Sorry about the lack of activity last week. We've all been adjusting here now that our home is two people richer. I got myself in a rut, and I'm trying to dig myself out with new stuff while I re-energize my spark for the Living Stone. So while I'm trying to make more Kra-related scribblings, I have a new piece to share that I've tentatively titled Awake.
Thank you for your patience and understanding in our times of (minor) crisis, and as always, I hope you enjoy!
********
How very curious.
This was the first thought the rabbit had. His forepaws rested on the smooth, weathered stone disk, the reason for his thought. It was so intricate, so delicate, but simple and solid. It was impossible, this stone. It should not be. But here it was, under his paws, giving him a reason to sit and just ... think.
Thought had never occurred to the rabbit before. All that mattered was being a rabbit; eating, rutting, and running. But all these images and ideas in his head now, they were so much more interesting! The worst of it was, he could have done it before. But it did not matter as much as it did now, with this enigmatic stone unraveling his brain.
The rabbit knew he was awake now when all his life he had been asleep. One thought now kept running through his expanding mind: "Why?"
There was a rustle in the grass nearby, and old instincts kicked in. The rabbit stood up on his hind legs, peering around cautiously. His heart skipped a beat as he noticed the telltale orange fur of a fox. It dawned on the rabbit that if he panicked like he used to, he would not have noticed the fox.
He looked down at the stone. He wanted to bring it with him, but it would slow him down when he ran from the fox. He could come back for it. It had to come with him, but not now.
The choice would have been made for him a moment later as the fox burst from his hiding spot, pouncing for the rabbit just as he dashed away. The rabbit was not afraid, he had done this many times before. But now, even as his legs pumped in sprinting leaps, his mind raced just as hard. He could stay one step ahead of the fox, if he could think on his feet.
A memory of a brook swollen from the spring melt drove him to take a harsh turn, one he almost did not make. The rabbit heard the snap of the fox's teeth just behind his tail, spurring him on to deeper urgency. He noted how much wider the fox's turn was than his own as he scrambled away, his plan taking a more definite shape.
The wild chase bolted through a thicket, startling a flock of tiny birds. The forest filled with chirping and fluttering of the frightened avians, but neither the rabbit nor his fox pursuer were deterred from the hunt. The rabbit weaved through the trees, trying to wile the fox away from his path, but this fox seemed particularly determined to catch him. It seemed like the brook would be his best chance.
Finally, the rabbit could smell the brook nearby. The ground started to slope down in places as the trees thinned. But there was one part that stayed more or less even, culminating in a rise, and that was the path the rabbit took. He bounded over stones and roots, making sure that the fox was always just behind him. The orange furred beast just beyond his tail was completely focused on catching this slippery prey.
The rise the rabbit sought appeared before him, and he heart leapt. He turned up the speed, pushing himself further than he ever thought to before. The fox picked up speed as well, just as the rabbit hoped he would.
Just before the running pair reached the end of the cliff, the rabbit sprung off to the right in another tight turn, skidding to a stop just short of the edge. This time, the fox's turn was just too wide. It scramble for a foothold just before it realized it was about to slide off the edge, but to no avail. It yelped as it tumbled down the cliff to the rushing water below. There was a loud splash below, and the rabbit released a sigh of relief. He stepped up to the edge, catching a glance of the fox's miserable expression as he drifted downstream with the current. He dropped down onto his side, panting hard with the exertion of the explosive run. Thoughts of seeking out cool water and tasty clover brought him to his feet once more, and he started hopping to a calmer section of the brook for the former.
As he was lapping up water next to the calmer side of the brook, he remembered the stone. He needed to keep it safe, but he did not know why. But how could he do such a thing? He was only a little brown rabbit, what could he possibly do to keep it safe?
He began to hop away in search of the stone once more, when his paws landed on something hard and smooth. Gazing down, the rabbit cocked his head to one side. The stone was under his feet once again.
How very, very curious indeed, the rabbit thought.
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Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Monday, March 3, 2014
The Living Stone, Chapter 8.02 - To Black Needles
The trek through the wasteland to Black Needles was a long one for the large group. Kra used to move with his clan through Argassa, but a pack of ten dragons could fly to where they were going. Travel times were not so long, treks lasting as long as three days at the longest. Even traveling by himself was always a day to day experience. Even traveling with just Bink took a little longer than he would have liked
Now, plodding across the wastes with a goblin, three humans, and a dwarf was a stretch of Kra's patience. His pace was practically a quarter of what he could do on his own. He regretted the burden of his curse; if his scales were not so heavy, he could have carried almost all of them on his back. As it was, he carried Bink out of courtesy to the longer legged members of the group, and it still felt like he was dragging his feet.
Yet the trip was enjoyable. Progress was sacrificed for the banter and interaction between these strange and disparate folks. Grif tended to grumble and curse every misstep and trip up that his stubby legs made, prompting Bink to laugh and Nellik to chastise him. When any bickering continued for too long, Wardan broke it up with nothing more than a calm warning. Kra was impressed by how much respect he had from his friends, but was reminded of just how strong the man was one night when he lifted Grif up over his head and tossed him during a sparing session. Throughout it all, Rilea kept up a motherly attitude, herding all of the others like they were cattle. She was always quick to add her thoughts, providing a stream of witty quips and sly commentary
The one person Kra did communicate with regularly was Nellik. Nellik was a wellspring of information about the Drakvald wastes, and anytime Kra had a question about the flora and fauna of their surroundings he had an answer or anecdote to share with him. The dragon was glad to have another student of the world to talk with, and Nellik seemed to be genuinely happy to have someone else who enjoyed learning for learning's sake.
Bink was happy enough just keeping the group fed day to day. His hunting skills were tested between the demands of four adult humanoids and a dragon, and he seemed to outdo himself every day. The others offered to help him hunt every day, but he refused, even when Kra offered his help. The goblin seemed to have a point to make, and wanted to impress the others to prove that goblins could stand alongside the bigger races. Regardless, he came back from his hunts with food enough for all to share, even Kra. He had actually been eating better than he had in years thanks to the prodigious hunting talents of Bink, and had no cause to complain.
The whole trip lasted five days, but they were five days well spent, as far as the dragon was concerned.
The name of Black Needles was entirely deserved. The valley was a forest of wicked stone spires, some of which thrust themselves up past the skyline. The Rivenwall soaked wide swaths of the land in its overbearing shadow, making it even more sinister. The air was strangely cold and thick, as a heady fog swirled about on parts of the valley floor. Kra sniffed at the mist curiously, detecting an acrid tinge that was not appetizing.
"Careful, Kra," Nellik warned. "This fog has been known to have some odd effects on people who get too close."
"I heard a man and dwarf walked into some of this stuff and disappeared for three days," Grif said. "When they were found, the man had a dwarven beard and the dwarf had gone completely bald!"
"A dwarven nightmare if ever there was one," Rilea cooed mockingly.
"Hallucinations are common," Nellik continued. "The worst cases are burned by something caustic in the vapors, something we can't identify."
"Something in the soil, no doubt," Kra conceded. "A shame; the vapors are practically pure water without it."
"Really?" Wardan said. "This place is notorious for being inhospitable at the ground level, but it's essentially just water in that fog?"
The dragon nodded. "Feel the soil, it's softer here than anywhere else I've been." He turned to the raider captain. "How well-explored is Black Needles?"
Wardan shook his head. "Not well, at least not on the inside. It's too risky to send in mappers, and it was assumed there wasn't much to gain. We've got a good idea how large it is, after scouting its perimeters, but that's about it."
"So you don't know what's in there," Kra concluded.
"Chiraptor nests, a possible cliff lizard population, and anything else with nowhere to go," Wardan shrugged. "No orcs seen, no goblins, no other threats."
"No dragons then," Kra said.
"Not as far as we've seen."
"Good," he said grimly. "If we do end up staying here, I would hate for there to be complications."
"Wardan," Nellik said, "I believe it's time I should go."
Wardan nodded, to everyone's surprise.
"Go where?" Rilea demanded. "I was promised three raiders."
"You also promised a week," Nellik told her. "It has been far longer. If you don't want an armed regiment hunting you down for kidnapping, there is little we can do but send a messenger back."
"Will you be returning?" Kra asked, sad to see Nellik leave.
"That will depend on Borlan's response. We have vital news he needs to hear at the very least, pertaining to the movements of the Destructors." He snapped a salute to his captain, who returned the gesture. He turned and did the same for Kra.
"If not for you, I would be short a captain and a friend. You have my thanks."
Kra's pride warmed in his chest so much that he did not know how to respond. Unable to return the gesture, he placed his paw on his chest and bowed his head.
For the first time since the dragon met him, Nellik smiled. He turned around, wrapping his face in his mask, and started marching toward home.
"Don't worry about him," Wardan said to Kra's forlorn gaze. "He's done a lot of scouting and reconnaissance, and he's certainly no stranger to the wastes. He knows the way home."
"May the Mother keep him safe." Kra said reverently.
"Come then," Wardan said, making for the heart of the valley. "We have a cult to stop, a home to make, and whatever Rilea's looking for to find."
"At this point, I'd take a canteen of water," she said. "This journey has already become a treasure in itself." Kra could feel her gaze on him through the protective cloth on her eyes. Without knowing quite why, Kra felt the most exposed he ever had under her powerful eyes.
"Does that mean we can go home?" Grif said, his beard shaking slightly as the dwarf shivered. "This place ain't good. Unwholesome, it is."
"Agree with dwarfy," Bink said. "Black Needles bad, new place for home Kra!"
Kra and Wardan shared a wry look, then turned back to the valley, walking on wordlessly. Rilea laughed at the distraught moans of the goblin and dwarf.
Now, plodding across the wastes with a goblin, three humans, and a dwarf was a stretch of Kra's patience. His pace was practically a quarter of what he could do on his own. He regretted the burden of his curse; if his scales were not so heavy, he could have carried almost all of them on his back. As it was, he carried Bink out of courtesy to the longer legged members of the group, and it still felt like he was dragging his feet.
Yet the trip was enjoyable. Progress was sacrificed for the banter and interaction between these strange and disparate folks. Grif tended to grumble and curse every misstep and trip up that his stubby legs made, prompting Bink to laugh and Nellik to chastise him. When any bickering continued for too long, Wardan broke it up with nothing more than a calm warning. Kra was impressed by how much respect he had from his friends, but was reminded of just how strong the man was one night when he lifted Grif up over his head and tossed him during a sparing session. Throughout it all, Rilea kept up a motherly attitude, herding all of the others like they were cattle. She was always quick to add her thoughts, providing a stream of witty quips and sly commentary
The one person Kra did communicate with regularly was Nellik. Nellik was a wellspring of information about the Drakvald wastes, and anytime Kra had a question about the flora and fauna of their surroundings he had an answer or anecdote to share with him. The dragon was glad to have another student of the world to talk with, and Nellik seemed to be genuinely happy to have someone else who enjoyed learning for learning's sake.
Bink was happy enough just keeping the group fed day to day. His hunting skills were tested between the demands of four adult humanoids and a dragon, and he seemed to outdo himself every day. The others offered to help him hunt every day, but he refused, even when Kra offered his help. The goblin seemed to have a point to make, and wanted to impress the others to prove that goblins could stand alongside the bigger races. Regardless, he came back from his hunts with food enough for all to share, even Kra. He had actually been eating better than he had in years thanks to the prodigious hunting talents of Bink, and had no cause to complain.
The whole trip lasted five days, but they were five days well spent, as far as the dragon was concerned.
The name of Black Needles was entirely deserved. The valley was a forest of wicked stone spires, some of which thrust themselves up past the skyline. The Rivenwall soaked wide swaths of the land in its overbearing shadow, making it even more sinister. The air was strangely cold and thick, as a heady fog swirled about on parts of the valley floor. Kra sniffed at the mist curiously, detecting an acrid tinge that was not appetizing.
"Careful, Kra," Nellik warned. "This fog has been known to have some odd effects on people who get too close."
"I heard a man and dwarf walked into some of this stuff and disappeared for three days," Grif said. "When they were found, the man had a dwarven beard and the dwarf had gone completely bald!"
"A dwarven nightmare if ever there was one," Rilea cooed mockingly.
"Hallucinations are common," Nellik continued. "The worst cases are burned by something caustic in the vapors, something we can't identify."
"Something in the soil, no doubt," Kra conceded. "A shame; the vapors are practically pure water without it."
"Really?" Wardan said. "This place is notorious for being inhospitable at the ground level, but it's essentially just water in that fog?"
The dragon nodded. "Feel the soil, it's softer here than anywhere else I've been." He turned to the raider captain. "How well-explored is Black Needles?"
Wardan shook his head. "Not well, at least not on the inside. It's too risky to send in mappers, and it was assumed there wasn't much to gain. We've got a good idea how large it is, after scouting its perimeters, but that's about it."
"So you don't know what's in there," Kra concluded.
"Chiraptor nests, a possible cliff lizard population, and anything else with nowhere to go," Wardan shrugged. "No orcs seen, no goblins, no other threats."
"No dragons then," Kra said.
"Not as far as we've seen."
"Good," he said grimly. "If we do end up staying here, I would hate for there to be complications."
"Wardan," Nellik said, "I believe it's time I should go."
Wardan nodded, to everyone's surprise.
"Go where?" Rilea demanded. "I was promised three raiders."
"You also promised a week," Nellik told her. "It has been far longer. If you don't want an armed regiment hunting you down for kidnapping, there is little we can do but send a messenger back."
"Will you be returning?" Kra asked, sad to see Nellik leave.
"That will depend on Borlan's response. We have vital news he needs to hear at the very least, pertaining to the movements of the Destructors." He snapped a salute to his captain, who returned the gesture. He turned and did the same for Kra.
"If not for you, I would be short a captain and a friend. You have my thanks."
Kra's pride warmed in his chest so much that he did not know how to respond. Unable to return the gesture, he placed his paw on his chest and bowed his head.
For the first time since the dragon met him, Nellik smiled. He turned around, wrapping his face in his mask, and started marching toward home.
"Don't worry about him," Wardan said to Kra's forlorn gaze. "He's done a lot of scouting and reconnaissance, and he's certainly no stranger to the wastes. He knows the way home."
"May the Mother keep him safe." Kra said reverently.
"Come then," Wardan said, making for the heart of the valley. "We have a cult to stop, a home to make, and whatever Rilea's looking for to find."
"At this point, I'd take a canteen of water," she said. "This journey has already become a treasure in itself." Kra could feel her gaze on him through the protective cloth on her eyes. Without knowing quite why, Kra felt the most exposed he ever had under her powerful eyes.
"Does that mean we can go home?" Grif said, his beard shaking slightly as the dwarf shivered. "This place ain't good. Unwholesome, it is."
"Agree with dwarfy," Bink said. "Black Needles bad, new place for home Kra!"
Kra and Wardan shared a wry look, then turned back to the valley, walking on wordlessly. Rilea laughed at the distraught moans of the goblin and dwarf.
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