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+--- Thread: Gilded Bay It's the fire it ignites (/showthread.php?tid=30259)
It's the fire it ignites - Keanu - October 17, 2018
His apparently lifeless form moved closer to the shore with each rushing wave before finally gliding to a stop in the wet sand. White foam still periodically spread around him as wave after wave dissipated against his umber body. Each breath was shallow and ragged and pulled particles of water into his already battered throat and lungs. Had he been aware, he might have moved farther from the water, but he had finally lost consciousness sometime ago, succumbing to the dehydration and exhaustion that came from days of being tossed around the unforgiving sea.
Even now, when he remained a heap on the unknown shore, he didn't so much as stir. Nor did he wake as the caustic ocean water entered his nose repeatedly, slowly scalding the sensitive membrane lining the inside of his nostrils. He was probably too far gone at this point; a body can only take so much, even a strong one like his own. Eventually, it was all just too much, and from the way his barely breathing form lie motionless in the sand, it seemed he had asked too much of his body this time.
RE: It's the fire it ignites - Ahe - October 18, 2018
The phoenix's fire-dipped paws drifted through the damp sand - grains sticking to her as the wind whipped her shaggy coat about ungently.
ʻO ke kai was angered, Her grey waters churning with the beginnings of a great storm. Thick, suffocating clouds pressed on the earth darkly as if they would open at any moment and spill their anger upon the land. Ahe's golden orbs turned to the sky without fear.
She'd wandered adrift since washing ashore and had little cause to fear another storm, half of her even wished that ʻO ke kai would take her. Life seemed so empty without her ohana, without her kaikuaʻana - would it even matter if a pākuʻi like herself vanished from the world?
As her feet led her into the sheltered bay, she found herself wandering to the surf involuntarily, mesmerized by the angry slap of the waves against the beach. There was something hypnotic in that chaos - something brooding and enraged beneath the lap of the water.
Ahe wanted to let it consume her.
The cold water had broken over one fiery paw when she was frozen in her tracks - golden eyes following the dark shape of a turtle. The turtle - barely visible within the waters as its flippers flapped gracefully - veered to the left.
Instinctively, the Islander followed.
She stumbled, losing sight of the reptile as she nearly ran face first into a formation of rocky spires - their stony fingers reaching for the sky. Panting, Ahe disentangled herself and rushed to find the guide.
Confusion halted her movements as she fumbled around the spires, for there was no sign of the sea turtle anywhere - only a soggy heap lying on the beach.
Ahe approached cautiously, unsure what kind of sea monster it might be, her head lowered and her hackles raised in case it wanted a fight. As the Reaver neared, something about the shape of the limbs, the curve of the spine, caused her tension to dissipate if only slightly.
It was lupine.
Once she was upon it, a chill skittered down her spine, for there was something about the profile of its head-
"Keanu!" Ahe's joyous shout came, her eyes landing upon the cinnamon skeletal markings that conveyed who he was to her. She'd thought him dead, it had been so long since she washed ashore that it seemed only reasonable to assume him deceased, and a terrible thought occurred to her then.
He would not be alive for very long if she did not move him.
Ahe grabbed what she could of the behemoth's dark coat, weighed down as it was by the salt water, and began to drag him from the water. Her muscles strained beyond what they were supposed to, she could feel fire streaking along her bones as some pulled and snapped, her teeth clenched to the point she thought they would shatter - the firebrand pulled him free of danger inch by agonizing inch.
Finally, at a distance where the water could not disturb them, Ahe collapsed at his side. The mouthpiece was trembling, panting with effort, as her golden optics moved to him. She wrapped her body around him for warmth though the wind was mostly blocked within the sanctuary of the bay.
"You're not allowed to die yet, brother."
let me know if I need to edit anything
RE: It's the fire it ignites - Keanu - October 19, 2018
Even through the pulling of his skin and fur, he still didn't wake. His body remained a heap of shallow breaths until finally his eyes slowly opened, and he was met with a fire in his throat and the uncontrollable need to cough. Lifting his head, he hacked over and over again, water coming up at first to further irritate his throat. Once the water was out, coughing continued to shake is giant frame for what felt like hours. Eventually he quieted, and his head fell back to the ground. Only then did he recognize the presence of another; he froze, a weak growl leaving his ravaged throat before her scent reached his nostrils. Ahe
Sister,he said hoarsely. He sluggish raised himself into a sitting position, the action taking more out of him than he thought it would.
I found you,he croaked out, head hanging a little under the weight of his exhaustion. He began to cough again, hacking and hacking before finally growing silent once more.
So thirsty,he managed to get before the coughing started again.
RE: It's the fire it ignites - Ahe - October 23, 2018
Ahe watched with concern as her brother painfully awakened, surprise causing her head to lift off the ground. Trembling with cold, for her coat was soaked after pulling Keanu from the tide's reach, she could only watch as he coughed. His utterance of an endearment broke her from her sluggish state, her crown shaking slightly as if to clear her head physically.
Silently the phoenix rose, too exhausted to speak, and touched her fire-streaked muzzle to his chocolate coat. She whirled on pale paws, her steps leading her to the nearest source of freshwater - her nose guiding her in the dark of night. Blindly, she ripped a mouthful of absorbent moss from a nearby stone and dunked it in the cool water.
Returning to Keanu, she placed the soggy moss before him. Her muzzle nudged him mutely, purposefully, as if to say drink.
RE: It's the fire it ignites - Keanu - October 24, 2018
He eagerly picked up the moss, chewing it enough to ring the water out in his mouth. He sighed in relief as the cool liquid traveled down his burning throat. Once he had extracted as much water as he could from the plant, he looked to Ahe tiredly.
I am sorry,he whispered, unable to speak normally through his damaged throat.
I washed up on some island and it took me a while to ensure you were not there as well,he rasped, coughing again when he had finished talking. When he had realized she was not on the same island he had first come to, he wasted no time throwing himself back into the ocean. He knew the sea would lead him to his family.
RE: It's the fire it ignites - Ahe - October 25, 2018
Ahe curled herself into him, snuggling up to him much as she had when they were children. Her shivering soon abated as their damp coats warmed with the body heat of the combined pair. Golden eyes blinked at Keanu in the dark, an occasional twitch of the ear the only sign of her attentive silence.
Keanu had been alive the whole time? What of their siblings, was it possible then that they had made the swim as well?
"There's no need for apologies. I only wish I'd found you sooner," she curled further against his dark coat, as if to convince herself that Keanu was truly here. "Did you...Did you see any sign of our other siblings?" The question came stuttered and fearful but was also strained with a desperate sort of hope.
RE: It's the fire it ignites - Keanu - November 01, 2018
He coughed again as she spoke, water coming up this time and spewing all over his paws.
I did not, sister...I assumed they were wherever you were...he trailed off, sadness overcoming him at the realization that his family was gone. Maybe they would find there way here eventually. He had done so, so he still held some hope that he would see them all again.
Where have you been staying?he asked tiredly, lying his suddenly too-heavy head on his paws as he waited for her answer. He hated that she had been here all on her own for so long, even though he knew she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself.
RE: It's the fire it ignites - Ahe - November 05, 2018
Concern crumpled her brow as he coughed up sea water but that seemed to be the last of it, as he spoke again soon after.
Her head hung of its own volition, weighed down by the sudden grief.
Leilani, brazen and bold.
Ioke, sly and silent.
Kili, damaged and in search of the love she could not find at the hands of Ahe's foster mother.
Makani, light-hearted and mischievous.
Akoni, so young and unsure, always seeking Keanu's approval.
Would these memories be all she had to hold onto?
Her golden eyes sought Keanu as he spoke again, pulling her from the darkness that had swept into her mind.
"I have been wandering in search of you, brother. In search of our siblings but.." Her fiery crown shook slightly, lowering over his chocolate back as she hugged him close.
"But I've found you, thankfully."
RE: It's the fire it ignites - Keanu - November 08, 2018
Despair filled him again at the thought of her searching for their family all alone. How could they all just be gone? After everything they had been through together, it was hard to believe that he would never see any of them again.
The koa rested his head against her, drawing in a deep breath and coughing a little on exhale.
I'm glad I finally found you, too.He remained silent for a minute as everything settled in his mind. He coughed again, and when he was done, he asked,
What now?his voice deep and raspy.
RE: It's the fire it ignites - Ahe - November 09, 2018
"We remain here, for now." Her gaze swept the dark beach, searching the area...for what, she didn't even know. It would be their temporary home for a time, she wanted to be familiar with it.
Her optics reflected in the moon's light as they landed upon a sandbank against the spires of stone. "We'll have shelter there," she murmured, dipping her fiery crown beneath his shoulder. He would have to walk on three legs, but Ahe would move slowly and support most of his weight.
"Ready?" She asked, and given that he was, the Islander inched their path towards the natural den.
Once inside, she settled her brother comfortably against the packed sandy floor; the Reaver collapsed beside him, her small frame sore and her energy spent.
"We will stay here while you heal. I will take care of you." It obviously wasn't up for discussion. As far as they knew, they were all they had left of their family. Ahe would cling to her remaining brother; she would not lose him again.
RE: It's the fire it ignites - Keanu - November 12, 2018
The bear nodded and shifted to allow Ahe under his shoulder and mustered every bit of strength he had to slowly shuffle towards the den she had spotted in the distance.
It took some time, but finally, they made it to their temporary shelter. Keanu slumped back on the ground, any energy he may have had nearly drained making his way here. He felt his sister fall to the ground beside him, probably spent from the strain of helping him move across the beach. She ensured him that she would take care of him, and he smiled.
Thank you,he said tiredly.
I'l be back to normal in a few days, I'm sure,he murmured, eyelids heavy. It would likely take much longer than that to heal, but he wasn't prepared to deal with that yet. Unable to fight his exhaustion any longer, he fell asleep, saying some unintelligible nonsense as his eyes finally closed.
RE: It's the fire it ignites - Ahe - November 14, 2018
She only smiled at him, brushing her muzzle against him gently. His appreciation was unneeded. It was unspoken law that Islanders never left each other behind.
Ahe couldn't be sure how long she watched him sleep, the moon's pale light the only illumination as it fell on the angles of his features.
"I almost lost you," she whispered in his grandfather's tongue. She curled close to his unconscious form, her head resting on his cinnamon-dusted spine. It lifted with his every breath, reassuring her that he had not left her for the Other realm just yet.
At last, she slipped into peaceful sleep - the first time she had slept so soundly in nearly a moon's turn.