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+--- Thread: Becoming Familiar with Lesser Gembounds (/showthread.php?tid=5835)
Becoming Familiar with Lesser Gembounds - Vladis - Aug 11 2018
The brown and black furred creature wandered through the cave of Canis towards the shabby den he had formed. He had wandered out to go hunting but pickings were always slim in the cavern. Most creatures, great and lesser gembounds, tended to avoid this particular cavern. The tanuki often had to wander down the connecting tunnel in order to find prey. He had luck, though, in finding a small mouse poking around one of the bone piles. And with better luck, he was able to capture said creature.
Being largely self-raised and more of an omnivore than a true carnivore, Vladis was not the best of hunters. He was slowly growing more successful with each attempt but it was a difficult feat. It was an annoying reality, however, he found himself quite proud of how well he’s managed to do. And even more proud of his growing treasure trove.
His treasure trove hadn’t grown much since that first day of life. It was still a precious pile for him. And he craved it growing largely. The tanuki spent more time looking for gems and baubles than truly hunting but with a lesser success rate. Still, he protected it aggressively.
That was why, when he got closer and saw a small pack of echoing grey rats, his fur immediately stood on edge. A low grow formed deep in his throat. There were three and most would wonder if it was wise for a still young raccoon dog to take them on by himself.
But Vladis was not exactly wise.
RE: Becoming Familiar with Lesser Gembounds - Crescendo - Aug 17 2018
Crescendo shivered, every fiber of her being set on edge. She couldn't remember exactly what route she'd taken to get here, this room filled with bones, but the last tunnel... that had been unforgettable. Barren rock, constant chilliness, and above all the feeling that she shouldn't be there. As she walked through and the time spent there lengthened, it became a feeling that she shouldn't exist. Her curiosity had left her, leaving behind only the fear of an untimely death. To think she'd thought it wouldn't be that bad at first. She should have turned back the moment she set foot in that place. Back to the room of stars, back towards safety.
She couldn't have been happier to leave the tunnel, even if it was into this creepy room. Maybe she would just stay here. She was sure it would be better than going back into the tunnel.
A low growl caught her attention, and she turned to see another Gembound approaching a group of big rats. Any company after that experience sounded wonderful to her. "Hey," she called softly. She wasn't sure what the other was trying to do with the rats, but scaring or provoking them with a loud noise didn't seem like a great idea. "What are you doing?"
@Vladis
RE: Becoming Familiar with Lesser Gembounds - Vladis - Aug 18 2018
Black ears shifted around to face the newcomer, growl caught in his throat. In his 3 cycles of life in the caverns he had only glimpsed greater gembounds in passing. None had really approached him, let alone try to converse with him. The others clearly had bad taste unlike this … bird? He cocked his head slightly to look over the creature curiously. It was a bird of some sort, but one that was very, very young. What was such a young creature doing by itself here? As though he himself weren’t once a first cycle gembound wandering all alone.
Scampering and squeaks brought his attention back to the three rats. Vladis gave a sharp yelp of surprise after having nearly forgotten their presence. He gave a small curse under his breath before glancing back at the bird with his good eye.
“I can’t believe them either, creeping so close to my den!” he growled in response. The tanuki had completely missed the fact that the chick was directing their question to him and not to the rats.
Fortunately, (or rather, unfortunately,) the rats were quickly attempting to grab their attention. Apparently, they were not pleased by the idea of being provoked by the raccoon dog. The three lesser gembounds eyed the two that had gathered.
“Eh, like they can do anything. Scrawny things like them can’t stand against one such as I! he said, puffing his chest out with a grin.
Tag: @Cresendo
Notes: Feel free to RP the rats how you'd wish as well! Just as long as we have one left that Vladis can use familiar forge on. :)
Also, Vladis is an idiot. XD
RE: Becoming Familiar with Lesser Gembounds - Crescendo - Aug 19 2018
The other Gembound's yelp made her jump with surprise, and Crescendo barely avoided tripping over the feathers on her feet. His words only confused her further. What? When had she ever said she couldn't believe those rats? She eyed them warily. The Lesser Gembounds didn't exactly seem pleased by the Greaters' presence. What if they decided to attack?
'Scrawny things like them can't stand against one such as I!'
Somehow, Crescendo doubted that, especially given his yelp at seemingly nothing earlier, but who knew. Maybe he was actually a really impressive fighter. "Well, uh, nice to meet you and all. I'm Crescendo."
@Vladis
RE: Becoming Familiar with Lesser Gembounds - Vladis - Aug 19 2018
The pigeon’s unease at the present situation was not lost on the raccoon dog. The recognition that he too should be at an unease at the approaching rats was, however. After all, there were by his den that was filled with his treasure. The gall that they would happenstance across his property infuriated Vladis. At least, it did initially.
Then things began to click a bit. They were outnumbered and echo grey rats were large. As they hunted in packs, they were also nasty to fight against. They were outnumbered and he only had a chick, barely older than a hatchling on his side. It was doubtful the pigeon was secretly a born martial artist. More than likely the two were severely outmatched. Vladis attempted another growl, cough to cover up the fact that it got caught in his throat instead.
“Yeah yeah. I’m Vladis. And these three are intruders on my property!” he added with an agitated yelp.
It was at that moment that one of the rats choose to launch itself towards the raccoon dog. Vladis’ good eye was still on the rats and barely jerked back to avoid his neck getting bitten. He silently thanked the thick fur collar he had before growling at the creature. In truth, Vladis wasn’t a fighter. His only experience fighting had been on very small prey. But he wasn’t about to act like he couldn’t win!
The second echoing grey turned its attention to the small chick. Perhaps as easy prey? The third rat was the strangest, though, simply snarling but keeping away for the time being.
Tag: @Crescendo
RE: Becoming Familiar with Lesser Gembounds - Crescendo - Aug 19 2018
"VlaaAAAAAAA!!!" Whatever Crescendo had been about to say was cut off by an intense shriek. AAAAAAA!!! really didn't do it justice. It was very high-pitched. And loud. Well, as loud as she could shriek, anyway, which actually wasn't very loud, but hey, at least she tried. "Vladis! Are you oka-AAAAAA!!! DON'T HURT ME! WHATEVER IT IS, I DIDN'T DO IT I PROMISE! STAY AWAY FROM MEEEEE! I HAVEN'T BATHED RECENTLY! YOU DON'T WANT A MOUTHFUL OF DIRTY FEATHERS DO YOU?!?! AND I DON'T EXERCISE MUCH! NOT NUTRITIOUS AT ALL!"
Whatever nefarious plans the rats had for Crescendo and Vladis, she wasn't going to let them come to fruition! She didn't want to be eaten! But although her medium loud shrieking - let's call it mezzo forte, with a cat sneaking being pp and a big cat roaring being ff, unless it was one of the big cats that couldn't roar, in which case there would be no roar to be measured... ahem, moving on - had made the rat targeting her pause for a moment, she doubted that was going to keep it away forever. Her magicka swelled within her gem, young and volatile, and suddenly a burst of wind struck the offending rat, sending it stumbling. It didn't last long, but Crescendo took the opportunity to back away as quickly as she could. "Stay away from me!" she repeated, not quite shrieking it this time, and puffed up her feathers in an attempt to look more intimidating.
@Vladis
RE: Becoming Familiar with Lesser Gembounds - Vladis - Aug 25 2018
The raccoon dog was becoming a more intense mixture of annoyed, freaked out, and wanting to preform as a strong person for the nearby chick. As the echoing grey rat charged again, his fur puffed out and he gave a strange mangled growling sound. He snapped his own fangs at the rat to keep it away.
It was at this time that the strange cry came from the bird. In unison the two snapped their heads in surprise. How did such a strange and terrifying sound come from such a small thing still partially covered in downy feathers? The two of them then watched as a strange gust of wind sent the second rat further away.
Vladis slunk back a step and felt a stranger sensation cover his body. It almost felt like a blanket covering his body. His eye socket, the one holding his strange pyrite eye, began to twitch and irritate. As he tried to shake the sensation free, he noticed that his dusty brown coat had darkened considerable. “Well, now that’s new,” he muttered to himself. The first rat turned at the sound of the voice but appeared confused at the change that occurred in the tanuki. Vladis snapped at the rat again, sending him dashing away.
The second rat appeared likewise confused by the strange magic the two gembounds used. He dashed away after the other rat. Vladis snorted haughtily at their departure.
“Cowardly things, echoing greys. Not that we had anything to fear with me around,” he added with a smirk, turning to face the bird. “Cresido, right? Not bad, kid. Not bad at al.” His dark tail twitched in satisfaction at the situation.
And from a slight distance away, the third rat turned from watching it’s fellows leave to watching the two gembounds. Unlike the other two, this one seemed less aggressive and fearful and more simply curious at the two other creatures.
Tag: @Crescendo
RE: Becoming Familiar with Lesser Gembounds - Crescendo - Aug 26 2018
Vladis snapped his fangs at the rats and used a strange magic to darken his fur. It worked like magic (Crescendo chuckled internally); the rats dashing away from them. Well, the two that attacked, at least. She didn't notice the third rat yet; she was recovering from her shock and focused on Vladis. "Echoing greys? Why are they called that?" They didn't seem all that cowardly. They'd been the ones who'd attacked them. But maybe it was because they ran away once the two Greater Gembounds started putting up a fight? Whatever, that wasn't important.
"Not Cresido." she shook her head. "Creh-shen-doh. Crescendo. And thank you!" Vladis, a bigger and older Gembound with fangs, thought her performance was good! The pigeon's chest, still partially downy, puffed up with pride.
That was when she saw the third rat. It wasn't moving, for some reason. Not fleeing or trying to attack. It was just standing there and watching them. "Hey Vladis, what's that rat doing?" She waved a fluffy brown wing at it.
@Vladis
RE: Becoming Familiar with Lesser Gembounds - Vladis - Aug 27 2018
The tanuki’s attention was already wandering away from the little chick and back towards his den where the last remaining rat was still lurking. “Crescendo, whatever pipsqueak,” he answered distractedly. The chick had proved useful by distracting the first rat. Still, the chick was a chick and that meant trouble. Kids always meant trouble. Not that he had any experience with kids and not that he was still on the young side himself at only 3 cycles. He was lucky that the chick was helpful but that didn’t mean the pigeon was likely to stay that way. However, her presence wasn’t hurtful for the time being so he didn’t necessarily have to chase her away or anything.
His ruby eye narrowed at the echoing grey, wondering what it’s game plan was. Why was it simply staring at them? More importantly, why was it still in front of his den! Vladis’ lips pulled up slightly as he grew frustrated at the stubbornness and apathy the rodent was showing him.
In response, the third rat simply cocked its head curiously at the two. Its attention was more on the pigeon chick, much to the tanuki’s annoyance. Perhaps because of the magic the bird had produced?
Suddenly its mouth gapped open as though in response to Crescendo’s question. “DON'T HURT ME! WHATEVER IT IS, I DIDN'T DO IT I PROMISE!” It’s voice was a perfect mimic of the chick’s earlier cry, tone and inflections mirrored perfectly though its face did not reflect the fear that the voice had. Instead the rat merely blinked and stared at the two.
Tag: @Crescendo
RE: Becoming Familiar with Lesser Gembounds - Crescendo - Aug 28 2018
Pipsqueak?! Crescendo fluffed her feathers in annoyance. She wasn't a pipsqueak! Well, maybe she was in size, especially compared to Vladis, but that didn't mean she was insignificant! Maybe when she grew up some more, she'd go out and do some truly amazing and unique things, and make some fascinating discoveries (Like whether the lagoon in Pisces had a hole in the bottom to prevent the room from flooding, and where all the water was coming from. She still couldn't figure that out.), and then no one could call them a pipsqueak anymore! HA!
Crescendo was drawn from her wandering thoughts by the sudden movement of the rat's mouth opening. Milliseconds later, the weirdest sound erupted from its jaws. It sounded... weirdly like what she had said earlier. But that couldn't be right! That sounded different, wrong somehow. All these thoughts passed through her head in mere moments, and the pigeon chick leapt back, eyes wide and feathers bristling. The wrong feeling in her chest continued.
"W-what just... What the heck just happened?! Did that rat just talk? Why did it sound like me but not-me? What's wrong with it? I thought rats couldn't talk!" Crescendo was on the verge of hysteria, utterly shocked by the rat's imitation of her speech. And it was just staring at them. What was it doing?!
@Vladis
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/body-odd/why-you-hate-sound-your-own-voice-flna1C9173593