Complete Comms Challenge Once Upon a Whistle

[Chanlye]

Cycle 3 Interjection Starts Here

All posts above belong Cycle 3, and below are part of Cycle 3's Interjection.

 

[Luthien]

Cycle 3

The Strong Makes the Rules

A wave of anger assaults her senses, its direction coming from multiple sources, and the ranger grits her teeth as she tries to push against the emotions and keep them at bay—she can’t afford to let the will of others influence her decisions, not when so much is at stake.

"Stop."

A singular command, one that at first doesn’t seem to sit well with some of the sisters, is eventually followed by the clamor as events come to a tense pause. Her gaze remains fixed on Wise and Luna, her shoulders tense and the grip on her bow tight, ready to act should things go south again.

"I don't remember you giving them back when it was your turn. 'The strong makes the rules', right?"

”She’s not dead,” Not fine either, the colorful harpy was undoubtedly quite bruised, singed, and battered... but she should still be drawing breath—although, in her current state, she would no doubt be easy pickings for any Fioras predators in the area.
”... but someone should go fetch her soon.”

She can’t help but frown as the conversation takes a turn that confuses the elf, unsure if the harpy seems to think one among them is the alpha of the party or if she’s referring to something else entirely. The squeak from the young caenis girl is enough to make her hand twitch, grip still tight on her bow, though she refrains from reaching towards her quiver for now.

"... I want to talk to him. You've never needed to meddle with our territory. If you don't stop eating our food and attacking, you will become our prey."

”Wait…” Her words only confirm what the ranger had already suspected from the start, though it gives little to go on aside from that. ”Who’s ‘him’?”

@Wise

 

[Fiora Di Angelo]

Cycle 3

Fiora kept her frown wrapped behind a 3 feet thick wall once what little hope she had for the Ranger to do something went entirely down the drain and only caused a situation to take the wrong turn. Yet in this she found an opportunity as every harpy went into a stalemate and none of them seemed to question the nature of their leader.

Fiora's eye went straight towards @Ueno Mizuki's pack, then to their leader as she could only imagine her to be the only person she could rely on alongside the redhead to act accordingly, but with one of them already on their way, she hurried to let her message transmit into the beastfolk through her Mindsend.

{ I'll try and put down the one attacking Yugam now that they are off-guard, but they will respond as soon as they see any kind of aggression. We should act at the same time if we want to have the best shot at rescueing the kids. }

 

[Chanlye]

The Strong Makes the Rules
Cycle 3 Interjection

"... Do not play the dumb with me. You have shown far more strategy than pure violence, you should be smart enough. The children are in our claws, you should be the one aware of what you are talking about and not feigning ignorance."

"Maybe they are just stupid, boss~ They forgot their own alpha..."

The harpy shrugged, but the word choice made the Wise one scowl with an expression that was unseen until now, making the larger one shudder with a smirk.

"He is the only explanation for your unprecedented actions as of the last moon."

"THE HELL, I DON'T UNDERSTAND A SINGLE WORD SHE SAYS"

"She is just saying it is something that has never happened before."

@Luthien

 

[Luthien]

Cycle 3

The Strong Makes the Rules

"There is no alpha, you glorified owl!"

”Look, he’s not lying.” She nods in the direction of Diego, even if his choice of words aren’t what she would’ve chosen considering his current positioning. ”We’re not from here, and we don’t know what alpha you’re talking about.” A hand goes for the red whistle around her neck, pulling on the leather strip that keeps it in place to bring attention towards it. ”We’re just here in search of moonstones, that’s all.”

She’s not sure if to feel praised or insulted from the harpy’s words, brows furrowed as she tries to make sense of whatever is going on with the little tidbits here and there that she was able to catch and remember.

"He is the only explanation for your unprecedented actions as of the last moon."

A moon ago… Her gaze shifts towards the small pup in Wise’s grasp, Luna had certainly mentioned the same timeline before—if anyone might be able to shed additional light on this matter it’d be her, but the harpy currently seems unwilling to let the young caenis be part of the conversation.

”It seems this is just a big misunderstanding,” Perhaps that's making light of the situation, but she’s willing to give the clamor the benefit of the doubt for now if it means de-escalating the predicament they're all currently in. ”How about you return the kids over, and in return I’ll help your colorful friend?” It’s the best trade she can think of right now considering the circumstances, and one she’s willing to go through with if it means a stop to nonsensical violence. ”Start from zero?”

After all these aren’t eldritch beings incapable of listening to reason, and for once there isn’t a language barrier between them and their perceived enemies…

@Wise

 

[Fiora Di Angelo]

{ They are after someone else, and given the wording, it's clear they are talking about one of the beastfolk clans. We can't 'solve' their issues, and all they gonna do is keep butchering players and Landers alike. }

Her voice resonated into @Luthien's mind, just as her stare turned to glare back at the blonde.

{ We can't leave without getting rid of them, unless you want to have more innocent blood on your hands and let a killer on the loose, again. }

 

[Luthien]

Cycle 3

The Strong Makes the Rules

{ If they’re ‘butchering’ landers and players it’s because someone else threw off the balance around here… and two wrongs won’t make a right. }

It did, however, present an opportunity of sorts. A ‘two birds, one stone’ scenario that could help repair the crumbling relationship between starcalled and landers, while also ensuring future explorers wouldn’t run across this particular clamor once it was their turn to craft violet whistles. Granted, all of that depended on the magnitude of the situation and how willing the other party members were to get involved with it… and only once Diego and Luna were out of harm’s way, of course.

The last resonating words of the knightess cause her frown to deepen as Fiora’s words twist a metaphorical knife into unseen wounds. Her eyes close for a moment, a deep and quiet inhale filling her lungs as the ranger tries to find her composure. She holds it for a moment before releasing it in a soft and slow exhale as crimson eyes flutter quickly towards the grenette—just long enough to establish a mental link before they return to gaze at Wise and Meek again.

{ Not everyone is Szofrit... and there’s always more than one way to solve things, Fiora.}

@Fiora

 

[Fiora Di Angelo]

Cycle 3

{ There's no rights and wrongs, this is a flock of killers who bit more than they could chew. There's no 'balance' thrown off, only nature running it's course. Why do you think they suddently got chit chatty with us? They lost their upperhand. }

Her brows dropped, yet her untapped filters didn't connect with her voice. Baffled or awestruck were things she suffered from the first time around when the news reached her ears, the second time is just managing to make her break any little attempt to correct the blonde's ways.

It's hard to help who doesn't want to be helped.

{ Keep the holier-than-thou attitude and baseless sayings to yourself, you can play pacifist when you are on your own. Right now? Don't you dare put more people at risk with your inaction. }

@Luthien

 

[Lune]

Cycle 3

"Alpha this, alpha that. Do we look like animals to you? Stop talking in riddles, bird."

Lune stayed in the air, her eyes staring sharply at Wise, skin slowly hardening with metal as if ready for another round of combat, although her hands were open.

"You're kidnapping children—literal children on an expedition, and now you're throwing baseless accusations and excuses based on this 'he' person we don't know?"

She growled.

 

[Ueno Mizuki]

Cycle 3

While these harpies were clearly capable of speech and reason, Mizuki hadn't expected them to suddenly come to a halt as one of their own was put down. A flash of annoyance shot through her as she realised that @Luthien had opted to spare the colourful bird rather than eliminate her... but it was apparently what made the harpies take a different approach.

Standing up she turned towards the owl-like harpy, frowning as she seemed to be the leader of the flock. Her ears were perked up and her eyes were narrow as she carefully paid attention to every gesture and every word.

@Fiora Di Angelo's message did strike a chord with her: rescuing Diego and Luna was the highest priority, and Mizuki didn't particularly mind if she had to tear apart this entire flock to achieve that goal. However... Luthien clearly wasn't going to have her heart into it if they tried to resolve this by force, and without the archer's assistance it was uncertain whether they'd be able to rescue both children if they resumed hostilities.

She wouldn't put it past the owl to kill one of them as retaliation.

Which was why the hunter's Mindsend was answered with a Primal Aura which contained both acknowledgement and a hint of caution. Mizuki couldn't communicate complicated concepts, but she hoped Fiora understood that the wildling's primary concern was the lives of the two children.

Some of us do.

That comment was in response to @Lune's clearly vexed exclamation regarding animals. Snark aside, the caenis shook her head before turning her gaze towards Wise, seizing her up even as she spoke.

A month ago another pack moved into this area and claimed it as their own territory. They're a problem for us as well.

If nothing else, keeping Wise's attention would mean that when Fiora struck she'd have the element of surprise.

@Chanlye @Yugam

 

[Luthien]

Cycle 3

The Strong Makes the Rules

There was a time that she’d been able to read the intentions of her friend without the need of words, when a simple glance or a light smirk was enough to carry their intentions loud and clear to the other… but that time was now long gone. A light scoff escapes upon listening to the voice claim they had the upper hand, heavily disagreeing with that assessment as her eyes remain on the captured Diego and Luna.

{ Keep the holier-than-thou attitude and baseless sayings to yourself, you can play pacifist when you are on your own. }

{ Right, how could I forget that mindless violence always ends with zero casualties and happily ever afters? }

{ Right now? Don't you dare put more people at risk with your inaction. }

{ Same goes to you, don’t do something stupid and reckless that might cost someone else their life. }

A small part of the ranger felt relief as Lune and Mizuki finally entered the conversation, nodding in agreement to the words of the wildling as she made mention of what little information regarding the new pack they’d been able to gather from Luna.

@Fiora

 

[Chanlye]

The Strong Makes the Rules
Cycle 3 Interjection

"... Moonstones..? Why would you travel through these lands, only to grab some shiny rocks?"

Wise asked, distrustful and gazing at the red whistle @Luthien pulled out, though she didn't keep her attention lingering in it, with the mention of the colorful bird making her cast a quick glance at the fallen harpy.

"... That's the weirdest excuse I've ever heard, or you are a strange bunch..."

She frowned, with @Lune's words snapping her back, and a growl growing.

"Being cornered to starvation, hunting us down, and being forced out of our territory. We've managed only to pick off some smaller groups of your kind, but even then you just keep coming, and coming and fighting without regard to your safety... Not that you need, when you can brute force through things, right?"

Her eyes shimmered in a collected rage.

"You talk about children, but you showed no mercy to ours, and show no care for yours either, bringing them to a hunting territory, you are-"

"And because of that, you are going to kill and eat us, is that what you will do?!"

Diego retorted, and Meek hissed.

"Noooooo, nooooo, please... Don't give her any ideas-"

The boy's ears twitched, and he threw a tantrum-

"AAH! Stop pleading in my ears, you are really getting on my nerves! If you won't eat, why are you even picking me up, your claws are prickling me!"

Meek received a few unamused gazes from the more vicious harpies, and her eyes grew wide before she looked at Diego with a panicked face.

"Look what you did, look! If I am forced to eat you, I'm not gonna like it, and I'm gonna throw you up and all your meat will go to waste, dummy! Silly! Humbug!"

"Oh, ew-"

Diego's words, however, stunned Wise for a moment, and the owl harpy paused, looking down at the squirming child in her claws, then casted another glance at her hurt flock and the bloodied 'enemies' she had gathered.

@Ueno Mizuki's mention of another pack made the owl frown, and Luna squirmed more, letting out a muffled voice before Wise finally slipped away her plumage.

"I've never seen someone so loud while being silenced, child. What is it?!"

After a quick gasp for air, Luna pursed her lips.

"I-It is just like M-Mizuki had said... We have never hurt you, w-we don't... Th-This is our place, far away from you... We were as surprised when you suddenly appeared in the path for the Keeper..."

She said, holding tighter on the harpy's leg and sinking her sharp nails in it.

"Pl-Please, let's just stop this!"

The girl cried, and the harpy's lips frowned, wincing at the piercing nails and with her gaze raising to the rest of the group, adjusting the wolf girl on her grasp again, making it firmer.

"... I don't intend to let you fall unless something funny happens." She said, with a tone that was vague between reassurement for the girl, and a warning for the group.

"... If you aren't this pack that is attacking us... Then tell me. What you really are, and what is this new pack you are talking about?"

 

[Luthien]

Cycle 3

The Strong Makes the Rules

"... Moonstones..? Why would you travel through these lands, only to grab some shiny rocks?"

Expecting the owl to understand why they were braving the Hylands and its many dangers to get their hands on a bunch of rocks wasn’t easy, though the ranger decided to give it a try.

”We're explorers,” Her hands motioned towards Yugam and herself first, and then to the twin-tailed caenis still secured in Meek’s grasp. ”... and these whistles show our ranks to others.”

She moved slowly as the red whistle was carefully removed from around her neck, holding it up for the harpies to get a better glance if they chose to.

”You could say it’s a right of passage, Diego and I need to get moonstones and craft our new whistles from them to have our new rank recognized by fellow explorers and others alike.”

She didn’t know anything about harpy society and culture, but hopefully the creatures had a similar ritual of sorts that could help them understand—especially after hearing the skeptical comment from the leader of the clamor. As Wise casted another glance towards the unconscious Cheerful the elf decided to follow her gaze, able to see the colorful plumage against the undergrowth even from their current distance thanks to her heightened senses.

”I meant what I said,” Her attention turns back to the owl once more and the pup she’s holding as she slips the red whistle carefully around her neck. ”I can help her back up if you let go of Diego and Luna.”

It wasn’t long before their talks touched sensitive subjects, the blonde deciding to listen as the owl turned her focus towards Lune next. A short struggle ensued between Diego and the harpy holding onto him, and a part of Lúthien feared the boy’s mouth would get him into trouble, before a quiet ”Eww…” accompanies Diego’s own.

"Pl-Please, let's just stop this!"

After enough muffled cries and squirming the younger girl finally manages to be heard, and the sentiment spoken by Luna is one that the elf shares—there’s nothing to gain from continuing to attack one another.

@Wise | @Lune | @Mizuki

 

[Lune]

Cycle 3

"Damn right I don't care about any of yours."

The woman bluntly interrupted, reminding Wise that their flock did attack first, leaving no reason why any of them should think of mercy.

"Get your birdbrain straight. You're the one attacking us first without even striking up a conversation."

Lune chuckled, everything that came out of the harpy's mouth really sounded like a joke to her.

"Why are you talking about mercy now that the hunt went wrong? If we were some weak adventurer, you're already pecking on our meats."

Seeing Luna cry, the red-haired human gritted her teeth, and metallic spikes and claws grew from her hands. She hissed.

"If you want to talk, SET. THE. KIDS. DOWN. NOW."

 

[Chanlye]

The Strong Makes the Rules
Cycle 3 Interjection

"A rite."

Wise's expression's shifted to a frown, skeptical to @Luthien's words.

"Yes, a rite, a rite! Don't you guys have that? I don't know, the first flight or something? Jumping off a cliff to fly when you are a kid or anything?"

Diego argued, and the Wise harpy fluttered her wings, with her gaze turning distant before @Lune's words caught her attention.

"It isn't about mercy, it is about you getting out of our huntings grounds." She tilted her head, staring at Lune. "... But unless you are trying to trick us, it seems like we are fighting and hunting the wrong bunch."

The harpy, for once looked conflicted at the group before her, letting her face show for a moment until she felt a tug on her leg.

"Th... That's what we've been telling... We just want to keep our way to the Keeper..."

A quietness lingered for a moment, with the owl pensive, looking at the teary eyed girl. Her gaze then shifted to the other harpies, all of which became wary, and a fiercer gaze was given to Meek, that shuddered for a moment and peeked at Wise.

"... I will land with the child..."

The harpy's flight began to lose height, though her feathers and sniffness was still clear.

< Continue in the Challenge Thread >​

 

[Chanlye]

Cycle 4 Started

All posts above belong Cycle 3's Interjection, and below are part of Cycle 4.

 

[Chanlye]

Cycle 4

@Luthien's offer to teach Luna's some archery made the girl's ear perk up, with her tail wagging rapidly at first, but slowing down.

"It... It would be fun... I wonder if I can put my magic on the arrows..."

Diego, however, protested at the elf's words.

"Hey! It isn't that simple, that harpy caught me off guard."

"T-They can be really quick..."

"See? Luna understands it!"

"And Diego is too slow." She waved her tail.

"Yeah, I- Hey! You were caught too!"

Luna smiled a bit, turning her back to help collecting the rocks, while Diego sighed and turned to @Fiora Di Angelo.

"Discipline won't push people off cliffs though-"

"I would... Personally use my discipline on magic to make them light enough. Then... Then I would push them down a cliff..."

"Yeah, but I don't have this pure magic of yours. I use gadgets and contraptions."

He scratched his head, with Luna giving a small shrug and placing the stones in a circle as the ranger had asked, and Diego continued on the topic.

"You don't strike me as someone that fancies jewerly... As for magic..."

His eyes narrowed at the drawings on the elf's body.

"Runes..." Luna muttered. "Do you need some more healing, Fiora..?"

 

[Luthien]

Cycle 4

"It... It would be fun... I wonder if I can put my magic on the arrows..."

”Absolutely~ Wanna give it a try with my arrows? They’re made to conduct magic and concentrate it on the tip unlike regular ones.”

She smiles upon seeing Luna’s excitement, before chuckling softly as the two caenis banter among themselves. They might’ve only just met this morning, but already the two acted as if they’d been good friends for years. It didn’t take long for the firepit to be completed, and by the time Fiora had returned their chosen campsite was illuminated by the soft glow of flickering embers.

"Runes... Do you need some more healing, Fiora..?"

She can’t help but glance towards the greenette upon hearing Luna’s words, her gaze looking over the various sigils and symbols carved onto the elven flesh of her arms and shoulders—though none seem to resemble anything she’s seen in the books that Beleg has shared with her in the past.

”. . .”

Her mouth opens before closing shortly after as the ranger swallows her words, though the furrowed brows and pursed lips give away what’s in her mind. She couldn’t remember seeing those markings on Fiora before tonight, and despite the knightess attitude towards her Lúthien can’t help but worry over her friend.

@Luna | @Fiora Di Angelo

 

[Fiora Di Angelo]

Cycle 4

Fiora gave a nod over to Mizuki as the wolf smiled at her, singular eye peering over to her pack as they devoured the reaper. It left her satisfied to know they enjoyed their snack, despite being a temporary solution to their hunger given they were two and only one bird to tear apart, but it is what it is, and her attention returned over to Diego as he begun to pull up excuses.

Quick or not, we were all caught unprepared and paid the price for it, but it's no excuse for your shortcomings, Diego. Endure the loss and learn from it.

She replied, as life experience always trumped as the best instructor. So long as they were still breathing they could have a second chance next time, and at the very least everyone in the party would be sharper for the rest of the journey and make sure they all didn't just walk into an ambush like the ones the harpies tended them.

But sharing glances over between Luna and the fox made it all the more clear how little oxygen ran through the later's brain, given how quick the caenis girl dissected her words for what they were in comparison to the supposed Explorer.

If you don't have magic, then find a way to without it: Cut through the back of her knees, use the environment, exhaust her... Anything works so long as you are creative. If she's all about strength, then don't play by her rules and focus on what you can exploit.

Even if she could have matched that harpy in strength, there was no reason to fight her head-on like that, not when other opportunities presented themselves. Despite explaining this much, she rather let Diego do the thinking on his own. Luna was asking the right questions regardless, given her interest on furthering her approach with magic onto a bow.

At least that much Luthien could teach her, no doubt, even if arming a kid with magical arrows could go horribly wrong if she couldn't shoot a bow proper. Given the blonde's approach, Fiora had nothing to worry about, not when most of her arrows didn't explode on impact or cast horrible curses on people as far as she knows.

You are right, I'm not. But jewelry is a good magical conduit. It has it's uses other than being accessories.

Yet the topic soon took a turn over once Luna vocalized what Diego's quietly took note of, perhaps the most surprising part of this whole situation. No use in putting on her jacket now. She wasn't blind, not yet as long as her right eye remained- From the corners of her vision Fiora took notice of how her former friend decided to stare, wordlessly taking notes, or so she assumed.

...I'm fine. Just need to rest a little.

Fiora stretched her hand over to Luna, ruffling the girl's hairs a little to reassure her.

 

[Chanlye]

Cycle 4

@Luthien's offer perked Luna up immediately.

"Learning how to make one of these arrowtips would be good too..."

She chirped to the ranger, while Diego lamented to @Fiora Di Angelo-

"If only I had a chance to practice it more... Well... But I get what you mean! Force my enemy to play by my rules, and I will be able to toss the down a cliff."

He hummed, tapping his feet.

"I will give it a thought though. A deeper one. I need to calculate how this sort of thing would work."

Diego settled, while Luna was taken over by the elf's hair ruffling, that was returned with a timid smile.

"... D-Don't overdo..."

She adviced, then looked at @Lune, swaying her tail with twitching ears, listening to the soft sound with a pleased hint in her eyes until it abruptly ended.

"From here..." She rested a hand on her chest, smiling. "I see... I need to put my heart into it..."

With her own attempt, Luna began humming a song softly, while Diego's ears twitched at the stimuli, though his attention soon shifted to Lune again.

"Wait, really? Did you feel bad..?" He frowned. "Oh gosh, I didn't mean it, ma'am. I'm grateful you decided to come with us though, you were really protective of us when we were caught, so I'm very glad to have you around!"

As Luna finished her humming, her eyes rested on @Ueno Mizuki, with another offer that brought a smile to her lips.

"There is so much to learn... But I will do my best. Show me how to hunt... I will have to hunt when I'm older, so it would be good to know how to do it already." She admitted.

"I mean, who the hell would turn wolves into pets? They are totally petting material though." He shrugged.

Luna giggled at Diego's words.

"Just don't pet a hungry wolf..." She said, mostly playful, then looking at the older caenis again. "T-They are more than shiny rocks... As for the Keeper, I can introduce you to him..."

And when Luthien returned to inquire about the maps, Diego eagerly took the one he had.

"Coming, partner!" He smirked, hurrying next to the elf.

Luna, who was called as well, approached and peeked at it.

"I... don't understand maps too well. But if you show me what is what, I can do it for sure."