The sun had started warming the air and chasing the morning mist back into the forests of Astryl's Vale. The wind continued blowing steadily from the north as it had all evening, leaving a chill against flesh in the shadows. It was turning into a beautiful morning on the lake shore, that Mermydon hoped would be the start of an adventure. The only musing now breaching the tranquility of the moment was Kanakwella rambling about her concerns and worries about a legend that had yet to come true. Had it been in his nature to roll his eyes, he would've done so by now. He thought Aleria had, out of the corner of his eye, but it wasn't the only out of place movement on the field. Heroine was actually coddling the mysterious whelp that appeared to try and snag some of their breakfast. Grim Rose was unusually quiet and more alert than before. And lastly he just noticed a different bulbori with some sort of helmet looking on in the distance at them; that would need to addressed. He stepped down upon Kankwella's tail spines. It wouldn't hurt her but it brought her movement ashore to an immediate halt. He didn't bother lifting his hoof when she looked back so neither she or he would lose face. He lifted his head confidently until he made eye contact. The moment was interrupted only momentarily by the occasional barking of the whelp on Heroine's back side. To which Memrydon took a moment to look in the direction of the zolnixi cub and spook it into silence. Once that was dealt with he lowered his voice, though still audible to the others. "Take care my young queen. There is no need in fretting over the legend now. It will come in it's due course, so for now let's get through today, then the next one after that, then again until we reach its time. We are sure to meet others that know of the legend and may shed some light on these things. But let me start by pointing you in the right direction milady. It is this way, down the river where I, and hopefully the others, are headed. You are welcome to join me. If I was not clear earlier," He called out to the over-landers present. Then he looked into the distance at where he thought he saw the brown and green bulbori and yelled out. "I suspect this threat will affect all of Sylestia, so everyone; land, sea, and air dweller should take consideration in taking up this quest. Lest ye fear becoming meat for my table." He said expecting if the bulbori was a fighter he would take up the challenge. He paused long enough to see if the bulbori was going to take the bait, so while he waited, he decided to attempt thought speaking to Grim Rose, who appeared agitated. ~We might be different species, but not so far different in our behaviors. You sense something. Care to share with us before we all get surprised by it?~ He asked her. Once he had waited sufficiently to confirm the bulbori's presence he turned and faced Kanakwella once more. His visage should make it clear to her that he had something else he wanted to say to her. The message received, he checked Aleria's position anticipating that Grim Rose's news was going to require Swifthorn's help as well.

"I am not the only ryori here......... someone is watching........... over me." Grim Rose said nervously. "I don't like it." Grim Rose flies into the water. She manages to breath somehow and she looks around carefully.

Grim Rose got up to descend into the water and Mermydon just nodded his head to her slightly. ~Keep controlled strokes so we don't go noticing distress in the water.~ He thought to her so she understood that while beneath the surface she was game. "Fate is a fickle mistress, princess." He said while gently letting his hoof off of her fin. "This legend speaks of an unnamed kingdom. So if it has been misinterpreted, it might not be a legend about Hallenjax or Shaledon at all, especially if what you overheard my ancestor say has any truth in it." She could see the wheels turning in his eyes and Mermydon was willing to bet that Heroine noticed too. "I don't know how much truth is in your legend, but I do know that my kingdom's prophecy lends it some validity. You are real." At that he turned his full attention towards her, closed his eyes and nuzzled her shoulder. She had substance, her skin was warm and her mane flowed across his muzzle leaving those memorial scents in his nostrils that he craved to inhale. Unless he was completely hypnotized by some dark entity, this kelparie he was talking with wasn't an illusion. An imposter possibly, since she stuttered, but her grace and poise were perfect.

"Should we luck upon Brackencross, we can prove just how genuine you are. But it still doesn't explain what your part is in all of this? Beside that, I can't help but notice that you are avoiding this conversation about the union of your royal house and mine. Are you still afraid, or perhaps the princess feels this is too private to be discussed in the open?" he inquired.

Grim Rose nodded and calmly swam.

The air was still warm facing the sun and cool in the shadows and the last of the morning mist had finally faded away, leaving just the late dew to evaporate into the mid morning air. The bulbori he thought he saw hadn't materialized so he didn't bother looking to see if it was still interested in them. Kanakwella didn't really respond much to his affection. Indifference wasn't the positive direction he had expected their relationship to take. She seemed more bent on this legend than anything and probably didn't appreciate his down-playing it. While at the same time, she hadn't attempted to defend it from his argument either. It made him wonder if she had been manipulated into caring about this so called legend, or if she was questioning it, or him, herself, or all three? She was at that difficult age between being a filly and a mare and the only confidant she had to trust for the correct decision was a flaming red zolnixi who may have her own agenda in mind. He had hoped that one day soon, he could earn her trust for the safety and benefit of their two kingdoms. He then turned to Aleria, cleared his throat to get her attention. She hadn't said anything one way or the other so he thought he'd try asking. "You have attended me this far, Aleria. Would you care to attend me through this quest as well? I could use a swift horn to guard my back against the merfolk. They aren't exactly our friends you know?" He paused awaiting her response... ((OOC: Either way it isn't going to change his actions)).
"There should be a boat landing not far from where the islands on the south side of the lake begin, if you over-dwellers are coming we'll be going that way, you should see it in a couple leagues. We can rendezvous there barring any interruptions." He said to the land bound members. "We'll be breaching so you know where we are." Referring to himself, Aleria and Kanakwella.

Then he entered the lake, swam out to Grim Rose and allowed his top fins to pass along either side of the ryori like shark dorsal fins! Then they submerged and he popped up two feet in front of Grim. "If you need to stop for any reason. Have this one mind speak with one of us to get our attention!"

Just as soon as the coast was clear of kelparie, the little female zolnixi cub ran into the reeds, gathered as many fishes as her mouth could carry and started running towards the wood as quickly as she could!

Grim Rose nodded and flew along in the water only half in existence. She had little need for the back half so most of her disappeared. Grim Rose laughed.

heroine decided to fly and take the route through the desert to pick up the desert dweller (or jillyana) and his friend to see if they wanted to comewhen she got to the cave she looked inside "hello, is anyone home?" said heroine (you need to answer this jilly)

(Im waiting for hawk as well, I want everyone to be able to answer :) I hate rp:ing others out. )

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=41091&page=27#269 Author: Jillyana Time Posted: 12/13/2016 at 2:31 PM (Im waiting for hawk as well, I want everyone to be able to answer :) I hate rp:ing others out. )

(OOC: It generally helps to ping everyone when you post, especially if there is an interaction with that player's PC. Just a friendly reminder folks)