Shroud of the Lost a feeling that i can't housebreak

Random Event: A phenomenon known as "frost quakes" occurs during a particularly cold snap, startling both predators and prey with loud
1/2/2025 @ approximately dawn

Kiona had learned it was best to get up early and travel with the sun, following it across the horizon to bring her to her next adventure. Her stomach grumbled, an uncomfortable feeling as her paws dragged lightly through the loose flaky snow that had settled on the ground the night before. She’d kill for a meal, but settle for a snack if it was all she could find. Her nose wrinkling lightly as she smelled the air, finding a lack of anything worth noting. Her ears pressed down against her skull, her shoulders rolling back. She had known it wouldn’t be easy, but her emotions had been running hot ever since… she couldn’t bring herself to regret her decision to leave home. It hadn’t even been her fault! That irritation still brimmed under the surface. It was hard to shake, like pup with a bone… even now, she couldn’t shake it. It was then that the ground began to rumble underneath her, causing her ears to shoot up, her paws spreading out lightly as her head snapped form side to side as if the tremors could be explained by something she’d see… and yet, there was nothing, simply the earth trembling beneath her feet, as if it too were hungry, and about the swallow her whole. Kiona Fire is catching

Ayelie-stock @DA

Lucian had made sure to stick close to the wolves that @Galen had brought him to, trusting them as he did the treasure-eyed shadow. His health had improved markedly, but there were still symptoms that persisted. There was a subtle gargle in his lungs when he breathed and spoke, and a general fogginess over his being, both physical and mental.

It would be alright. He just needed a little more time.

While he wasn't having a lot of success hunting these days, Lucian could patrol and scout. He was hoping for some larger prey to scope out for the others, but wasn't having much luck with that either tonight. It was nearing time for him to turn back and curl up asleep somewhere sun-warmed, when his nose finally caught hint of something. Another wolf, which was just as great as find food in his eyes.

He had just set eyes on her when the ground began its tremoring. His paws connected to him, letting the motion travel up through his legs and shake his whole frame. Something about it tickled him completely, setting off butterflies in his stomach and causing a fit of giggles to boil over from his chest.

(This post was last modified: Jan 05, 2025, 01:59 AM by Lucian.)

Startled more than anything, she remained frozen even after the quakes subsided, as if moving a muscle would cause it to happen again, or worsen it’s affects all the same. A pain radiated in her chest, though it weren’t from illness or injury. Anxiety. With it, flowed the questions, causing her to wonder what had just happened, and if it would happen again. When she finally began to relax, her gaze shifted, catching sight of the man across from her. “Did you feel that too?” She couldn’t help but ask, a certain tightness in her voice that showed her discomfort. Slowly she forced the tension the fade from her muscles, from her shoulders down to her paws, attempting to shake it out as best as she could though the not knowing why prevented all of it from going. Amber eyes focused on the ground for a moment, and then back up to him. “What even was that? What the hell is strong enough to shake the ground?” She’d never been near mountains enough to discover avalanches, nor had she been around to experience earthquakes shaking the heavens either. It was terrifying other way. Kiona Fire is catching

Ayelie-stock @DA

He was, truth be told, a little disappointed when it ended. Oh well. His gold eyes lifted and he could see that the stranger did not find the event as amusing. Lucian smiled at her, to be reassuring. It split wider into a toothy grin upon her query.

"Yeah, it was great!" he applauded. She'd had further questions still though, ones which he'd not yet thought to ponder on his own.

"Hmm," his gaze cast around their surroundings, as though clues could be found there. He took her words for everything they could possibly mean.

"Perhaps then it was not moved, but chose to act on its own."

Her eyes widened and disbelief coated her maw as he said it was great. She couldn’t help but take pause to merely blink at the boy, a snort as he spoke, seemingly rambling in her eyes. “That was not great.” She couldn’t help but scoff as he said the words. For the moment, she questioned his sanity. Her brow furrowed as her nose scrunched for a moment. Her amber eyes narrowing in confusion as her face contorted with it all the same and he spoke once more. Perhaps then it was not moved, but chose to act on its own. She blinked. He was definitely insane. “The ground cannot move on it’s own! It only moves when it is forced to by that around it… like lightning, or wind, or water.” She offered as if it were simply fact, undeniable and undisputable in the end. Kiona Fire is catching

Ayelie-stock @DA

Her disagreement had little to no sway on him. It was unfortunate she'd found the event unpleasant, but what could be done? It was over now, regardless. The memory of it would remain unspoiled for Lucian.

When she argued against the earth's ability, however, his eyes popped open wider with dramatic surprise.

"You think so?" he inquired back, completely ready to to dive deeply into the subject, "Why? If the sky and the waters can move of their own accord, why not the earth as well?"

It certainly wasn't something that he felt either of them could prove for certain wasn't possible, but he'd be content to listen to the stranger try all the same.

Her frown intensified as he simply questioned back. Was it not obvious to him? Perhaps he’d been hit in the head as a child or something, she imagined. “They move with each other.” She countered, though admittedly even she did not understand what she was trying to say. “Water does not move itself… the wind moves it. And the sky is moved by the earth.” She challenged back to him once again as if it were fact. Her chest puffed lightly as she said it, amber eyes focused heavily on him as if her stare would give weight to her argument. “I think you’re talking utter nonsense right now.” She added in as if to prove her point. It was then that the earth began to shake again, her paws once again spreading as she froze, her eyes squeezing shut. What was causing it, was the question. What was strong enough to move the earth? Kiona Fire is catching

Ayelie-stock @DA

Lucian's golden eyes shone brightly as she debated him, even when it ended with her huffy dismissal of his own input. The slight was the same as water off a duck's back for the wolf who was virtually impossible to offend. His jaws parted to give a scholarly reply, and the quaking began again before the words could come.

His grin twisted higher up his wolfish cheeks, and the loud boom that followed sent an electric kind of excitement up his spine for its volume. This was the best place ever! He was so glad he'd managed to find it!

"Then we're both right, aren't we? And it's not just moving the sky, now it's talking with it!" he mused with much mirth, that bubbling laughter peeking around his words.

(This post was last modified: Jan 06, 2025, 02:48 AM by Magg.)

It was enough to paralyze her, her heart leaping from her chest as her stomach entered her throat, making her feel as though she was suffocating. Her frown creased further as he laughed, seemingly at her by her opinion, which caused her ears to press down. “We can’t both be right if we’re speaking in opposites!” She offered, her frustration evident in her tone as she said it. The ground seemed to level out. “And the ground can’t talk!” The sky certainly could, through thunderstorms and the blissful silence of a sweet summer morning… but the ground? “It’s the plants and creatures on the ground that are talking.” She once again stated matter-of-factly. They were such core concepts in her mind. “Who even are you anyway? All knowing expert of the ground and sky?” Her sarcasm rolled off her tongue on instinct, though a part of her considered that perhaps she should at least try to be civil and helpful. Kiona Fire is catching

Ayelie-stock @DA

She still did not share his joy, but Lucian was no stranger to such circumstances. He fought back the urge to laugh out another 'why not?', but his toothy grin was chesire-like at this point. The way his gaze skewed to the side and his snickering lingered painted a clear picture - Lu wanted to start really messing with her, but was just barely too polite to.

'Who even are you anyway? All knowing expert of the ground and sky?'

Double doubloons found her face again, and the snark-dam's limit was found.

"Oh, I wouldn't dare try to claim your title. I can see how important it is to you."

It really was all in good fun, but Kiona couldn't be blamed if she was unable to tell.

"I'm Lucian. Who even are you?"

(This post was last modified: Jan 06, 2025, 08:29 PM by Lucian.)