Author: Akira, Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 1:01 PM, Post Subject: Missions of a Child [P]

A small frown was beginning to settle on her features as the dragon-man was hesitant. Did he not like her? Finally he took her hand, and she broke into a huge smile. "This be fun! Scary, but fun." Akira followed his lead, and began to contemplate his questions. Ivren, as he introduced himself, questioned her ability. "Akira learning from friend in Sularia. Met at party in Zets'ki Cradle. I good student, great helper." She seemed almost proud of that fact.

The child assisted Celeste in many different things while she was home. She enjoyed helping anyone she could, even if it meant sitting there and just listening to the story they needed to share.  However, her boisterous personality made it difficult for her to sit still without interruptions for long periods of time. Always asking questions, usually so cheerful, it was hard not to chuckle, fall in love with her and indulge her curiosity.

"Akira like dragons. Mommy Larka make a earth dragon. Look scary, but it amazing. And Mommy Larka can fly! Just like my Regal. It a pretty little rabbit thing with wings! But Regal at home, so can't show you. Do you live here? Why you alone?" Yet sometimes, her curiosity asked the best left unasked ones.

Author: Lady Raven, Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2018 5:04 AM, Post Subject: Missions of a Child [P]

Ivren watched the child dance around him, intrigued. As she skipped up to him he couldn’t help but notice that she had more than just the agility of a fox — she also had the ears and tail of one! He couldn’t recall seeing one of her kind before, but then again, living alone meant he didn’t see a lot of anyone.

If she was to be believed, Akira, as she called herself, also had the ability to set spirits to rest. Specifically, the spirits at the cabin. Ivren couldn’t deny that he would very much like to see them gone, but he was wary that the cabin would be dangerous. He didn’t know what to make of Akira’s ability against spirits, but he wasn’t particularly confident in his own.

However, Akira didn’t seem likely to be deterred, and he couldn’t just leave her here. Reluctantly, he took her outstretched hand. “Oh, alright,” he sighed, giving in to her pleas. “I’ll show you to the cabin,” he started, already beginning to regret the decision. Perhaps she would get scared and back down once they got there? Even if she didn’t, he might.

“I’m Ivren,” he introduced himself. “I’m a dragon but that’s not very useful against ghosts… You’re sure you know what you’re doing?” he questioned, trying not to let on how nervous he was. Heading into the dense shadows and shifting foliage, Ivren wasn’t quite sure what he’d just signed himself up for, but it promised to be an outing to remember.

Author: Akira, Posted: Thu Aug 2, 2018 1:53 PM, Post Subject: Missions of a Child [P]

Akira could hear the sounds of something disturbing the forest nearby. Yet she continued her childish glower at the rock. When it broke into her line of sight, the child couldn't help but stare. Deep skin as dark as trees, the most odd set of blue ears, golden hair, and a set of antlers adorning his forehead, the stranger was a unique creature. While she didn't say a greeting back, the snowy haired child stood, and began walking slow circles around him. ”Lost? Yes. But alone. What are you?” Akira stopped before him, itching to reach up and feel his features.

That was rude, however, and fighting the urge was hard. Instead, she chose to answer his question with a question. ”Do you know where Akira can find cabin? Akira can't find, search long time.” She turned to her pack, her little hands diving into the fabric of it. Pulling out a small pouch, she held it triumphantly toward her new friend. "Akira learning make spirits rest! Can you see ghosts too, mister?"

Excitedly, she darted over to the rock and climbed onto one of the flat portions. "Akira keep circles around this rock! So, it follow Akira, or Akira go in circle. If I don't find cabin, spirits keep hurting people. Will be scary, but come with Akira? Pretty please? You're pretty. I like you." Jumping off the rock, Akira collected her pack, tucked the pouch back in. Satisfied that everything was in proper order, she put it back on and reached for the stranger's hand, expecting him to follow her in the all too trusting manner as the child she is.

Author: Lady Raven, Posted: Wed Aug 1, 2018 4:32 AM, Post Subject: Missions of a Child [P]

Ivren weaved through the forest, unsure of what exactly he was looking for. He had lived in the highlands long enough to know it’s inhabitants, and he was sure the trees had meant to guide him here. Unfortunately, he wasn’t overly fond of this part of the woods. Here, the dense vegetation had creeped in just a little too close for comfort, and if his hair didn’t get caught in something, his antlers most certainly would. On a more concerning note, the beasts here were more bold in their assumption that he was in fact edible, and not a large and rather inedible dragon. Of course, in human form — as he was now — he wouldn’t blame them for the assumption.

There was also the matter of the haunted cabin. Ivren made a point to stay away from it. Although he had never met them in person, Ivren was of the mind that it’s ghosts weren’t exactly the friendly type. More than enough travellers had disappeared there, and it wouldn’t be the first time he’d been questioned about them either. Not that he knew enough to be helpful. Of course, if he got there fast enough he would try to stop anyone before they were foolish enough to enter, but after that matters were out of his hands.

It was for this reason that Ivren was now so fervently looking for the source of the disturbance to these forsaken grounds. Having been searching for quite some time, he was beginning to wonder if his hunch had been incorrect — he still hadn’t quite got the knack of talking to the trees. And as much as he loved the night, he fully intended not to stay out long enough to spend it here.

Ivren was just about ready to leave when he first thought he heard something. He stopped for a moment, ears poised — there it was again! It sounded, for all the world, like a child’s voice. Cautious of the possibility of ghostly trickery, Ivren followed the sound. Sure enough, as he slipped between two tree trunks its source came into sight— a young girl in a colourful (if somewhat grubby) kimono. Dropping his caution for concern, Ivren called out in greeting “Hey!”. He rushed over to the base of the tree where the girl was seated. “What are you doing here, child? Are you lost? Where is the rest of your party?” he began, not waiting for her initial response.

Author: Akira, Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 1:33 PM, Post Subject: Missions of a Child [P]

Instead of taking her normal path through the Vada Valley to the desert, Akira went farther east. There were mountains and forests, rolling hills, and a lot of animals. The child was curious by nature, but more importantly, she heard a tale. A tale of a terrible accident, and a haunted cabin. Any who stayed in the cabin, should they stumble upon it, sometimes disappeared. More often than that, the person came back irrevocably changed.

Akira, barely seven years old, shifted the pack on her back. Her time out in the highlands had varied with the different landscapes. Despite the fact that she appeared alone, the child held no fear, walking with an air of confidence. Albeit, she was a tad concerned that it had been a week and still had not been able to find the cabin in the forest. Snowy hair and fox tail and ears made her stick out like a sore thumb in the shadows of the forest. Not to mention her bright, dirt smudged kimono.

Still the child trudged on. She had faith that she would eventually find the haunted cabin. "Akira, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you've passed that particular boulder for the third time since yesterday." Turning around, the kitsune eyed the rock formation that was about half of her size, a tree having long since grown beside it, with its exposed roots coiled around it. "You sure?" "Positive." Akira slid her pack off and dropped it. She plopped onto the ground, her feet spread as a V, her arms crossed angrily across her face. It was obvious she was throwing a miniature fit that was actually quite uncharacteristic of her. "Akira never find cabin!"