The elder oak sways lightly in the evening breezes of late summer. Some of the leaves are already showing signs of changing color. Samantha has been improving the translation spell for Picasso as best she can, and the communication has improved. Acera and Nalae have been helping store food for the winter, but are taking some time off today. Mainly because Samantha is out acting as midwife for a couple down the valley.
Acera stretches out on the bench in front of the house, lazing around.
Picasso looks out into the distance for a few moments and then refocuses on things around her. She stretches her wings out to feel the breeze ruffle her feathers.
Picasso chtorrs, "My leg better feels......feels better.....I seem to be better doing with speaking your language since Samantha the spell fixed."
Acera blinks and stretches and nods, "Good to hear Picasso. Ma does good work. So whatcha gonna do now?"
Picasso chtorrs, "I thought about going flying. A nice day it is."
Acera's eyes light up at the mention of flying and she chitters, "Can ya take passengers?"
Nalae has been generally relaxing a bit higher in the tree, where she feels more comfortable. She quietly watches the two down on the ground, though.
Acera hmms, "I wonder if Nalae would come along?"
Picasso chtorrs, "I could easily carry you. Nalae wouldn't like it though"
Acera hmmfs, "She liked the ride with that Coperknickus fella though."
Picasso chtorrs, "She could if she wanted but she trusts me not.....doesn't trust me."
Acera hmms at Picasso, "Let me go talk to her, K?"
Picasso chtorrs, "All right. I'll wait."
Acera scrambles up the tree ladder and looks around, "Nalae?"
Picasso continues holding her wings out to the wind.
Nalae glances over at Acera, having shifted her position so she's leaning back against the treehouse's thick trunk. "Hi, Acera.. what's up?"
Acera fwumps down next to Nalae and chitters, "Well, member when we went flyin with that Copernickus fella? The Chirpy'taur?"
Sharp ears can pick out something fairly large making its way through the forest, towards the tree.
Nalae nods at Acera. "Yeah?"
Acera says, "You wanna go flyin again?"
Picasso tucks her wings in and turns casually so she can keep an eye on where the sound is coming from without appearing to be concerned. In actuality her muscles are tensed for attack if need be.
Nalae blinks. "The Creators didn't come back again, did they?"
A black-robed, hairless figure strides up the path slowly, but purposefully.
Picasso whispers just loud enough for Acera and Nalae to hear "Something is coming, Stay in the tree and try not to let yourself be seen."
Nalae's ears perk and twist, and her attention turns from Acera down towards the approaching figure.
Acera blinks down at Picasso, then looks towards the noise. She relaxes when she recognizes that odd furless critter.
Michael catches sight of Picasso (something that large is somewhat hard to miss) and stops, cocking his head curiously, looking.
Acera chitters down to Picasso, "That's ok. That's Michael. We know him."
Michael looks up to the tree and waves. "Hello!"
Picasso relaxes some but not entirely and turns the rest of the way to face the new arrival.
Michael smiles at Picasso. "You are new here?"
Picasso chtorrs, "Arrived I a short time ago."
Acera turns back to Nalae, "I asked Picasso if she'd take us flyin. She said yeah, but only if ya wanted to. She knows ya don't like her."
Michael says, "Oh? Where did you arrive from?"
Picasso sighs "From the place that was home."
Michael adjusts and re-ties the belt to his silk robes.
Michael nods, "You are far from home then. That is sad, I know."
Picasso isn't sure just how much to say about the Stones and so doesn't mention them.
Michael smiles a little, "But a home is not always where you want it."
Picasso chtorrs, "Don't know. Not this world is all know I""
Nalae wrinkles her nosepad a bit. "I like her," she mumbles. "I jus' don't wanna go flying."
Acera looks at Nalae hopefully. She really wants to fly. She frowns, "Why not? Ya liked it before."
Nalae shrugs slightly. "Don't feel like it." She tries to look like it's no big deal.
Michael scratches his chin, pondering the griffin.
Acera chitters, "C'mon Nalae. Why dontcha tell me what's wrong. That's what family is for."
Picasso chtorrs, "Where from are you?"
Michael waves his hand in some seemingly random direction, "Far away. But I am in Haven for a while."
Nalae fidgets quietly, looking away from Acera. "Dunno," she mumbles.
Picasso chtorrs, "Haven?"
Michael says, "Yes...um, is a big city, that way."
Michael points in the direction he came from.
Acera snugs Nalae and chitters, "I think ya do. I'll skip flyin today if it bothers ya that much. Hopefully she'll let me go some other day."
Nalae looks back at Acera. "Thanks.. it's jus'... birds.. birds that big.."
Picasso chtorrs, "Maybe I'll fly there sometime."
Michael says, "There are lots of people in haven...But none like you. What is your name?"
Acera frowns, "What about big birds?"
Michael says, "You can walk, too. Its not that far."
Picasso chtorrs, "I am Picasso....That sounds funny in your language."
Picasso chtorrs, "I am surprised not there are no others like me. No others like me came here with me. No others like me know the way.....not even me."
Nalae shrugs faintly, lowering her eyes a bit. "They're.. dangerous.. I.. I know she seems nice, but.."
Michael says, "Pikaso? No, that is not so odd in my language. I have a relative named Pik A 'so."
Michael smiles, "It means 'large shouting woman'"
Acera chitters, "Ya know, we're carnivuh..carni....meat eaters. Ma's relatives called me dangerous when she adopted me."
Picasso isn't good at reading expressions of those not her kind but she doesn't think Michael is trying to be insulting.
Michael smiles and nods, "I am Michael."
Acera frowns, "If she was gonna hurt us, she coulda already done so easily Nalae."
Nalae fidgets with her hands.
Picasso chtorrs, "Well I am large compared to others here. I am female. Shout I don't......often."
Picasso chuckles a bit.
Michael smiles, actually having a lot less trouble understanding the griffiness than one might expect. "You are not so very big when compared to other things."
Acera snugs Nalae, "Ya really are scared aren't ya? Maybe if ya talked with her you could work it out?"
Michael says, "Where is your home now?"
Picasso chtorrs, "Here for now. Where in the future, I know not."
Michael points to the ground. "Right here? It must be cold and wet."
Nalae looks up at Acera, her hands clasped tightly. "It's jus'.. back home.. there were birds there, too.. not as big, but.. but they'd get a li'l kit sometimes.. in th'middle of the night, y'know? When ever'body was sleepin'.."
Picasso chtorrs, "Samantha has helped me and is letting me stay for now. I try to help as I can."
Michael says, "Oh, Samantha...I remember Samantha, a little."
Michael says, "I think..."
Michael says, "Are there more trrt'to-baq around here?"
Michael leans back and looks behind some trees.
Picasso chtorrs, "More what?"
Acera scritches Nalae, "Did they talk too?"
Michael says, "Trrt'to-baq...They're like..." he motions obscurely with his hands. "Um...the chirpytaurs....Like my top on your shoulders." He motions as if he were cut at the midsection.
Nalae shakes her head a little. "I d'no.. but I mean, you didn' go trying to talk to them.."
Picasso chtorrs, "Lots of different shaped people around here. Nothing like that I've seen."
Michael says, "They are not from here. From above the sky."
Michael points upwards.
Acera nods, "Picasso isn't one of those. Anymore than we go about killing people, just cause we need meat."
Picasso chtorrs, "Maybe they know where my home is. Talk to them I will."
Nalae nods a little. "I.. I know.. it jus' doesn' feel right, y'know? I mean.. she looks lots like they did, when I was lit'ler... back at home.."
Michael says, "They are not hard to find...When they are here. Just look for people pointing. At someone other than yourself, I mean."
Michael smiles and laughs.
Picasso laughs.
Acera snugs Nalae and chitters, "Ma says she can stay as long as she wants. She trusts her, and I do too. I know it's hard for ya, but she's not one of those kinds of birds. C'mon down and talk to her for a little bit, ok?"
Michael looks up into the tree. "Where did the little ones go? You are waiting for them?"
Picasso chtorrs, "They are talking. They should be down eventually"
Nalae looks quite nervous and uncomfortable, but nods a little. "I.. I guess.."
Michael hmms and nods. "I do need to go, however. It was very nice to meet you, Pikaso."
Michael smiles and bows slightly.
Acera hugs Nalae, "C'mon. Just for a little bit." and starts climbing down the ladder built into one of the trunks of the elder oak.
Picasso nods politely. It should be noted that all the while she was talking with Michael she was physically between him and the tree.
Nalae follows Acera down the ladder..
Michael begins to head on down the faint path. "Perhaps we will meet again..."
Picasso chtorrs, "Perhaps we will."
Picasso watches Michael walk away before turning to her friends.
Acera waves to Picasso and chitters, "We need to talk with ya a bit. Nalae's kinda upset."
Picasso chtorrs, "Yes we do. I heard what was said."
Acera blinks and hmmmfs . o O (She must be someone's ma. Only ma's can hear that good!)
Acera tugs at Nalae's arm, "Let's sit over at the bench."
Nalae swallows a little, looking up and up at Picasso, and edges a little nearer to Acera's side.
Picasso chuckles and makes her eartufts twitch.
Picasso chtorrs, "good ears...."
Picasso moves to her now usual spot next to the bench.
Acera sits on the bench with Nalae and chitters, not sure where or how to start?
Nalae sits on the bench, putting Acera between herself and Picasso.
Acera holds Nalae's hand protectively and finally breaks the silence, "Nalae, ya wanna say somethin?"
Nalae shuffles a foot on the ground. "Dunno," she mumbles..
Acera sighs, not knowing what to do.
Picasso chtorrs, "Nalae, I wouldn't you hurt....hurt you. Don't hurt friends. Only have three."
Picasso chtorrs, "Others there were on my world who spoke. Smaller than my people. Not they food. They people. You people. Michael different kind of people....cold without fur I bet."
Acera giggles a bit at that comment.
Nalae nods uncertainly, shuffling a foot. "I guess.. probably.. I dunno." She's really not very comfortable, and isn't sure of what to say.
Acera hmms, "Nalae, don'tcha think she deserves a chance? I mean, she hasn't done anything to hurt us at all."
Nalae nods at Acera uncertainly. "I guess so.. yeah.."
Picasso struggles to think of something to say or do that might make Nalae feel a little more comfortable around her.
Acera's whiskers flick a bit as she wonders how to help Nalae feel better. She's actually put her flying plans into the back of her thoughts.
Nalae quietly glances up at Acera.
Acera hmmms and snugs, "So what do you think? I mean, you could just think of her as a REALLY big sister."
Nalae wrinkles her nosepad a bit, fidgeting with her hands.
Picasso chtorrs, "Is my size the problem? That I'm on four legs? Haven't tried since arrived I did but I can change that."
Picasso chtorrs, "Magic works here it seems. Just don't want to further frighten...."
Acera blinks, "Whatcha gonna do?"
Nalae blinks a few more times at Picasso.
Picasso chtorrs, "can change shape....maybe. Not easy."
Acera blinks, "Oh, like that Coppernickus fella?!"
Picasso chtorrs, "Don't know him. Don't know his magic"
Picasso seems to make up her mind and gets up to move back a ways.
Picasso chtorrs, "If doesn't work Nalae may have nothing left to fear."
Acera blinks, not quite following what the griffin is saying, but she's fascinated to see more magic. She holds Nalae's hand as she watches.
Before she can change her mind, the griffin starts preparing the spell.
Nalae fidgets, watching nervously..
Picasso concentrates and begins building the elemental energy she works with. For those who can 'see' her aura begins to brighten.
Picasso continues to build power while forming the desired effect in her mind's eye. The almost no-time between her current form and the one she wishes is the truly dangerous point. Only her will holds her essence together then.
About ten minutes pass. The leaves rustle though the air is dead quiet...
Acera hasn't had the patience to learn to see aura's yet, but she can feel something building as she holds onto Nalae. She fidgets as she gets impatient.
Picasso finally feels ready and releases the energy on herself. There is a blinding blue light that suddenly surrounds her and seems to shift strangely.
Nalae blinks slowly.
Acera starts a bit at the display, then stares.
When you can see again there is a different shaped creature where the griffin once stood. She's panting from the effort that cost but it seems to have worked.
You see a bipedal female griffin. When standing she is about 6'
tall from the ground to her ear tufts. Her wings span almost 20' and are
currently tucked loosely against her back. Her top half is that of an
anthropomorphic eagle and covered in soft golden feathers which have a
metallic sheen to them. Her feather covered arms end in hands with sharp
retractable talons and her beak looks fairly formidable though it's
fairly flexible. . Her midriff on down is covered in leonine colored fur
including her feet which look almost like stretched paws. Her tufted tail
is a good indicator of her moods and is flipping about occasionally and
seemingly on it's own accord. She is currently a bit tired from the
spell. Her leg seems to be healed..
Acera blinks, "What...where'd you're legs go? Wow...think you could teach me to grow wings?"
Picasso checks herself over to make sure she got everything right. She seems to have made the shift.
Picasso quietly walks back and sits (almost falls) down to rest a little.
Picasso chtorrs, "Is....is this any better for you Nalae?"
Nalae fidgets quietly, looking over at Acera.
Picasso chtorrs, "Your shape is fine Acera.....wouldn't want you to change it. Isn't easy even when you know how"
Picasso chtorrs, "nice to have hands sometimes though."
Acera excitement fades when she sees Nalae is still upset. She also feels a little disappointed at Picasso's words, but she chitters, "Nalae...you're my sis. Isn't there anything we can do to make you feel better?"
Nalae shrugs uncertainly, clasping her hands tightly together. "Nah.. it's.. it's okay.."
Acera gives Nalae a hug and sighs, "Maybe with time it'll get better?"
Nalae nods softly.
Picasso thinks of something. She reaches up and back with a hand and plucks out a flight feather, wincing a little as she does so. She concentrates on it briefly as if doing something she's practiced often and then hands it to Nalae.
Nalae blinks a few times, looking down at the feather.
Acera nose twitches as she checks out the feather, "What does it do?"
Picasso chtorrs, "This is for you. IF you're ever in danger either break it in two or better yet cast it into a fire. I'll know you need help and will be able to home in on it. Cast on the water it will point the direction I am should you ever wish to find me. I'm also trusting you to keep it safe as well."
Nalae blinks at Picasso, rather uncertain of what to say.
Picasso chtorrs, "If Samantha hasn't told you, something like that would allow an enemy to track me easily if they had any magical skill at all. With a bit more skill they could harm me from a fair distance with it."
Acera nods, "Yeah, I think ma has told me bout stuff like that."
Nalae nods hesitantly..
Nalae says, "I.. um.. you shouldn' give this to me..."
Picasso chtorrs, "I don't think you'll let that happen though."
Nalae shakes her head quickly. "No.. I didn't mean that..."
Picasso chtorrs, "Why? Though you fear me I wouldn't hurt you. I won't always be able to stay here at the tree and I would feel a lot better knowing my friends could get my help when I am away."
Picasso chtorrs, "Besides, it will look nice tucked into your head fur. Just think. Besides me, you have the only griffin feather in this world now."
Nalae nods uncertainly, looking back down at the feather.
Picasso chtorrs, "With my kind, the giving of a feather is a very solemn promise of friendship. Never been broken."
Picasso chtorrs, "I hope you'll keep it"
Nalae nods hesitantly, shuffling a foot. She certainly doesn't know what to say.
Picasso chtorrs, "Hard to fear someone who trusts you"
Acera looks at the feather and tries not to be jealous, she knows Picasso is trying to help Nalae, so she just snugs Nalae.
Picasso doesn't want Acera to feel left out
Picasso chtorrs, "Don't worry Acera. Can't grow you wings but I will take you flying when the time is right."
Acera smiles a bit at that and nods to Picasso.
Nalae shrugs slightly. "You can go flyin' now, if you want to.."
Acera snugs Nalae and looks at Picasso, "Maybe later. C'mon Nalae, lets go hunt for some little scrabble foots. We haven't done that in a while. K?"
Nalae blinks in surprise, then slowly nods at Acera. "Um, okay.." Turning down an offer to go flying? That's not like Acera at all..
Picasso chtorrs, "You two run along. I need to go talk with Samantha about a few things."
Acera snugs, "I know you're feeling out of it Nalae, and you're my sister. C'mon." and runs towards the deep part of the woods.
Nalae brightens, and even gives Picasso a hesitant smile before darting off after Acera.
Picasso watches the two scamper off and decides to go on a short flight to help sort things out before going to find Samantha....