A wide open area of flat, grassy land and rocky trenches, supposedly a wide range of ancient civilizations once lived here. Species that like wide, open areas, such as Gyrophants, Serraptors, and Sahound, thrive here, though only the agile survive. (+3 Speed)

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[31]

Postby Kallile » 01/08/2013 6:49 PM

The Fairy titled her head rather humorously on purpose to show her obvious intrigue at the mention of a watering hole guardian. “You have someone just for watch over your water here?” She guessed it probably wasn’t a bad idea to have. Sure they had this entire territory to themselves but surely there were drier seasons than others. Maybe this watchman of the water also helped dig out wells or something. The mention of a nearby lake gave her hope though. “Great! Maybe once I get my bearings a little better I’ll go and take a look for myself.” She said, hoping to make it clear that she wasn’t interested in running off as soon as possible and maybe never returning.  Sanjiv didn’t seem like one who would think such things, but she did like to clarify.  

“It’s alright. Things like this happen.” She said at first, looking for the first time around him a little uneasy about her answer. Sure, she was upset that she had lost them and never found them, but it was the law of nature. If they hadn’t been strong enough…well… “It’s unfortunate, but we were all raised together and trained. I have every hope that out there somewhere they are faring as well as me.” Until of course she remembered her injured wing and laugh, giving it the slightest wiggle. “Well, perhaps better than me right now.”

Nodding at his answers, she moved the muscles of her mouth this way and that in consideration. “Yes, Izotz has told me some of how things here work. Really it’s just the different environment. You have plains to hunt on and a forest—a pretty secluded little shelter. It’s a little different in the open sea where the only land your clan owns is an island…and that is typically reserved for the females with eggs and hatchlings as far as the interior goes. The rest of us would sleep out on the beaches to soak up the warmth from the sand as long as we could. But with such a vast hunting area, you had to prove your worth past a certain age if you wanted to remain a part of the clan. And if you didn’t come back, well then you were not going to make it long anyway. At least, that’s the reasoning.” She tried to explain.

“Our leaders never last long, really. A few seasons are normal for a male to hold leadership; a very short amount of time to be able to lengthen a lineage before someone bigger and stronger overthrows him. From the sounds of it, leaders here have the luxury of a much longer reign.” It was a backwards ideal, all things considered. But then again, it was all part of the bigger picture. The strongest male would produce the strongest offspring, which in turn would make for a stronger clan of skilled hunters. It kept things running pretty smoothly since no leader was truly in power long enough to make drastic changes; it was only ever really like swapping out one mate for another. Things remained pretty static overall and life went on with a new face in charge.

She only nodded graciously in return to his offer of asking others, and took note of her surroundings. They had talked so much about the watering hole that she had forgotten where they were going. Oh, right, the Advisor’s den. “So, your advisor. Did he once lead the clan? I have always wondered how that worked. We never had any sort of elder or advisor system within our clan but it’s my understanding that many others do.”
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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[5]

Postby Jaykobell » 01/13/2013 12:21 AM

Sanjiv laughed a little sheepishly on the topic of the water hole and the lake. "Ah, well, he doesn't do only water duty. He does other tasks here and there, but mostly he makes sure everything purified and good to drink. Sometimes the weather isn't so generous, and our water can end up tainted with debris or other things. As for the lake... Well, we do have one nearby, but it's still quite far. It's hard to make it there and back in a single day when you're on foot." He felt bad, considering he'd probably just popped her bubble. Hani had clearly been raised in a water-based clan, yet there honestly wasn't any water around here.

And speaking of feeling bad, the lack of water wasn't the only thing that made the Carapace feel bad for the Fairy. "We have wild Paragon around here, but they've never given us much trouble before. Since you were all raised in a clan of your own, I'm sure your siblings are fine out there," Sanjiv piped up, hoping that would give Hani some hope that, in fact, her siblings were fine. Maybe not around here or even close to their location, but if they were still alive, that left the Fairy with the possibility of finding them again eventually. He laughed a little at the mention of Hani's condition. "Well, with Nyala watching over you, I bet you'll be in flying form in no time. You seem to be handling it pretty good, though. I know my mate would be all shades of rage if she got grounded for more than a few minutes." The idea of his Sparkdrake mate injuring her wings that badly was almost a terrifying thought to the Carapace. Fortunately, said Sparkdrake hadn't had the misfortune of injured wings... yet.

Hani's description of her old clan environment left Sanjiv to imagine what kind of place the Fairy had grown in. Beaches, islands, water everywhere... that definitely didn't sound like an environment where he would've faired very long. He could fly just fine, but swimming? He honestly hadn't tried, himself, so the idea of having to swim to survive was pretty stressful to him. "So you're going from one extreme to another," he commented, mostly to himself, as he thought about the Hive's territory compared to Hani's home clan. Despite that, the Fairy seemed to have taken well enough to it as well, even though the idea to have a swim in that one lake was on the Fairy's mind.

"Sounds like we were raised in different ways. I do remember that the leader before Izotz was similar to the kind of leader you described, although she was... extreme. I heard she would pit multiple Paragon against a single one to the death if she judged the Paragon too weak. I also heard she would basically never give any food to the weaker Paragon, which she would kill after once they were weakened and starved," Sanjiv continued with respect to their different clan lifestyles, also giving a few examples of what had supposedly happened during those dark decades at the hands of the tyrannic leader that had once ruled the Hive. "But from what I understand, some Paragon do try to go at Izotz for leadership now and again. He just hasn't lost any of the challenges yet." Although the thought of having a different leader a little unsettling to the Carapace. Izotz was laid-back, yet he still inspired respect despite his gentle nature. Changing to a leader that could potentially turn out to be power-hungry or demanding was a little unsettling. "The leader having hatchlings is pretty common here, though, from what I've heard. Izotz just isn't interested, I guess." All he could tell Hani was that he'd heard, and not necessarily facts. Sanjiv was still rather young compared to some other Paragon in the Hive, so intelligence was often told to older or specific Paragon.

Speaking of older and specific Paragon, the adviser was, in fact, one of them. "Oh! Well, I guess you can just call him our elder. He's a blind Sandshark named Balthazar, and Izotz says he's the very oldest Paragon we have." The Carapace shivered at the mention of the older male. "He's still no Paragon to mess with, though. He did use to be leader in his younger days, though, yes. He wasn't actually born blind, unlike Nyala, his daughter. I guess the Sandshark part of him caught up to his sight. While he wasn't born blind, Izotz says Balthazar lost his sight when he was still fairly young. Basically his job is to help the leader with any major decisions and to give advice, given his experience and his age. He was the one who chose Izotz as leader when their former tyrant was exiled." Well, he knew some of the Hive's history. While his egg had been laid elsewhere, his conscious mind had been born here. He just hadn't experienced those years, but the Carapace couldn't be happier that he hadn't.
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[32]

Postby Kallile » 01/21/2013 5:37 PM

“Oh, well that is a shame. I suppose I will have to wait a while then; I don’t think Izotz would think too well of a guest skipping out for a few days.” She answerd with a smile to mask her disappointment. Ah well, there would always be time for that later. For now the knowledge that such a body of water did exist would have to be enough for her. “If nothing else it will give me something to look forward to other than just being a more helpful claw around here.” She laughed.

She tried her best not to let her mood be dampened by the news of wild paragon. “I’m sure—though they made not have even been blown to this place. When I was finally able to find someone I learned of my whereabouts, but neither sibling was with me any longer.” The reply came in a light and cheerful tone; almost sounding hopeful that perhaps they had managed to fly back home. Her teal scales flushed slightly red at the mention she was handling herself well. “Ah, thank you. I tend to try and roll with what the fates see fit to toss at me. And as you said, I’m in excellent hands. I’m sure I’ll be fit for the clouds again in no time.”

The smile faded from her face slowly and was replaced with a somber expression as the Fairy shook her head. “That is beyond even my understanding. Our leaders were never so careless with life. The weak were not catered to, granted, but they were always welcome to leave and try their luck with another clan. Or even band together and form a separate clan to call their own. If they were not a threat to the leader then they were allowed to do as they pleased so long as they did not take resources away from egg-bearing females or hatchlings. Never put to death.” She chuckled a little at Sanjiv’s speculation. Not interested at all? He had seemed plenty interested in the hatchlings when they had visited earlier today.

“Perhaps he just hasn’t found the right female yet. With so many and such freedoms here it doesn’t seem farfetched to think that he might only select one female. You yourself just claimed to have a mate, if I remember correctly.” She added to further prove her point. The atmosphere around them began to shift into something vaguely familiar to the Fairy as they continued walking…almost as if she had just been there. “Ah, I see. The old rarely hang around with the clan unless they are tending the nursery where I am from. How interesting to think an old leader still acts and holds such power.” She replied, truly interested in the idea. She gave one final glance around before looking to Sanjiv. “Are we close? I feel like I have seen this place before, though it was much earlier in the day.”
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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[6] [19]

Postby Jaykobell » 01/27/2013 3:23 AM

Sanjiv tried to repress the thought of suggesting Hani to just take a swim in the water hole. Honestly, having a single Paragon consider it his little private swimming pool was quite enough, even if said Paragon could purify water with a single touch. It was still disturbing, and the Hive didn't need a multi-purpose watering hole. "Well, I'm sure you'll be fit soon enough to check it out, with Nyala watching over you." Of course... that being said, it did come to mind that perhaps the Fairy would get to heal... just a little bit faster, if she met the right Paragon. The Carapace made a small mental note about that passing thought.

"I hope your siblings turned up somewhere safe, then," the Carapace answered, genuinely hoping that was the case. They were all like siblings here; the thought of losing some of them to terrible weather conditions was a pretty dark and morbid thought in itself. He bit his tongue and avoided adding that he hoped they hadn't fell into Jezebel's clan of exiles. Despite having been exiled from the Hive, the tyrannic Paragon lived on in a small, disorganized clan of her own far, far away from the mountain. Saying that the possibility of her siblings having wound up there would probably leave the Fairy with a small panic attack, so the Carapace quickly kept that thought to himself.

Speaking of said former leader. "Izotz pretty much has the same mentally, although he doesn't kick any Paragon out. He firmly believes every single Paragon can be of help to the clan in their own way. He pretty much proved it a little when he appointed Nyala as healer. Being blind, she couldn't really do anything else, but her father taught her everything he knows about herbs and healing. If it hadn't been for Izotz, I don't think anyone would've even tried to think about a good task for her to do." Even if not immediate, Izotz believed that everyone had a particular amount of skills that would eventually come in handy. Considering they were all coming back from a terrible reign of cruel tyranny, feeling comfortable and welcomed was the best thing for the Paragon here.

In terms of breeding, well... "Ah, well... Our story is a bit of a special one, I guess you could say. Breeding is a little abstract here, where most Paragon will usually settle for a single mate. Others see it as a game or as nothing more than a small bonding activity, and they don't really think about it. It's like hunting or eating together, just that hatchlings might turn up from it." Izotz, however, seemed like he was waiting for the right female for him, even though that was a very interesting mentality for a leader to have. After all, spreading your bloodline and your skills to hatchlings was important for both the leader and the future of the clan.

Sanjiv laughed at the mention of the old hanging around the nursery. Old Balthazar hanging around the small, excitable hatchlings? What a sight that would be! "Hah, I'm afraid ours doesn't do that! He would lose his temper faster than you can say 'nursery'," the Carapace laughed, though he hoped no one else had heard that as they passed the healing den. "We're just a few steps away from his den, right over there," the red Paragon explained, flicking his head a little in the direction of a large den, with an impressive entrance compared to the other smaller caves all holed into the mountain.

As the two approached, the air started to change. It felt more tense, darker; the presence of two Paragon could be felt coming from the Advisor's den, and voices could also be heard coming from it.

Not expecting anyone to be talking to the elder, Sanjiv tilted his head as they approached. "Is a Paragon talking to him?" he voiced out in passing, not to Hani or to himself, nor to anyone in particular, as he approached to get a better idea of who was talking to him.

While the Carapace kept to the edge of the den, so that the Paragon inside wouldn't see them, the voices could still be heard. "I don't know what to do anymore. I try to control them and I try to be reasonable, but they won't listen. The more I try to make them stop, the more I'm afraid they're losing respect for me. I'm just... I don't know what to do. I'm afraid I'm losing whatever control I did have."

An anxious and nervous voice of a particular male Paragon that Hani would most likely recognize in a heartbeat: Izotz.
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[33]

Postby Kallile » 02/10/2013 7:23 PM

Letting the ideas of swimming and her healing progress fall to the sidelines for a bit, Hani simply chuckled as Sanjiv explained to her a little more how the Hive worked. It was refreshing to hear it from someone who was perhaps just slightly closer to age telling her a little more about the inner workings. She was feeling more at home already. “Well, I certainly am glad for that. I will have to carve myself out a place here if fishing isn’t a high priority food source. My handicaps are sure to abound as I learn.” She laughed.

“That doesn’t sound too abstract that I can’t wrap my head around it. It certainly is a different mentality, but I admire it. I’m sure you males are a lot more at ease here at any rate.” She said with a mischievous wink and grin. “That will certainly be a nice change of pace to not see quite so much practice sparring and rounds to try for leadership with you all able to have your own hatchlings.” Which was an honest truth. She would not miss the constant testosterone filled battles of males tired of not getting their chance at females. What a flirty idea besides that; being allowed to be fawned over by multiple interested parties? Hani could certainly imagine even the females were a little more relaxed here rather than just programmed to the idea that they were to help the current leader continue his lines whenever he asked it of them.

“I suppose the elders have earned a right to be, but most do make fantastic teachers for the new generation. A lot of history is passed on that way.” She too hushed her tone as Sanjiv mentioned they were getting close. When the Carapace paused and moved to the side with a soft question; Hani followed and craned her neck a little to hear better. It  was Izotz alright, and what he was saying made her heart sink a little. Losing respect?

She gave Sanjiv a small look before whispering.“I hope I’m not the cause of this. Perhaps we should try somewhere else first and let them finish their discussion…” She didn’t want to imagine that her being here would be the cause of this sort of talk. Was it early with Tapio? Or something completely different? As curious as she was, Hani didn’t really want to stick around and have her worst fear of the culprit confirmed.
"I have been hidden, scorned, adored, worshiped, forsaken, coveted and banished more times than I care to count. But the one thing all those experiences cannot steal from me is the gentle soul I was born with, the kind heart I have molded, and the bright ideals for the future that have lit my way through the darkness of the past."




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[7] [20]

Postby Jaykobell » 03/10/2013 4:01 PM

Sanjiv probably would've answered some witty replies to Hani's comments had it not been for them stumbling across this exclusive conversation between the leader and the elderly advisor. It was particularly easy for the Carapace to pick up how insecure and anxious his leader sounded; this wasn't common behavior for Izotz, so hearing anything like it coming from the Frost was always surprising.

When Hani mused if it was her fault, Sanjiv stopped eavesdropping to turn back to her. "What? No, I honestly doubt it," the Carapace confirmed, hoping his words alone would be enough to convince her. "Really. To be honest, I've noticed certain... attitudes recently," he added, knowing that would probably hold more water to the Fairy. "Some Paragon have been a bit unruly lately."

As they continued to talk just outside the den, so did the two Paragon inside it. As Izotz's insecure pacing could be heard even from outside, another voice eventually spoke up. "That's in your head," the voice said, raspy and old, unlike Izotz's younger-sounding voice. It also sounded more confident than the leader's, even in its older age. "There's nothing to worry about."

"There is something to worry about!" Izotz cried out as a sudden turning movement was heard. "They're more sensitive. They disagree with what I say, and they're probably thinking about taking leadership from me."

There was a short pause between the two, probably from some sort of action; however, it was hard to tell for Hani and Sanjiv considering how they couldn't see inside the den much at all without getting caught. "You're just fine as leader," the old voice answered, even more confident-sounding than earlier. "If they challenge you, you can take them down. You ain't weak, so stop thinking they're going to beat you so easily."

"It's not just that," Izotz countered, getting more agitated as the conversation went on.

Although he knew quite well they shouldn't be listening in on the conversation, something kept Sanjiv from turning back to go somewhere else. "Ah... I know we shouldn't be listening in," the Carapace admitted sheepishly, somewhat only now realizing what kind of example he was setting for Hani. Of course, he was certain the Fairy was smarter than that, but it would be no good if she found it acceptable to eavesdrop on others. For all she knew, it could be common behavior in the Hive, so he couldn't just set a bad example, to a hatchling or an adult alike. "Where... would you like to go next?"
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