Etoliea Uneam - New Beginnings

Everything here at the moment was peaceful; nothing too hectic or unsettling. The water was clear as ever before, and creatures of all ages were playing with each other at a huge crystal reef not too far from the main underwater cave, a reef literally made of crystals and was enormous in size. Parents were scolding their young'uns, older ones resting at the bottom of the reef. Some were swimming up to the surface of the crystal clear water to associate themselves with the creatures on the store, while others were venturing out in the depths of the lake in search of something new. There wasn't much going on at the moment, for this was just a laid-back day for the creatures of Uneam.

Malini sat on a large rock protruding from the crystal lake. It's surface was filled with different creatures, but on the very peak sat Malini, who gazed over the crystal lake. It had taken her almost all day to get up, and she was proud as she surveyed the unbroken glassy surface of the lake.

Looking at his notes, Reloros was unaware of the area around him as he walked forward at a sluggish pace. He had been wandering aimlessly for a while, silently cursing himself for not bringing a guide. His thoughts were interrupted, however, as he walked straight into a tree. Clutching his forehead, he looked around himself, spotting a clearing nearby. Upon approach, he realized the "clearing" was actually a still lake, creatures frolicking to and fro of all kinds, the crystal clear water providing a magnificent backdrop to the incredible reef he gazed upon, and he stood in stunned silence, awed by the beauty of it all. Finally, he rested his eyes upon the serpent-like creature sitting atop a large rock, for of the creatures he saw, something about it caught his eye. Looking down at his paper, he began sketching a picture of the serpent.

On a part of the shore with no trees, a great bird of massive proportions rested, gazing out upon the lake. He was hungry, and nothing was coming near enough for him to get at easily. Everyone that came up onto the shore stayed a certain distance away from him, and those who were on the shore were far away enough that he couldn't reach them by any means - stretching out his neck, using his wings instead, and most everything else he tried. So he sat by the shore, grumbling, stomach rumbling to an extent that it could be heard halfway across the lake. If his wings could afford to get wet, he would have swam out, but he'd probably drown.

The Grancello didn't know that this would be the outcome of him moving away. When he lived in Ferra, animals wandered and fell down the mountain often, easy eating for the bird and his parents. Still, just a poultry fifty years ago, he had insisted that the fish were plentiful in Uneam, and that he'd never go hungry, since fish were stupid. How wrong he was. Fifty years of hunger, and he couldn't even summon up the energy - or the humility - to go home to a life of good food and rest. These thoughts lifted up a bubbling mix of anger and sadness in him, and he pushed himself up onto his feet. He looked out on the lake, at the food just out of his reach and lifted his wings, digging his talons right into the wet sand. He beat them once or twice, hoping that the winds he sent out would knock the animals off their rock.

Fairuz stood within the cover of the trees, observing the crystalline lake. It was such a peaceful scene, with creatures everywhere she looked, it almost brought a small smile to her face. Almost. She was just passing through, but she always loved to watch this lake at Uneam if she didn't have anywhere else to be. Eyes scanning the shore, she saw an enormous bird-creature gazing at the waters. She knew that species, hadn't she just encountered them in Ferra a few years ago? It was doing something... flapping its wings. Of course, it was trying to knock the peaceful creatures off the crystal to eat them. Not today, she was enjoying herself too much. Fairuz stepped out of the trees, lifting her right hand and twisting it gently. The rock in the middle of the lake began to stretch its edges upward, creating a barrier all around it to keep the creatures safely atop the reef.

Malini turned her head, curious that there was now a barrier of sorts. Only then did she notice the giant bird whose eyes gleamed hungrily. She nervously lowered herself, fearful of the new creature for she had never seen such a bird in her twelve years.

Toebo squawked in bewilderment, the rock raising up and forming itself around the creatures. He assumed that the rock was in fact another creature, that intended to steal his meal. This certainly didn't help the anger, as he made a sort of growling noise and crouched low towards the ground, yet still standing. He tried to push himself off the ground, hoping to perch on the rock and eat the creatures within before he lost them, but he didn't have the energy, tumbling back down towards the ground. In hungry distress, he raised himself back onto his feet and let out a large squawk, beating his wings even more to try and blow away the rock-creature.

...Well, that seemed to make things worse. The bird was going to blow away the whole lake, at this rate. It really just wanted to ruin her peaceful view, didn't it? With a sigh, Fairuz silently approached the creature, clearing her throat. "Excuse me!" She shouted over the hubbub of beating wings, a hand at the small of her back as she looked up at the colossal bird.

Toebo heard a tiny voice somewhere around him. His wings paused mid-flap and he looked around, head turning one way and the other in quick snap-snap-snap patterns. Eventually, he realised that the voice came from somewhere below him. His head did the same snap motion downwards, and he stared at what he saw as a little black mark on the sand. He shuffled backwards a few steps and sat down, lowering his head as far as he could manage to get a proper look at the thing. He stared at what he now saw was an elf, squinting, waiting for her to speak.

Oh thank goodness, he stopped. Craning her neck upwards, she watched the bird lower his head toward her. Still speaking at a louder volume than normal, she gave the creature a small bow. "Greetings. Please leave this place alone. It's peaceful." Her direct way of speaking may not help her in this situation, but that's just how she was. Blinking up at him, she just hoped he wouldn't throw a fit. Poor creature was probably hunting, but couldn't he just find somewhere less... pretty?

When a few seconds passed without any speaking, Toebo was ready to eat. He was a little disappointed when the elf spoke, body drooping somewhat in his hunger. He had a facial expression that looked somewhat like a pout. "I'm starving," he said in a raspy voice, his throat dry. He cleared his throat and tried again, but it was the same result. With a sigh, he dipped his beak into the water and drank. "I'm. Starving." He said clearly when he came back up. "I can't fly for hunger. Believe me, if I could fly, I would have forty-nine years ago."

Fairuz felt the smallest bit of pity rising up in her for this bird. He couldn't even enter the trees and kill something else? She bit her lip in thought. She really was fond of the water creatures. Looking up at the bird once more, she inquired in her emotionless voice, "Do you eat deer? How many deer would you eat?"

Toebo had turned to face back out to the lake, assuming that the elf would walk away. When she spoke again, his head snapped around. He tilted his head and seemed to raise an eyebrow in confusion. "It'd take a good few. Ten, twenty maybe." He looked back out towards the water. "I like those snake-looking things," he said, "with the little arm things."

Malini looked up. She had been overhearing the conversation of the strange bird and the stoic elf who had the courage to speak to the terrifying creature, but the mention of 'snake looking things with little arm things' made her nervous. Was he talking about the Selvis? The thought made her want to dive into the water, but an impatient creature waiting to take her place behind her made her want to stay. The creature certainly couldn't possibly reach her from here, right?

Fairuz raised an eyebrow. It would take forever to hunt twenty deer... and he seemed fond of one of her favorite creatures. "I'd rather you not eat those," she admitted, lacking emotion in her voice. She was fond of those things. But it was cruel to keep the creature from nature's order -- predators eat prey, such is the circle of life. Just... not from this lake. With a small sigh, she asked, "What would it take to get you to leave them alone?"

The beauty of the crystal reef pulls Odam from his thoughts. His fey armor reflecting the sun’s light. His moss green hair is unbound to float on the wind. The lake is tranquil as the most pleasant dream a second before waking. Unlike most, Odam knows that conflict is as the ocean is deeply dark and full of predators. His skin crawls with the impulse to search everyone’s eyes to seek the darkness, but the last time he provoked chaos his charge died.
Dawncaller’s 45th War Wile calls the maneuver the unexpecting thunder. The unexpected event or noise that startles the enemy into revealing their hand. Odam looks at the lake and feels the hands of some unseen player at work, but cannot tell if it is fate’s hand or just a great windfall for chaos.

Toebo sat down and rested his head on the sand below him. He glared at the elf, beak opening and closing a little with a sort of chattering noise. "They taste good though. And they're big. I ate one a few years ago and I wasn't even hungry for a few months." He pointed out, but remembered the great bother he had had to go through to catch it. It was difficult, and he had been able to fly back then. He looked back at the elf. "Food, of course. Enough that I could fly. If I can fly I can hunt myself."

Enough so that he could fly... the twenty deer flashed through her mind again, and she sighed inwardly. Shaking her head in resignation, she said, "Well, I'll go kill a few bears or deer or something. Is that a start?"

Toebo considered the offer for a few moments. "Just lead something big here. I'll deal with it from there." He decided with a court nod. He wasn't expecting the elf to actually do anything she said she would.

Fairuz nodded silently, turning without a word and disappearing into the forest. Lead something big, huh...? How much time did he think she had to spare? She tread quietly through the forest for several minutes, looking for some large game. Soon enough, she came upon a trio of deer, all standing together on a rocky outcropping. She had to lead them away...? Sounded like work. She flicked her left wrist, and four walls of rock shot up around the deer, and she heard the sounds of startled creatures from within. Sealing it off with a roof, she held both of her hands in front of her, breaking the outcropping out of the ground. Much easier. Keeping her right hand out, the large box of rock floated in the air above the trees as she trekked silently through the forest and back to the water's edge. Lowering the box to the ground, she gestured with her left hand, dissolving the walls and ceiling of the makeshift box beside the creature and revealing the three deer, frozen in terror.