It's a rather beautiful day on Cerryl and Tarkin's Kumquat farm. They've had mixed feelings about the little visitor of theirs because of her fondness of meat, but she did help save their mischievous little daughter, Delrina. Easily one of the stranger Yagma's around, the baby bunny seems to end up all over the place, and more than once Nalae has found herself temporarily free of the farm and then back again mysteriously.
Right now, Cerryl and Tarkin are out picking kumquats on the far side of the field while baby Delrina sleeps soundly for her nap.
Nalae slowly moves from the house, and again hurries out to the edge of the farm, gazing longingly at the forest just across those deadly sandy patches of ground. There has to be a way across.. somehow..
The sandy areas, where the vicious guard ascalaphs live are nearly 50 feet wide and go from one end of the farm where another crop seems to be growing, all the way down to a river about 200 yards on the right.
Nalae frowns, looking from one side to the other. After a moment of consideration, she moves along to the right, towards the river.
The sound of water moving over rocks can be heard as the little Marenati approaches the river that borders the east side of the farm. The reeds and other aquatic plant life that are found on the far side of the river have all been cut down on this side.
Nalae looks up and down the river, swallowing a bit. Her only experience with running water has been little brooks back in the forest at home... this is a lot bigger.. but maybe it leads there... She edges along the riverbank towards the forest.
A tall fence, made of living plants with barbed stalks bars the way on land, going all the way over to the sandy area the small flying pine marten has been trying to avoid. A glance at the river shows it is flowing towards the forest, and has several large rocks that the water is flowing over. The water seems clear, and probably cold.
Nalae swallows a little bit. She tentative dips a footpad into the water to test the temperature.
The water is cold, though not severely so. It might be possible to hop from stone to stone, though the current is swift.
Nalae frowns slightly, but hesitates for only a moment. Any path that'll take her to the forest.... She carefully steps onto the first rock, balancing precariously.
The cold water rushes around Nalae's feet, but the rough surface gives her some purchase. The next rock is about 2 feet away, but seems green. A rock a bit farther to the side has the normal reddish brown color of the one she's standing on, but it would mean a longer path across.
Nalae looks between the two rocks. After a moment, she hops towards the nearer greenish rock.
Which happens to be a coating of slimy green algae, very slippery and almost no purchase at all for Nalae's numbing feet.
Nalae emits a sudden cry of alarm as the rock fails to provide her with much purchase. Tumbling over, she crashes into the thundering water.
The river quickly pulls the young Marenati along, quickly past the farm and into the forest. Her thick, oily fur helps protect her from the chilling waters.
Nalae chokes down water as she's washed along. She struggles to catch hold of the occasional rocks she's swept past and buffeted over by the swift current.
The rocks prove to be hard on Nalae's paws, but she finally latches onto a rock, water rushing around her as she struggles in the middle of the river. The canopy of the deciduous forest has closed around her.
Nalae shivers softly, clinging to that rock with all her strength. She slowly looks about, trying to work out where she is, and how far it is to the nearest bank...
The river has gotten shallower, hence the greater speed. It's maybe a foot or two deep, but nearly 12 feet in either direction to the shore, with far fewer boulders to cling to on the way. A vague scent of something seems to be in the air.
Nalae swallows hard. She doesn't have a lot of choice at the moment, and so gives a plaintive call of distress. Her hands slip slightly on the rock, but she manages to regain her grip.
After a moment, the smell clearly becomes the smell of wood smoke. And in answer to Nalae's call, a chirping type sound can be heard, sounding inquisitive?
Nalae chokes as a wavelet fills her mouth with water. Spitting it back out again, she calls, "Help!"
A small splash is heard, and moments later a small face not unlike Nalae's own pops up out of the water inches from her face and chirps, "Whatcha doin? You hurt or somethin? That why ya can't swim?"
Nalae chokes softly. "Can't swim," she manages to force out. Her fingers begin to slip over the rock again.
The little mink looks at Nalae and chirps, "What kinda Frenat are ya that can't swim? Well, hang on to my back, I'll take you to ma."
Nalae grabs at the mink wildly, trying to hold on to the oily fur.
The young mink splutters as Nalae pulls her down a bit and she chirps annoyedly, "Hey, be careful, you're almost as big as I am. Here, let me, silly."
The mink does her best to stand up, the water coming high up on her chest as she grabs Nalae by the arms and just drags her the 12 feet to shore.
Nalae collapses in a heap on the shore, choking and gasping for air.
The little mink pops up onto the shore next to Nalae and chitters, "You aren't a Frenat are you? What are these for?" as she pulls at the "flaps" between Nalae's arms.
An older female clears her throat from a _very_ short distance behind the mink. "What is going on?"
Nalae chokes softly and twists her head about weakly.
The young mink chitters, "Hi ma! I found her in the middle of the stream. I thought she was a Frenat who couldn't swim. Whatcha think she is?"
The squirrel steps closer and looks at Nalae. "It's not nice to talk about someone like she's not there, Ace." She crouches down to look more closely at the arrival. "And where did you come from?"
Ace shakes her fur a bit and nods, "Her furs funny ma, more like yours. I think she's cold."
The squirrel nods. "She would be. That fur's not going to trap the heat like yours does. And she'll get colder if she stays out here all wet." Turning back to Nalae. "Let's get you somewhere warm."
Nalae shivers softly on the sandy bank, her eyes darting between the two.
The squirrel stands up, hooking her arm around one of Nalae's. "Can you walk?"
Acer already looks dry and hmms, "What's your name?"
Nalae nods slowly, pushing herself up onto her feet. "Nalae," she coughs out. She wobbles just slightly as her muscles complain after being battered about so much by the river, but she stays upright by holding tightly to the squirrel's arm.
The squirrel says, "Ace, support her other arm, will you? I'm not quite up to this by myself anymore."
Ace nods and grabs the other arm, "Nalae? Cool. My ma named me "Acera" when she adopted me, but everyone calls me "Ace"."
The squirrel says, "And I'm called Samantha. Now, come this way, I've got a fire going."
Nalae mmmmphs, letting the two bear the bulk of her modest weight. "Thanks," she murmurs.
Ace starts chittering along, "You kinda look like a Frenat, but you aren't are ya? Whatcha doing in the river if you can't swim? And why do you have all this skin between your arms and legs...and..."
Nalae listens, but doesn't say much.. with incomprehension frequently flickering across her face as she only understands about one out of three words that Ace uses.. and the speed that she talks doesn't help much.
The trio approaches the elder squirrels home. A snug cottage built at the curved base of a giant tree that surrounds it on 3 sides. It's made of carefully stacked logs and has a small garden to the side of the tree. Ladders go further up, and hints of structures can be seen in the tree. In front a blackened, but well built fire pit has a cheerful fire going, and something in a kettle bubbles over the grill.
Samantha sighs. "Acera..." (Ace should know by the use of her full name that his mother is mildly annoyed.) "You're just confusing her. Let's wait until we sit down."
Ace blinks and ohs, "Sorry ma. I'm just curious ya know? She looks about my age, and it's someone I can play with maybe, unlike my older brother, ya know?"
A bench and a small table sit outside, along with a few woven reed chairs by the fire pit.
Samantha nods. "I know. I'm curious too." Looking at Nalae again. "But you'd probably prefer to be warm before having to think too much, hmm?"
Nalae pauses, then nods a few times, her ears canting. "Warm," she murmurs softly.
Samantha nods, and leads everyone over towards the fire.
Acer chitters and races inside, "I'll get a towel and some blankets ma!"
Nalae eagerly makes her way to the fire, doing her best to keep her legs moving as the two guide her in that direction. She settles by the fire and hugs herself quietly, shivering.
Samantha says, "Good. Make sure to get the thick ones."
Ace runs out with the towels and blanket and helps rub Nalae down.
Samantha moves the kettle away from the fire and stokes it up further to generate more heat.
Ace takes the big towels and starts rubbing Nalae down, going against the grain of her fur to help stimulate her blood flow, she notes the shiny necklace and chitters, "That's kinda cool. Looks like something my annoying older brother would bring home. Where'd you get it?"
Samantha looks Nalae over, and says in an odd lilting form that's more understandable to the marenati, "Please hold still for a moment."
Nalae holds as still as she's able, closing her eyes.
Samantha touches lightly on Nalae's throat. "Ace, lean closer."
Ace nods and leans forward.
Nalae squeezes her eyes shut.
Samantha sits up and touches Ace's ear. She then touches her throat, and reaches back to touch Nalae's ear. "That should take care of the worst of the language problems."
Ace giggles at the normal tingle of her "ma's" magic and nods, "Thanks ma, can I ask her all that stuff now?"
Ace looks up at her ma expectantly, obviously impatient to pester a potential friend that is not only her own age, but kinda sorta almost looks like her.
Nalae looks over towards Ace, then at Samantha. She's still huddled into a little ball by the fire, but at least looks a bit more attentive to what's going on.
Samantha nods. "Go ahead, but try to keep yourself to less than five words per second, at least."
Ace sticks her tongue out at her mother and chitters, "So, my names Ace, and your Nalae. Where'd you come from? How'd you get in the water?"
Samantha chuckles, and shakes her head. She is also listening quite intently as this goes on...
Nalae says, "Um.. I'm from somewhere near here, I think... I'm sorta lost..."
Nalae takes several deep breaths, stretching.
Ace hmms, "Somewhere near? Ma, you ever see her kind before?"
Nalae nods a bit. "I have to get back.. the Keeper'll be really mad," she murmurs softly, staring into the flames for a moment.
Samantha frowns, shaking her head. "No, I'm afraid I haven't seen anything like you here before. And by 'here' I'm including most of the places I've traveled, which covers over half the continent."
Ace wows and chitters, "You think she came through a portal ma? Or maybe she's a lost spacer? Huh ma?
Samantha says, "I don't know."
Nalae swallows hard. "It couldn't be far..."
Ace looks wide eyed at her mom and chitters, "Really? Wow, that's so cool. You feeling better Nalae? I can show you around and stuff. It's pretty fun around here. Hey, you like meat dontcha?"
Nalae says, "I just woke up here... one of the others must've brought me here as a joke or something..."
Samantha says, "Well, I could try doing a reading to find out, but I'd prefer you be more rested before I do something like that. It tends to be draining on both participants."
Ace notes Nalae being upset and chitters, "I guess you miss your family huh? Well, til we can find em, you'll be safe here. She can stay, can't she ma?"
Samantha nods. "Of course. In fact, I'd prefer it, at least until you're properly dried out."
Nalae smiles tentatively. "Thank you," she murmurs, edging a bit closer to the fire.
Ace grins and hugs Samantha and chitters, "Thanks ma. Say, Nalae, you hungry?"
Samantha hmmphs. "Least I could do under the circumstances."
Nalae nods hesitantly, remembering the sorts of 'food' those rabbits tried to feed her.
Ace grins as she sees the face Nalae makes, "You don't like plants do ya? Finally, another meat eater. I'll get you some, stay here!" and runs off.
Samantha rolls her eyes, grumbling in that 'another old family argument' way.
Ace zips back with some smoked fowl of some sort, smelling rather good, to a carnivore at least, "Here ya go, tomorrow we can get ya somethin fresh!"
Nalae smiles a bit.
Samantha says, "Well, I suppose if I can survive living with one person who likes eating things that used to move under their own power, I can survive two."
Nalae casts Ace a quick smile before tearing into the meal. She's obviously famished, as though she hadn't eaten in several days.
Ace sticks her tongue out at Samantha and giggles, "Not everyone likes to eat the scenery ma. ;)"
Samantha says, "Not my fault if you can't digest real roughage."
Nalae smiles a bit at the exchange, but is far too busy eating to consider taking part in the conversation.
Ace just shakes her head at her mother and chitters to Nalae, "Wow, you haven't had much to eat, have ya? I got some more smoked stuff if you'd like it?"
Nalae finally strips the last bit of meat from the bones of the smoked animal and smiles at the two softly. "That was good," she murmurs.
Ace grins, "Want some more?"
Nalae shakes her head. "I don' think I could eat much more," she murmurs, rubbing at her damp belly.
Up above, in one of the rooms in the branches, some rustling can be heard.
Samantha tilts her head, one ear swiveling to take in the sound above.
The familiar sounds of a teenage squirrel can be heard as he cusses about something.
Samantha sighs.
Nalae glances over at Ace, smiling a bit.
Ace snugs Nalae and chitters, "So, why is your skin like that between your arms and legs? You wanna learn how to swim?"
Samantha says, "I'd think more it would be for gliding."
Finally, after a few moments, the young male squirrel climbs down and looks somewhat ashamed to see his mother and sister there, he sees Nalae and heads over.
Ace blinks, "You can fly? Cool! Think you can teach me how?"
Nalae nods to Samantha softly. She lifts one arm high over her head, and the flap on that side dangles loosely. "It's just gliding... not like a bird.."
Samantha looks over at Ankhl. "Glad you could join us. We just fished this young lady out of the river."
Nalae gives the young squirrel a tentative smile.
Ankhl Beiter hmmfs at his mother, "Going to adopt another river rat mom? Well, I've got stuff to do in town. I'll see you in a few days. Maybe I can convince you to move into town once I make my fortune. Get you away from this backwoods place."
Samantha smiles, though it's a sad smile. "There are things out here you won't find in town. If you ever went traveling anywhere other than there, you might realize that."
Nalae looks between the group. "What's 'town'?"
Ankhl looks at Nalae and hmmfs, then notices the odd device on her necklace. He wonders what it might be worth, but realizes he's got bigger things in mind. He just shakes his head at his mother and sighs, "Everything I need and more is there mom. But it's no use talking to you about it." He moves to sit down and winces, then laughs at Nalae to hide it, "You don't know what a town is?"
Ace growls at Ankhl, which, being a predator, is impressive and she chitters, "You be nice to her!"
Samantha folds her arms across her chest, just glaring at Ankhl's rump, where he winced. She doesn't have to say a thing.
Nalae cringes slightly, looking around at the others.
Nalae yawns widely.
Ankhl takes one more look at Nalae's necklace then throws his arms up, "I've gotta go mom. Just make sure your new kid doesn't mistake you for dinner some night."
Samantha says, "I'd tell you to be careful if I thought it would do any good."
Ace sticks her tongue out at Ankle and chitters to Nalae, "Where you wanna sleep? I've got room in my bedroom."
Nalae's eyes widen. "I.." But she quiets and looks over to Ace. "All right," she murmurs.
Ankhl frowns slightly then nods to his mother, "I know how to take care of myself mom. I'll see you later." and he pads off, rubbing where his tail connects off and on, obviously still hurting from where the bear, Bahny, grabbed it before.
Ace watches her brother go with relief and chitters, "Ma, can she stay in my room, can she, huh?"
Samantha sighs. "Don't mind my son. He's just infected with that annoying disease called 'youth' which can give you delusions of competence."
Nalae smiles at Samantha softly.
Ace wrinkles her pointed face and chitters,"Nah, he's just a pain is all. What do you expect from a "boy"?"
Samantha says, "Anyway, it's all right with me for her to stay in your room if it's all right with her."
Nalae smiles a bit.
Ace grins, "Thanks ma. C'mon Nalae, follow me. And I wanna see you glide tomorrow. That must be cool!"
Nalae smiles a little bit and follows Ace, her legs finally agreeing to bear her weight.
Samantha stands up. "I'd be sure you're up to strength before trying that, but I expect you know your own limits."
Nalae nods a bit. "I.. think I'll be okay tomorrow.." Except for the bruises. Ow.
Samantha nods. "Good. If you're not, tell me."
Ace's room is the one closest to the river, right down on the first floor with some rather large windows. How that much glass made it out here is another question. But another pallet is set up by the little mink for her friend, and a pillow, blankets and sheets are laid out. "I'm glad you're here. I hope we can be friends while we look for your ma and pa?"
Nalae nods slowly, paying an unusual amount of attention to the windows, and lifting one handpaw to run it along the smooth, clear substance. She'd seen it before, briefly, in the farmhouse, but...
Ace chitters along happily as she gets ready for bed, obviously very happy to have a new friend. She grins, "Yeah, isn't it great? I've got the biggest windows of any bedroom. Ma knows how much I like to look at the river. We can open them for fresh air if you want?"
Nalae nods several times, looking a bit nervous and uncomfortable.
Ace opens the windows, and it becomes obvious that the small mustelids can both get out through them. "That better? You're still shaking, maybe you need to get under some covers?"
Nalae nods a bit, relaxing visibly as the windows are opened. "Can I sleep near here?" She gestures towards the window.
Ace nods, "Sure, I'll sleep on the other side of the window. Just let me know if ya need anything tonight, ok?"
Nalae pauses a moment, then settles just to the inside of the window, casting a tentative smile at Ace. "Okay," she murmurs. She curls up a bit, but with her head pointing the right direction so she can look out the window..
Ace curls up the same way, just using a light sheet and looks outside and chitters to Nalae, "Hey, we do go to the city once in a while. It's not bad for a few hours, maybe you can go with us next time ma needs to go shopping?"
Nalae nods uncertainly as several words escape her comprehension even despite the spell of Ace's mother.
Ace chitters happily at her new friend and grins, "You'll like it here. Ma is great, she's taken care of me ever since she found me as a kit. And if anyone can find your folks, she can. Night Nalae."
Nalae faintly murmurs, "Night.." She feels less like grinning, though. She just stares out at the unfamiliar surroundings silently, wondering how she'll ever find her way home now, if the older squirrel.. who'd traveled so much.. if even she didn't know where she was from. After a few more minutes looking at the strangely formed surrounding trees, she closes her eyes and curls a little tighter, trying to get some sleep.
Some occasional clanking comes in from outside, and later from inside the house itself... Samantha peers into the room at one point, looking both her charges over to make sure they're getting some sleep.