((OOC: Good time to reupdate the list of what's been going on lol, with so many quiet PCs at the moment. Maybe it will help us all get back on track too...
Heroine: Is quietly hatching an egg on the island?
Kanakwella: Asked to fetch kelp for stretcher (p.62) but no reply since.
Akega: Asked to wrangle a small school of fish to aid healing Cain (p.62) but no reply.
Aleria: Asked to wrangle a small school of fish to aid healing Cain (p.62) but no reply.
Raka: Mainland supporting Amara's weakened form recommending camp.
Amethyst: Asked to wrangle a small school of fish to aid healing Cain (p.62) but no reply. Angry at Metal and keeping her eye on him.
Yal: Being examined by Meara, but now interested in the least at being helpful.
Uryi: Asked to fetch kelp for stretcher (p.62) but no reply.
Meara: Asked to fetch kelp for stretcher (p.62) after Yal had left. But persisted and is examining Yal. Feeling uncomfortable among the group of free ranging kelparie.
Dhuka: Still snoozing in the clover on Middle Island.
Cain: Injured and unconscious at Mermydon's side.
Smit: Has swam over to deliver a tray of fish to eat on the mainland.
Amara: Returned to the mainland by Raka but worried about the orb on the middle island.
Grim Rose: In the mainland meadow, admiring Mermy's orb on middle island, apologizing for being so direct.
Matel: Keeping an eye on Grim and Sagetri from the shadows.
Sagetri: Said goodbye to Mermydon and is in the mainland meadow, admiring Mermy's orb with mom.
... that's about as accurate as I can gather, feel free to correct me if I am wrong. But it seems the goals are unchanged. Return to Middle Island and camp for the night. Get their bearings and decide where to go next. Optional tour of Shaledon for the kelparie.



Raka's reply made a good deal of horse sense, the sun was passing afternoon and very soon would be touching the treetops. His smile told him there was more to share later, to which Mermydon nodded allowing him his own time to give out what he had. He decided to go ahead and address everyone that was there. "I'm sure by now most of you have learned that Astryl's Tranquility is anything but tranquil for her inhabitants. Despite our worries about that orb, the middle island is still the safest and best place to make camp for our land dwelling companions. Besides it offers more shallow spits for our kind to shelter in with bubbling cool springs and kelp aplenty to shore yourselves with. We do know for certain is that Heroine's sire is our enemy and he knows that we are here around this spot right now and that we have had nothing but trouble trying to leave it for over two days now. So let's stop making it easy for him!" He got up and inspected Smit's offering. "A mighty fine haul for a fisher-tom." He said affirmatively to Smit. "See here's a light snack Smitty has for us, I suggest everyone take a little to tide us over for the trip back." He trotted along the shore shallows to meet Meara's eye. "There's been no change in your patient I'm afraid. If Yal is okay, I will let you get back to him and go to fetch the kelp so we can move him." Since Yal was there and not only he, but Uryi and Meara, all projected a certain uneasiness about the size of the group. He felt their concerns and thought it a good time to address the matter. "I can't help notice Yal and Meara, that the two of you and Uryi don't like the mass, and I would understand if you wish to leave, though I believe it would be the worse choice for everyone. If you wish to part company with us, no one will stop you. But if you choose to stay, if even just for tonight, there are any number of places around that island for you to occupy. If that is to open for you I have a nest kept not far from the cascade. It is well sheltered in a deep kelp forest and is meshed well to keep it safe from sprites. It's really all the shelter I can offer you outside of camp." He looked between the twoof them, expecting that Yal would probably share this information with Uryi. Once he had his say to the two of them, he stepped back and looked about,If there are any questions, I'd rather we save them until we are back on the island. But for now I go to get kelp for the stretcher. Raka, would you mind going to help Amethyst collect a school of fish to meet us at the island with? Take Aleria with you, she knows where the local runs are. Mermydon expected Raka wouldn't mind this, and that with Raka about Akega would be more willing to lend a hand with the fish. And as an added bonus he would get a little quality time with Kanakwella. And Meara would be happy getting things straightened up with her patient back to the island.

((OOC: I had intended this post BEFORE Katelynn4545's.))

(OOC: whoops, sorry Harley! I started on this before you posted. You may need to edit your post.)

Raka's expression softened as his runes began to glow as well. He spoke in a calm slightly musical tone that was slightly deeper than his normal voice.

"Ah, I see. I was wrong to assume that you and I are the same. I am Aer, the spirit which dwells within Raka, however I do not exist within his elemental orb. The spirit within his orb died long ago, its death would have destroyed the balance of the many realms. As the orb's guardian I chose Raka to lend his own spirit to the orb in place of the original. Normally I would preside over the orb keeping it safe in my own realm but, the time came when its power was once again needed and so I returned Raka to this mortal realm. Alas he himself died in the battle against the necromancer, so to save him I melded our beings into one."

He turned to the other kelpari.

"Though the death of this orb's spirit is partly to blame for your plight, know that I am not responsible for sending those of you from Hallenjax to the present time. As for what did do this to you I cannot tell you, for that is not my decision to make."

"Now as for the orb she spoke of, true it must be tended to but not today. You would need rest were any of you to attempt bonding with the orb, let alone passing my sister's judgement of your worthiness."

The runes faded and Raka blinked returning to his previously held expression. "Well then, I suppose we should do as he says. Who am I to argue with a guardian?" he said this with a smile. With all the strangeness going on he might as well try to take it all in stride, after all part of him (he supposed the part that was from Aer) already knew all this.

Bluebolt froze and dropped to her belly. "What's wrong--" Lyrica started, but was soon hushed by Blue. "Shh! Someone's close," Blue whispered.

Amethyst nodded. She had snapped out of her trance. She looked at Raka. What was going on? She closed her eyes. She then opened her eyes. She got ready to dive back into the water to get the fish. She slipped back into the water. It was nice. Amethyst sighed wistfully and looked at Raka. What had changed? How was he different? She wanted to know so she could understand.

Sagetri approached the orb which seemed to glow now in the light. Grim Rose turned to look at her daughter. She then looked back towards the orb. "Mermydon gave this to me....." Grim Rose said. "It was during a fight..... a fight when which you were created. It was harsh and the elemental fought viciously. I was lucky to have survived." Grim Rose touched the orb gently and then picked it up. "Sagetri.... I don't know what happened by using the orb when it happened. But it changed my child...... Sagetri it must of made a connection between you and Mermydon. I never intended this to happen." Grim Rose said almost sad. "Sagetri I don't know what happened but...... Sagetri it's now your job to protect the orb." Grim Rose gave Sagetri the orb. Sagetri held it with her other orbs.

"What happened?" She asked slightly confused still. Would he tell her? Would he even understand? She had so many dang questions but no answers. She wanted the answers and soon.

Amethyst nodded. At least she was getting answers. She went off toward the shoreline. She waited silently. She looked at him concerned.