[QuirkyRabbit]

"Great. Just GREAT!" Sketch shouted into the overcast sky. Water dripped down his mane and made puddles in his hoofprints. "Now how are we going to start a fire?" He kicked a branch in frustration, which rolled and bounced a short distance before splashing into the river, which had already begun to flow faster.

Halo watched from the opposite bank of the river. She was frustrated too, but felt helpless more than anything. Fur dripping, her soaked wings could barely carry her back to where Sketch and Viritra were. She hastened a little as she heard Viritra's call. Alighting by Nivium's side, she wrapped her wings around him to warm him. Sketch stood over them, expressionless. "I don't know... maybe the rain will wake him up, or something..." Her voice trailed away as thunder resounded overhead.

The smell of graveyards... Rapses flinched at the thought. But it was worth a try, if it was to help Nivium wake up. He started sniffing around, but stopped abruptly when he felt the first drops of rain on his hide. "Ahh..." he sighed. "I suppose the rain will wash off all the smell. Maybe we should go back..."

At that suggestion, Heka's high, tinny voice started up again. "Oh no you do not. You will stay right here until you find that root. Mark my words, if you dare to go back emtpy handed I..." But Rapses wasn't listening. He seldom listened to Heka any more. He had long gotten sick of her bossing him around.

[Kestrel]

Malora felt the first drops of rain hit her.
Now how are they going to start a fire? she thought incredulously. Might as well turn back.
But when she turned around, nothing looked familiar. Knowing that it was no good running around randomly in panic, she decided she could at least find Lynphea, Rapses, and Heka. If they were still searching, then she could help. If they had turned back, she could follow them back to the riverbank. She settled down in her normal spy position, except this time she turned every once in a while. Maybe she could see or hear one of them. After a while, when she was turning, she saw a patch of yellow out of the corner of her eye.
Rapses! she thought gleefully.
Hurriedly, she ran in that direction.
And what if they’re lost, too? a little voice said. Or that isn’t Rapses, and you’re walking right into a trap?
Shut up!

Viritra noted that the sky wasn’t all that full of clouds.
“There’s not many clouds, maybe it will clear up soon,” she told Halo.
If Sketch heard, he heard. Right now he was clearly very annoyed and angry. She didn’t want to be the victim of his anger. That would only flare up her temper, which wouldn’t help Nivium at all.

Nivium was dreaming he was in bed, under a nice, fluffy blanket. But for some reason, the blanket was damp.
And blankets aren't fluffy! he added.
He tossed and turned, trying to get away from the wet blanket.
I can't get out! he moaned.
Little did he know, the moan had been out loud, for everyone to hear.

{5-24}{5-24}{5-24}

[QuirkyRabbit]

((Ohmygod. I feel. So. Bad. For letting this RP die. I am so, so sorry... Do you want to continue, or what?..))

Halo felt Nivium wriggle under her wings. "He's alright!" she called out, suddenly filled with delight and hope. "How are you feeling?" she asked, as she lifted one wing to give him some space. He still wasn't fully awake, but at least

Sketch lifted his head at Halo's cry. "Good to have you back," he said quietly. He seemed to share Halo's relief in Nivium's revival, and was much calmer now. "The others went into the forest to look for firewood and a... plant of some sort." He looked up in the direction they had left. "Maybe we should call them back? Otherwise they would be searching for nothing..."

"Still, we might need it. Or they might have found something else. Lighten up, will you?" Halo smiled at Sketch. "Besides, I'm sure they will be back any time soon..."

Rapses called Lynphea over. "We shouldn't be out here in the rain. If we go too deep into the forest we might get lost. Do you think it would be better to go back to the river?" Heka started to say something, but stopped as a huge raindrop hit her square on the back. As Rapses watched her fly under a large leaf for cover, he wondered if she disliked this rain as much as he did.