[Random] Exploration! (Open)

[firebird]

Dusky had finally managed to find a decent slot of free time from patrols and other work by sacrificing her lunch, and she was going to use it. Her previous efforts at exploring the prison for anything interesting were in vain, so she had decided to go explore the jungle instead. Aside from being dark and mysterious and certainly full of surprises, the outlaws had run off into it. Why, there might even be a secret watch-tower made entirely from the twisting of branches just waiting to be discovered! Or perhaps the local smuggling operation which absolutely must exist (Dusky was of the mind that there were secret smugglers everywhere) had a base in there! Surely nothing could go wrong with a bit of heavy exploration!

Or not. Even Dusky wasn't that reckless, and had brought her staff with her so she could fend off anything nasty. She was well practiced at hitting things with it, and one good crack could probably break someone's knee. At the very least, she could make a feline or some other beastie back off long enough to call Suzelaloth down. She wasn't stupid.

Do you see anything from up there? the woman asked her dragon as she shoved aside a long, whippy tree limb out of the way with her staff. Thick wooden sticks had many uses, even though most of them involved poking or hitting things.

Just trees and vegetation. You have gone too far in for me to see even you, the dragon answered. Thickness of vegetation aside, Dusky's penchant for green clothing did not help matters. Aside from watching out for his rider's well-being, Suzelaloth was doing his own version of exploring. This mostly involved watching the great big expanse of green for any change in consistency. Ruins poking out would be great, but that was unlikely to happen.

[nozomi]

The next time a healer asked him for assistance, K'yne decided he'd tell them (in quite the firm tone) to go Fly themselves, and hard. With a wher.

'Just this plant!' the poor small healer had said, her eyes wide and imploring and he'd been off duty but when she asked, Adetsu was on duty and he had nothing to do. So he said yes. Why. Unlike Dusky, K'yne came to the jungle prepared with a machete, various knives on his belt, and his bare fists. Usually, he only carried one, but then again, he usually did not tromp around the sharding forest like a blind dimglow, looking for a particular herbal plant that needed to be grabbed.

To between with waiting for her to ask again - the woman would get a stern talking to once he returned. If he returned. Calith, this jungle is going to eat me.

Probably. Are you getting very dirty? Calith draped lazily through the sky above the jungle.

Yes.

Sourpuss. Oh! There is Suzelaloth, just over there~! She flickered an image of him to her rider, of where exactly 'there' was. Suzelaloth! Suzelaloth, is yours out there too? Mine is here, and dirty. Where is yours? Maybe they can meet up.

[firebird]

Suzelaloth's eyes whirled a friendly blue when he heard Calith's voice. He liked the green and thought she was charming. And of course, that was reason enough to show off for her. Calith! Mine, Dusky, is exploring the jungle. We are looking for adventure! he called out in a delighted tone as he looped elegantly around to fly towards the other dragon. At the same time he touched Dusky's mind, trying to get a feel for where she was.

Dusky poked around an old tree, trying to decide where to start climbing it. There didn't seem to be any low-lying branches. Pity, that. She was considering jamming her staff into a crack in the trunk so she could climb up when she felt Suzelaloth probing her.

Can I help you? she asked as she whacked the tree's trunk in order to scare out any animals that might be living in the crack. She wished she'd sent home for Shade already; the lazy flit would have been able to smell if something was living there. She casually swatted away some small stinging thing as she whacked the trunk again.

Calith and hers are here! the blue dragon declared as he sent the image of the cracked tree over to the green. It probably wouldn't do any good, but he figured he might as well in case K'yne had been there before. She is here! Shall I go grab her?

"Wait, what? Suzel!" Dusky shouted in exasperation.

[nozomi]

Mine is lost in the jungle! Far from sounding disappointed or sad in the development, Calith carried the usual chirp of cheer when discussing her rider. Sure, maybe he got a bit dirty! That just meant they would have to go and bathe later and that he would oil her afterwards and it always felt lovely! Suzelaloth wasn't her mate, but he was nice, and that always seemed enough for the little green. She crooned to the blue, twisted in the air with a hum. Mine! You should follow me to His. That way you can be dirty together!

Calith, think before you Think at me. That sounded horrible. K'yne stared at the tree he just hacked at, frown twisting his lips. She made sense, though - find Dusty, have a partner in crime so they could get the frag out of there. Shards, Shells, and little green dragons, he needed a bath, maybe clean clothes. He rubbed his face with the back of his wrist, lips twisted into a slow growl. K'yne spun on his heels, obedient to the dragon for once, and followed in the direction she led to.

Oh look. A can, and shouting. The shouting helped. K'yne heaved a sigh, cleared his throat, and called out, "Dusty, what are you doing?"

Hurrah! Mine found Yours I think!

[puppetmaster]

What's this? A loud squeal? It IS a loud squeal!

As Dusky is running around with her cane and yelling, and K'yne is tromping around like a sleepy herdbeast, something near to Dusky's feet squeals and squeaks. An infant guinea pig runs across the ground near her, darting to and fro in a clear panic.

[firebird]

Wait what was... Was that a rat or something? She barely noticed K'yne calling to her, so focused was Dusky on the little rodent thing. She was tempted to try pinning it down with her staff so she could get a closer look, but she didn't want to kill it by accident. Instead, she waited until its terrified dashing brought it relatively near her, then darted down and grabbed it.

The rodent thing (what was it? a specially bred spy creature that escaped from its creators?) didn't bite her, instead being focused on trying to crawl out of her hands. Clutching it to her chest, she turned to face the direction the voice had come from. "I found something!" she called to K'yne. "And it's Dusky, not Dusty. 'Kuh' not 'tuh.' You would be Calith's, right?"

That would be K'yne, Dusky, Suzelaloth answered for her. To Calith, he replied, Perhaps they can be lost in the jungle together. It is good for her to meet people.

"Shardit Suzel," Dusky protested on principle as she walked over to where she thought K'yne was. "I found a squealing baby rat thing. You know what it is?"