:Yeah, your out like a light.:
He begins to hum as he thinks through the different possible names for their child. He watches the Eyrie wake up, trying to imagine what their reactions to the good news.
On a totally unrelated, I don't drink and fly.
*Starts pigeon-calling*
As Ch'ack and Arielle spar on misty morning, Ch'ack finds himself struggling keep up with her improving skills. Steam from his body combines with the mist as he moves faster. As he parries and counters his daughter his form splits slightly, phasing into two parts. One, the new form that he wears in this life and the other one that he knew in his past life. Similar but distinct, the second, translucent form wears a death mask and tattoos of blue woad cover its skin. Each form acts, seemingly on its own. It becomes easier to counter Arielle's speed. The mist around them cools, even as the sun rises in the sky.
As Ch'ack and Arielle spar on misty morning, Ch'ack finds himself struggling keep up with her improving skills. Steam from his body combines with the mist as he moves faster. As he parries and counters his daughter his form splits slightly, phasing into two parts. One, the new form that he wears in this life and the other one that he knew in his past life. Similar but distinct, the second, translucent form wears a death mask and tattoos of blue woad cover its skin. Each form acts, seemingly on its own. It becomes easier to counter Arielle's speed. The mist around them cools, even as the sun rises in the sky.
Arielle stops and tilts her head to the side, frowning curiously.
"Daddy, why are there two of you?"
As Ch'ack and Arielle spar on misty morning, Ch'ack finds himself struggling keep up with her improving skills. Steam from his body combines with the mist as he moves faster. As he parries and counters his daughter his form splits slightly, phasing into two parts. One, the new form that he wears in this life and the other one that he knew in his past life. Similar but distinct, the second, translucent form wears a death mask and tattoos of blue woad cover its skin. Each form acts, seemingly on its own. It becomes easier to counter Arielle's speed. The mist around them cools, even as the sun rises in the sky.Arielle stops and tilts her head to the side, frowning curiously.
"Daddy, why are there two of you?"
JH stops. The forms phase into one.
"What do you mean? You're the fast one, not me."
As Ch'ack and Arielle spar on misty morning, Ch'ack finds himself struggling keep up with her improving skills. Steam from his body combines with the mist as he moves faster. As he parries and counters his daughter his form splits slightly, phasing into two parts. One, the new form that he wears in this life and the other one that he knew in his past life. Similar but distinct, the second, translucent form wears a death mask and tattoos of blue woad cover its skin. Each form acts, seemingly on its own. It becomes easier to counter Arielle's speed. The mist around them cools, even as the sun rises in the sky.Arielle stops and tilts her head to the side, frowning curiously.
"Daddy, why are there two of you?"JH stops. The forms phase into one.
"What do you mean? You're the fast one, not me."
"Well, there's only one of you now, but there were two of you when we were sparring. I saw it."
As Ch'ack and Arielle spar on misty morning, Ch'ack finds himself struggling keep up with her improving skills. Steam from his body combines with the mist as he moves faster. As he parries and counters his daughter his form splits slightly, phasing into two parts. One, the new form that he wears in this life and the other one that he knew in his past life. Similar but distinct, the second, translucent form wears a death mask and tattoos of blue woad cover its skin. Each form acts, seemingly on its own. It becomes easier to counter Arielle's speed. The mist around them cools, even as the sun rises in the sky.Arielle stops and tilts her head to the side, frowning curiously.
"Daddy, why are there two of you?"JH stops. The forms phase into one.
"What do you mean? You're the fast one, not me."
"Well, there's only one of you now, but there were two of you when we were sparring. I saw it."
Ch'ack scratches his head "I don't know, but I sure could have used a twin to keep up with you. You're improving rapidly."
"Were we both as handsome as each other, or was I twice as handsome?" he grins, unsure of what Arielle saw
Ch'ack scratches his head "I don't know, but I sure could have used a twin to keep up with you. You're improving rapidly."
"Were we both as handsome as each other, or was I twice as handsome?" he grins, unsure of what Arielle saw
"Well, one of you looked like you now, and the other one looked like you only painted and wearing a mask. And both felt solid enough."
"And you really think I'm getting better?" she added with an eager grin, happy to hear some praise. She'd been practicing a lot, trying to learn to fight as well as her dad did.
Ch'ack scratches his head "I don't know, but I sure could have used a twin to keep up with you. You're improving rapidly."
"Were we both as handsome as each other, or was I twice as handsome?" he grins, unsure of what Arielle saw
"Well, one of you looked like you now, and the other one looked like you only painted and wearing a mask. And both felt solid enough."
"And you really think I'm getting better?" she added with an eager grin, happy to hear some praise. She'd been practicing a lot, trying to learn to fight as well as her dad did.
"Yes, you are learning quite well. Likely ready to try two opponents at the same time. At least that's what was running thru my mind 'til you stopped."
He pauses, and a frown crosses his face "What kind of painting?" His brow furls in concentration, perhaps trepidation
"Yes, you are learning quite well. Likely ready to try two opponents at the same time. At least that's what was running thru my mind 'til you stopped."He pauses, and a frown crosses his face "What kind of painting?" His brow furls in concentration
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "That's what I was doing, Daddy. Because there were two of you. That's why I stopped, to ask you why."
"It was blue and kinda swirly. Almost like writing."
"Yes, you are learning quite well. Likely ready to try two opponents at the same time. At least that's what was running thru my mind 'til you stopped."He pauses, and a frown crosses his face "What kind of painting?" His brow furls in concentration
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "That's what I was doing, Daddy. Because there were two of you. That's why I stopped, to ask you why."
"It was blue and kinda swirly. Almost like writing."
A memory sweeps thru Ch'ack's mind like a summer storm. A land of mist. His father, adorned in blue tattoos that seemed to have a life of their own. A dragon, ancient and powerful. Fear. Secrets.
He tries to recover.
"That's enough practice for today. For me at least. How 'bout we find something sweet to eat? I like this 'chocolate' you had me try." His voice takes on a stronger accent than usual
A memory sweeps thru Ch'ack's mind like a summer storm. A land of mist. His father, adorned in blue tattoos that seemed to have a life of their own. A dragon, ancient and powerful. Fear.
He tries to recover.
"That's enough practice for today. For me at least. How 'bout we find something sweet to eat? I like this 'chocolate' you had me try." His voice takes on a stronger accent than usual
"Okay, Daddy. There's a whole jar of chocolates in the kitchen. Or we can have hot chocolate to drink if you like. With marshmallows. I like marshmallows. And caramel. Maybe I can have some caramel syrup in mine?"
"Okay, Daddy. There's a whole jar of chocolates in the kitchen. Or we can have hot chocolate to drink if you like. With marshmallows. I like marshmallows. And caramel. Maybe I can have some caramel syrup in mine?"A memory sweeps thru Ch'ack's mind like a summer storm. A land of mist. His father, adorned in blue tattoos that seemed to have a life of their own. A dragon, ancient and powerful. Fear.
He tries to recover.
"That's enough practice for today. For me at least. How 'bout we find something sweet to eat? I like this 'chocolate' you had me try." His voice takes on a stronger accent than usual
"Yes, Aiselle. But let's not let your mother know."
He seems oblivious to his slip
"Yes, Aiselle. But let's not let your mother know."
He seems oblivious to his slip
She walks over to him and takes his hand. She looks up at him, her green eyes filled with worry.
"I might not be, you know. Sometimes I remember things that never happened, but that doesn't necessarily make me her."
"Yes, Aiselle. But let's not let your mother know."
He seems oblivious to his slip
She walks over to him and takes his hand. She looks up at him, her green eyes filled with worry.
"I might not be, you know. Sometimes I remember things that never happened, but that doesn't necessarily make me her."
He looks deep into her eyes as he sorts thru the words. Realization comes to him. His voice is soft, as is the squeeze he puts on her hand.
"I'm sorry, Arielle. Sometimes my mind gets 'stuck'. It's hard to keep track of time. I don't know how you and your mother do it."
"Step sisters you may be, separated by centuries, but a sweet tooth for both. Come, let's find that caramel."
He looks deep into her eyes as he sorts thru the words. Realization comes to him. His voice is soft, as is the squeeze he puts on her hand.
"I'm sorry, Arielle. Sometimes my mind gets 'stuck'. It's hard to keep track of time. I don't know how you and your mother do it."
"Step sisters you may be, separated by centuries, but a sweet tooth for both. Come, let's find that caramel."
"Okay, Daddy," she says reassured, giving him a hug before skipping on ahead towards the kitchen, all smiles. "Hurry up, slowpoke." :)
"Okay, Daddy," she says reassured, giving him a hug before skipping on ahead towards the kitchen, all smiles. "Hurry up, slowpoke." :)He looks deep into her eyes as he sorts thru the words. Realization comes to him. His voice is soft, as is the squeeze he puts on her hand.
"I'm sorry, Arielle. Sometimes my mind gets 'stuck'. It's hard to keep track of time. I don't know how you and your mother do it."
"Step sisters you may be, separated by centuries, but a sweet tooth for both. Come, let's find that caramel."
"Right behind you."
He walks slowly, absently tracing a swirl pattern in the palm of one hand and deep in thought.
Up in the nest, Sky tries to remember some of the things he overheard the pregnant women of his tribe talking. When he remember one particular detail, he starts to laugh uncontrollably.
I really need to get the Servant's thread up already.
As Arielle gobbles down her treats, her father idly traces designs in his dish. The caramel ignores his work, but when he tries it with cherry jam the red juice flares and burns up.
His heartbeat races, as he searches for memories long-forgotten.
I really need to get the Servant's thread up already.
Devlyn brushes the flour off of Allura's nose. "I'm going to go back to the Bazaar and see what else I can dig up there (and put down, if necessary). The kids should be safe here, and I can move around a bit more unobtrusively if I'm alone." She can tell by his body language and tone that he doesn't like acknowledging that last bit of truth at all.
"If you can keep our link up, then do so. Otherwise, I'll use the crystal to contact you." He gets a thoughtful look on his face, then pulls out his crystal. "Unless you can figure out a way to use the crystals for our link and not have to use so much of your own energy to maintain it. That might be worth looking into."
"Anywhoo, I'll be careful if you are" he says with a wink. "Maybe we can shut these folks down before they try something else stupid. I'll let you know what I find out."
He gives her a long kiss, then heads for the omniportal and returns to the Oasis.
Later that day Ch'ack takes a nap. He falls quickly to sleep and begins dreaming. Symbols and colors float thru his sleeping mind. Some cause pain and others counter them. Some stand alone, others in groups. Familiar and those beyond comprehension, neither type makes sense but all leave a lingering sense of danger.
The nap does little to refresh him.
I really need to get the Servant's thread up already.
Tristan wanders out of his room. His mind speech flares out into the open loud enough for everyone to hear it.
:::Hey, where is everybody? Where's Allura? I feel sore.:::
Tristan wanders out of his room. His mind speech flares out into the open loud enough for everyone to hear it.
:::Hey, where is everybody? Where's Allura? I feel sore.:::
Tristan wanders out of his room. His mind speech flares out into the open loud enough for everyone to hear it.
:::Hey, where is everybody? Where's Allura? I feel sore.:::
Allura mentally responds from the kitchen where she had been talking to Djuhah.
:I'm here, Tristan. Come to the kitchen. Did you sleep badly? I'll be glad to provide a healing spell if you need it.:
Allura mentally responds from the kitchen where she had been talking to Djuhah.
:I'm here, Tristan. Come to the kitchen. Did you sleep badly? I'll be glad to provide a healing spell if you need it.:
:::No. No healing magic. I'm just sore like I've, I don't know. I can't describe it.:::
Rubbing his hands and forearms, Tristan walks into the kitchen and Allura almost doesn't recognize him. He looks almost six months older and barely fits his current wardrobe.