about eighty percent of possible universes, she chooses a hammer, but it can be hard for me to tell about these things. I am literally blinded by the possibilities. So, by all means, give her a choice about which weapon she prefers."
LJ chuckles. "She does have your temper, love." She shrugs. "In about eighty percent of possible universes, she chooses a hammer, but it can be hard for me to tell about these things. I am literally blinded by the possibilities. So, by all means, give her a choice about which weapon she prefers.""I do not mean to interrupt, but why not let her pick a weapon and then give her one that is padded but weighs the same?""You should teach her how to use a warhammer," she said, watching Arielle run and jump. "She needs an outlet for all of that energy, and she should know how to defend herself if she ever needs to."JH mulls this over as he watches Arielle, gauging her natural ability against weapon choices. The weapon you wear sometimes reveals more than you wish it to.
"Too bad Warforged isn't here. He'd be able to tailor a weapon for her..."
"...and help me repair the dents she'd likely cause on me as she learns."
JH chuckles as he feels the extent of Arielle's energy and strength of her life force. Added to her youthful exhuberance and inexperience...
"Padding? Already factored that in. Wood too, and maybe some occasional lightning as he remembers her temper. Replacement weapons too. But thanks for the input.
At least LJ knows Repair"
"Youth, temper, power. Yes, this will likely hurt."
"Youth, temper, power. Yes, this will likely hurt."
"Well, I promise to kiss it and make it better after," she said with an impish grin.
"Well, I promise to kiss it and make it better after," she said with an impish grin.
"Youth, temper, power. Yes, this will likely hurt."
"How 'bout some pre-emptive kissing in case she hits me in the mouth?", he replies with an equally impish grin, a soft kiss on her neck, and a tickle.
"How 'bout some pre-emptive kissing in case she hits me in the mouth?", he replies with an equally impish grin, a soft kiss on her neck, and a tickle."Well, I promise to kiss it and make it better after," she said with an impish grin.
"Youth, temper, power. Yes, this will likely hurt."
She giggled and leaned up to give him a long, lingering kiss. "That better?" she asked, eyes twinkling.
"Daddy! Mommy! Come play with me. Keehaar won't anymore, and I'm tired of playing by myself," Arielle whined, obviously tired, but likely to deny it if such fact is pointed out.
She giggled and leaned up to give him a long, lingering kiss. "That better?" she asked, eyes twinkling."How 'bout some pre-emptive kissing in case she hits me in the mouth?", he replies with an equally impish grin, a soft kiss on her neck, and a tickle."Well, I promise to kiss it and make it better after," she said with an impish grin.
"Youth, temper, power. Yes, this will likely hurt."
"What were we talking about again?"
hearing Areille
"Oh oh, looks like Arielle has worn out another playmate."
"What were we talking about again?"
hearing Areille
"Oh oh, looks like Arielle has worn out another playmate."
"And herself too," LJ murmured.
"Come here, sweetie," she said to Arielle, holding out her arms for a hug. "Come and sit next to me, and we can play a game, okay?"
Arielle gave up on sulking and hugged her mother. "What game?" she asked eagerly.
"Well, it's a counting game," LJ said, producing a small globe full of stars. A soothing tune came from the toy. "Let's see if you can tell me how many stars are in this globe."
As Arielle started counting, LJ leaned over to JH and whispered, "I'm pretty sure that's the only way we were getting her to go to sleep tonight, and she's so tired. You'll have to carry her to her room after she drops off, but that's still better than fighting every step of the way. Does using magic to lull her to sleep make me a bad parent?" she asks anxiously.
"What were we talking about again?"
hearing Areille
"Oh oh, looks like Arielle has worn out another playmate."
"And herself too," LJ murmured.
"Come here, sweetie," she said to Arielle, holding out her arms for a hug. "Come and sit next to me, and we can play a game, okay?"
Arielle gave up on sulking and hugged her mother. "What game?" she asked eagerly.
"Well, it's a counting game," LJ said, producing a small globe full of stars. A soothing tune came from the toy. "Let's see if you can tell me how many stars are in this globe."
As Arielle started counting, LJ leaned over to JH and whispered, "I'm pretty sure that's the only way we were getting her to go to sleep tonight, and she's so tired. You'll have to carry her to her room after she drops off, but that's still better than fighting every step of the way. Does using magic to lull her to sleep make me a bad parent?" she asks anxiously.
"Not to me. Her magic is what's kept her up this long."
"3,216...3,217....3,218........3,219...........3,220.............."
Arielle slumped over the table, the ball still clutched tightly in her hand as she fell fast asleep.
"3,216...3,217....3,218........3,219...........3,220.............."
Arielle slumped over the table, the ball still clutched tightly in her hand as she fell fast asleep.
JH scoops up Arielle and carries her to her room, tucking her in with a kiss.
The omniportal flashes to life as Devlyn, Allura, Aidan, Oroth, LK and Sytt enter the Eyrie of Celestial Harmony. Cradled gently in Devlyn's arms is an unconscious human boy, scarred and dirty.
"Hello and welcome. Who is this?" the djinn asks, concerned as he sees the unconscious boy.
"His name is Tristan and some very bad things have been done to him. We really need to talk to LJ."
Djuhah nods. "I understand. She is on her way. Please follow me. The omniportal chamber is no place for this sort of conversation. There is a private room just over here."
He leads them to a guest chamber.
After a few minutes LJ walks in. She listens to Allura's explanation of what happened when she tried to look into the boy's memories and nods.
"I'll do what I can." She sits down next to Tristan and smooths the hair back from his face. "Poor child."
She suffuses him with positive energy as she looks through the timelines into his past.
He won't be of this plot except to watch the Eyrie should LJ be needed.
*Brightens* But this means I have kept the fact I can't shift a secret for a very long time. >:)
*Brightens* But this means I have kept the fact I can't shift a secret for a very long time. >:)