The wind smells of salt as the four explorers cross the few miles of open ocean to reach the large, rocky island the Havenites have 'leased' to the Chirr'T'Thar. Mostly to get them further away from Haven, but partly so Tylen's ships can make money, or so he thinks. Copernicus ponders all this as he catches site of the island and purrs to Jenora, "We're almost there." He turns his torso around while still flying forward and purrs to Chastity, "How are you doing?"
Chastity holds on to Copernicus's neck fur with white knuckles, gulping. "N-not bad!" she says back a little shakily. "It's.. it's been a while since I've done this, though!"
Copernicus chuckles, "I've never lost anyone. Honest."
Chastity looks down, down, down at the water rushing past. "If you say so!" Her voice belies a small smile -- maybe of memory, or maybe just of enjoying this.
Jenora laughs, flying alongside...
Copernicus hmmms, "Let's take a fly-over first Jenora, get a rough idea how much work it will be to set up a base here."
Jenora says, "Got it!"
Chastity yelps, but remains silent, gripping Coper's neckfur just a little tighter.
The island looms larger and larger. It's probably a good 2 miles across and 3 miles wide. A good deal of it's rocky appearance is due to lava flows on various parts. The shoreline is rugged, though one cove does look promising for a dock. The main cone of the volcano is on the far end of the island, and a small trail of steam rises from the crater's plug. Here and there are strips of forest. Copernicus hmms as he points to a flat area towards one side of the island, and dips his wings towards it.
Jenora nods, and arcs down towards it as well, going into a steeper dive.
Chastity bites her lip, and tucks her head down behind Coper's neck against the rushing wind.
Copernicus swoops down and then tilts back a bit as his large wings backpedal, his hind paws touching first, then the rest settling down smoothly and he grins. "Felitaur flights. We get you there. ;)"
Chastity gkks softly, blinking at the sudden stop, then remembers to breathe again. "Oh, wow...." She sits up, and stretches a bit, looking around. "Hmm.. well, Thark was even less hospitable....
Jenora drops almost straight down, then sort of stops short just above the beach, and unfolds her legs until they touch the ground.
Copernicus chuckles at Jenora, "I'm going to tell Andromeda how much of a showoff you are Jenora. It's not bad Chastity. We can put in some habitats. Maybe import some game into the small forest tracts from time to time. Thank goodness we're long range fliers though."
Chastity nods slowly, and slips off Coper's back, tapping the ground with her cane. "People, any people, can live anyplace. 61 Cygni went nova and a few years later we were back on Prime and Thark...." She frowns a bit, something tickling her memory, but then shrugs a little to herself.
Jenora smiles innocently, and pats her clothes back down.
Copernicus hmmms, "So, I need your opinions. It does look like we might even tap into some cheap geothermal power. This area is flat enough, we can have the shuttle landing pad here maybe?"
Chastity kneels down, looking around carefully. She nods a little absently. "Sounds good. In time you could possibly even build a minor landing field out into the water." She points. "Some habitats near the waterline -- better see how high the tide can get, first. And... cloisters." She blinks in surprise. "Where did that come from...?"
Copernicus purrs, "Cloister of what?"
Jenora walks around the area, judging its size. "We'd want to clear out a bit of the vegetation around it... make the landing approach easier to get into."
Copernicus hmms and nods, "A little bit, yes. And maybe work something like a dock out far enough for Haven ships, as we probably will have a few land here."
Chastity shakes her head slowly. "I'm.. not really sure." She sighs and stands, leaning on her cane. "It'll come back to me." She looks back along the other side of the shoreline. "It seems.. fairly isolated."
Copernicus purrs, "True, which was Tylen's idea. He seems to forget a few miles isn't enough of a distance to get our wing muscles warmed up. But this way the shuttles won't disturb them as much."
Jenora nods. "It's more of a psychological advantage for them, really."
Copernicus nods, "True enough. And we're pretty good at terraforming small areas. Shall we walk around a bit, see what's here?"
Chastity hobbles up the beach a bit, finally sitting on a suitably large boulder to rub her leg a bit, just looking around quietly.
Chastity nods, and lets out a breath. "Sure...."
Copernicus hmms, "Would you prefer a ride Chastity?"
Chastity smiles wanly. "If it's not a bother, Copernicus. I'm not as nimble as I used to be."
Copernicus chuckles, "Not a bother at all. Jenora will tell you I enjoy having pretty ladies ride on my back."
Jenora grins. "No comment."
Copernicus offers a hand to Chastity.
Chastity glances wryly at Jenora, grinning, and takes Copernicus's hand, pulling herself onto his back.
Chimera comes in for a landing after circling the island.
Chimera reports, "I didn't see any dinosaurs or giant spiders."
Jenora sighs. "You been watching vids again?"
Chastity blinks at Chimera, and chuckles softly. "I hope not! Does that volcano look active to you?"
Chimera looks at the mountain. "It doesn't seem to be moving or talking or belching.."
Chimera smiles sheepishly at Jenora.
Chastity says, "I'll... er, take that as a 'no,' then....""
Copernicus purrs, "Just a small bit of steam escaping. We can tap it and keep it from getting to the eruption point. Well, we also need some place to put stores, and see what the forests are like. Shall we?"
Jenora says, "Let's go."
"What sorts of stores?" Chimera asks. "Delicatessans? Donut shops? Whicker?"
Chastity chuckles softly, holding on to Coper's neckfur again as she looks back at Chimera. "I think he just means places to put stuff."
Copernicus pads rather quietly over the rough surface of the lava, his eyes, ears, and nose making notes of everything he sees. As the edge of this lava field is a wash that has rolled chunks of stone and lava into smooth round stones. He turns to Chimera, "Right. Mostly storage."
Jenora sighs, shaking her head.
Jenora chuckles, and pads up over the rock as well...
Chimera hmms, and looks disappointed again.
Chimera says, "No shopping, and no monsters. No wonder this island is uninhabited."
Copernicus purrs, "Though it might not be a bad place to do so. The mining station has it's limits as a port."
A flutter of wings as several of the 'stones' jump into the air, fly a dozen feet, and land again, mixing in with the normal stones in the wash.
Chastity blinks, her jaw dropping. "Coper...!"
Jenora whistles.
Copernicus's wings curl to form a shield around Chastity momentarily, then he blinks, "Odd. Seems to be defensive camouflage?"
Chimera says, "Ooo, at least the rocks are interesting."
Jenora says, "Pretty good one at that."
Chastity nods slowly, "Coper, let me get off for a moment..."
Copernicus nods and pauses, "Certainly Chastity."
Chastity slips off Copernicus' back, and leans on her cane unsteadily for a moment, looking at the stones. Then, slowly, she pads forward towards them, not trying to make any sudden movements or noises.
The stones seem to remain stones as Chastity approaches.
Chastity kneels down a bit, wincing, looking closely at the stones. "Even from here," she says over her shoulder, still watching the tones, "I can't tell them from regular rocks..."
One finally decides this is too close, and in a flurry of motion, unfolds itself and takes flight in a bizarrely zig zag flight, to disappear amongst the other stones a couple of dozen feet away.
Chastity almost falls back on her rump, yelping and laughing softly. "Oh, my!"
Chimera giggles.
Jenora chuckles.
Chastity lets out a breath, sitting back up. "Well, I still can't even tell if they're insects or avians."
Chastity frowns. "Uhoh..."
Chimera says, "Maybe they're crabs."
Copernicus purrs, "What's the problem Chastity? I'd think the cubs would love playing with them. Adults too. ;)"
Chastity gets to her feet, looking around towards the inland part of the island, backing towards Chimera and the felitaurs.
Chastity shakes her head slowly, almost but not quite stumbling. "Something doesn't camouflage itself unless it has a need to hide from something..."
Chimera says, "That sort of camouflage would argue that the creatures are not poisonous or otherwise dangerous. I wonder what preys on them though."
Copernicus's ears rotate, "True enough. But it's not necessarily something we have to worry about."
Chastity nods slowly, looking around nervously. "-That- is what I'm afraid of, Chimera...."
Copernicus purrs, "Well, they're not very big, I can't picture the predator being that much bigger."
Chimera says, "Predators use disguise as well. Be careful."
Copernicus purrs, "I'm even more curious to find out what's in the forest then."
Chastity blinks at Copernicus. "Er... do we have to?"
Copernicus purrs, "Between Jenora and I, we should be able to handle things."
Chastity glances at Coper, and shakes her head. "I hope you're right. Don't make me wish I was carrying a plaser for the first time in fifteen years."
Chimera hmms. "We should avoid game trails if there are any. There might be pit-maws or other predators under the ground."
Copernicus looks at Jenora to see her reaction?
Jenora says, "Handle things? True, but only if we're around when it happens."
Copernicus purrs, "A good reason to stay on my back Chastity."
Chastity nods, slowly, and pulls herself rather quickly onto Copernicus' back again, holding her cane in both hands a little warily.
Copernicus purrs, "So, lets head over the dry river and head thru the woods."
Jenora says, "After you, sir. You clear trails so nicely."
Chastity nods shakily. "All right..." She looks around, her ears seeming perked almost painfully, looking back and forth.
Copernicus chuckles and nods, "Certainly m'lady." and pads into the woods, pushing the foliage out of the way.
The forest trees are not overly tall, maybe 10 feet to the top of the canopy, but minimal sunlight makes it through, giving the forest floor a gloomy appearance. It's pretty moist, and some of the trees are covered in phosphorescent fungi.
Jenora pads along silently behind, observing.
Birds do flit from tree to tree, and some are brightly colored. A variety of insects walk, crawl and fly around as well.
Copernicus purrs, "Seems innocent enough. I don't scent anything big."
Chimera keeps his eyes on the ground and underbrush.
Jenora hmmms, keeping her ears open, eartips twitching side to side.
Chastity looks around, slowly relaxing as she takes in the quiet sights and sounds, sighing quietly.
Rustling sounds occur in some of the bushes, and it seems this island has it's own version of ground squirrels. They look a lot like fat prairie dogs.
A couple of the furry critters check out the smaller Chimera, but seem intimidated by his size.
Chastity watches the critters carefully, but she slowly relaxes, not seeing battleship-sized teeth in their mouths. "It.. seems peaceful enough..."
Jenora says, "Well, peaceful for something our size, anyway..."
Copernicus purrs, "So, nothing terrifying yet. Chastity, have you thought about what you are going to do here until we can locate your original home?"
Copernicus's tail thrashes thoughtfully as he taps notes into his armband computer, and thumps his tail against a tree trunk a couple of times.
Chastity shakes her head absently, still looking around. "I'm afraid not. I don't even know why I'm here. But this looks like the right place to start re-learning all that herbal lore I knew ages ago."...
Copernicus purrs, "You're here because you are a friend of the Chirr'T'Thar. ;) And yes, a great place to learn about plants and...OUCH!""
Chastity perks her ears. "Coper? What happened?"
One of the little rodents, only seeing the tip of Coper's tail, and not the whole critter, opens his maw VERY wide and clamps down on the last 6 inches of it.
Jenora laughs after she turns around. "Someone is thinking big, I see..."
Copernicus thrashes his tail around, a bit startled, but mostly annoyed.
Jenora says, "Here, just a sec."
Chastity looks over her shoulder at the commotion, blinking and holding on.
Jenora turns around and glares at the creature on Coper's tail, and snarls.
Chimera blinks at Jenora's methods of critter-removal.
The little critter, still trying to gnaw through the felitaur's rather tough skin, takes one look at the snarling feline and his eyes go wide. He gives one last bite for principle sake then drops to the ground running full tilt.
Jenora stands up, smiling. "There."
Copernicus hmmfs, "Well, I think I know what goes after those rock things. It could swallow one whole."
Chastity shakes her head, still looking stunned. "And here I was expecting something like a wolf...."
Chimera says, "Copernicus is a bit of a wolf at times."
Chastity smiles sofly to Chimera. "A non-anthro wolf, I meant...."
Copernicus examines his tail, just in case, "I do not drool. And I've NEVER understood pack behavior. I don't think I'm very wolf like. I think you are right Chastity, a very interesting place indeed. Jenora, your help has been appreciated greatly over the last few months. I was wondering what your plans are? I know what Andromeda hopes for you."
Jenora says, "To be honest, I think I'll stick around for a little while... you people certainly aren't boring."
Chimera pauses to sniff some flowers.
Chastity grins softly to Jenora.
The flower sniffs back.
Copernicus chuckles, "Boring is something we've never been accused of being. Chastity, I have a proposition for you."
Chastity blinks at Copernicus. "A proposition?" Then she adds wryly, "I thought you were already married..."
Chimera looks up and perks his ears towards Chastity and Copernicus.
Copernicus chuckles, "True, and while my mates made no complaint about my choosing Melora as my fourth, I'm feeling horribly outnumbered. I was thinking that we could use a non felitaur friend to act as a liaison with some of the Havenites. They seem to have great difficulty dealing with my race."
Jenora chuckles.
Chastity laughs softly, 'I'd have to decline anyway, I'm--" She looks at her hands, first one, then the other, frowning, as if expecting to see something there but not. "Er... Well." She bites her lip then looks up. "Oh! OH! Oh, my. You mean.. a liaison, right?"
Chimera adds, "It's because they walk on four legs."
Copernicus nods, "Exactly. And we don't like getting too bogged down with details and protocol anyhow. Most races have learned to adapt to that, but the people here are being overwhelmed by changes."
Chastity shakes her head slowly. "The only liaison we ever did like that was with Tau Cygni II and that didn't turn out so well...."
Jenora says, "What happened?"
Chimera says, "Did your ambassador throw up on a prime minister?"
Chastity sighs softly, rubbing her eyes. "I can barely remember, now. They thought they were the only sentient life in the universe, even though some of their scientists were pumping out SETI signals left and right. Those who found out about us panicked, a few went insane. Even when they'd calmed down enough to deal with the idea of extraterrestrial life they came close to war just because it so de-stabilized their world. Er.. I think."
Chimera says, "My kind are still debating the usefulness of societies. They seem extremely fragile."
Copernicus purrs, "Well, the Havenites are basically a space colony that was cut off from whoever founded them a millennia ago."
Chastity nods slowly. "They appear used to the idea of 'strange people'. So what's their problem with the felitaurs?
Chimera says, "Felitaurs look like animals to them."
Copernicus hmms at Chimera, "Speaking of which, I remember Kainudy having a question about the tape we made of your project in space Chimera. Oh? Well, they seem to have this idea that only bipeds are intelligent. We're so far from what they expected spacers to be like that they don't know how to relate."
Chimera blinks, "Why would any people that haven't had contact with aliens know how to relate to them? The Havenites were expecting the same people that founded Haven to show up."
Chastity says, "I guess you're right, Chimera." she sighs. "It doesn't make it easy..."
Chimera says, "You are the least alien of all of us, Chastity.. by Havenite standards."
Jenora says, "No, not at all."
Copernicus grrrs and cuts with his claws a bit as one vine tries to get a bit too up close and personal, but nods to Chastity, "He's right. You'd fit in rather well, and you seen to know what you are doing."
Jenora says, "I fit in as well, but I can't devote all my time to that right now..."
Chastity shifts uncomfortably in her seat. "Er... I make an awful diplomat, too....
Copernicus shrugs, "S'ok. So do we. ;)"
Copernicus nods to Jenora, "True enough. Additionally, Andromeda still hopes you'll join her mating group. ;)"
Chimera looks to Jenora. "You can be a bit intimidating to mortals though, Jenora. Chastity isn't intimidating. She looks like she could be one of the Council members."
Jenora chuckles. "That would be...interesting."
Chimera says, "Perhaps you'd be willing to sit in at the next meeting with the Haven Council, Chastity. Just to see what it's like and offer advice..?"
Chastity shivers at the word 'council.' God, the last Council I was at..." She shakes her head. "I.. I don't kn-know..."
Copernicus nods and teases Jenora, "I feel a bit sorry for the male you and she would choose though. ;)"
Jenora says, "As do I."
Chimera hmms, and looks at Jenora warily.
Jenora smiles back at Chimera.
Chastity takes a shaky breath, hugging her arms around herself as if cold.
Copernicus chuckles, "I've seen how well you and Andromeda have become friends. You could make the males life relatively bearable if you wanted to Jenora. ;)"
Copernicus wraps a wing around Chastity, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up painful memories. There council isn't all that bad, all things considered. But no one says you have to do this."
Jenora says, "True..."
Chastity shakes her head. "It's.. it's all right. I just can't help but remember that everything we'd worked for had been nearly crushed by a 'council' once....." She sighs heavily. "I don't have to be Chair of this council, do I?"
Copernicus purrs, "Oh my no. Just a liaison for us, and we'll be there to help. Basically, it's going to be more of an administrative job. We hate dealing with 'paperwork.""
Chimera says, "Making paper?"
Chastity smiles and manages a soft chuckle. "Paperwork... I don't think anyone likes that." She sighs again, smiling. "I guess Xandor was right, I'll go out behind a desk...."
Copernicus purrs, "I hope to keep it to a minimum Chastity. And it's just a suggestion while we search for your home. And you should have time to do your herbal studies too."
Chastity smiles softly, scritching Copernicus's ears. "Well.. I can't very well say 'no.' I'll at least be doing something with my time."
A long and lonely howl is heard off further down the slope.
Copernicus purrs, "Of course you can say no. While we sometimes do push a bit much, we do NOT like to ever force anyone into anything. Reminds us too much of the time when we were slaves."
Chastity blinks and shivers a bit with the howl. "What in...?"
With a flick of large ears, Copernicus purrs, "Maybe a large predator after all. Chimera, stay close, ok?"
Jenora perks an ear up.
Copernicus silently continues on through the forest.
Another howl is heard after a few minutes. Whatever it is, it seems to be calling out for someone or some thing, but no reply is ever heard.
Chastity grips Copernicus' neckfur tightly, no longer nervous, just.. wary. And watchful.
Chimera stays near Jenora.
Copernicus silently stalks forward, hearing the occasional howls get louder with each passing moment.
The unknown creature howls again, and suddenly stops in mid-howl as Coper approaches.
Chastity gulps, and murmurs, 'It doesn't sound like a wolf....'
Copernicus purrs, "I don't know. It kind of reminds me of a wolf friend when he was being forced to bathe."
Chimera says, "Maybe it's a rabbit?"
Chastity just looks at Chimera a little strangely.
Jenora chuckles softly.
The howling turns into a growl. Something is stirring in the brush, still a bit far off though.
Chimera blinks at the looks.. "A big rabbit?"
Chastity arches an eyebrow. "A -real- big rabbit. With a -big- set of lungs and an attitude...."
Copernicus purrs, "And big pointy teeth probably. It sounds rather off somehow."
Jenora says, "Just a little."
Chastity nods, "Just a little bit." She looks out and around. "But where is it...?"
A cracking stick is heard about 50 feet ahead behind some low bushes.
Chastity's ears perk, and she starts to slowly slide of Copernicus' back, to give him some freedom of movement. Just in case.
Jenora freezes, looking over in the direction of the sound.
Copernicus nods in agreement to Chastity and motions towards a large tree trunk for her to hide behind as he slinks forward.
Chimera hmms.
A weak growl is heard behind the bush again.
Copernicus's tail flicks as he moves towards the bush, remarkably silent for someone his size.
Chimera says, "It's not attacking.. maybe we're close to a nest."
( Listing Complete OOC )( Starting Cambot Listing OOC )Chastity slowly steps back to the tree, leaning against it and looking raptly at the moving brush.
Jenora says, "Given that last growl, it's either hurt or scared stiff."
Copernicus's curiosity takes over, and he slinks around behind the bush.
Chastity murmurs, "And if it's scared -- be careful!"
Jenora nods.
WolfSinger lunges over the bush at Coper, literally bouncing off the felitaurs back. He falls to the ground, to weak to get up.
Chastity yelps and pulls back against the tree.
Copernicus flinches at the weak attack, then blinks, "Well, it's sort of a wolf?"
Chimera says, "It's not a rabbit."
Copernicus purrs, "A very skinny wolf with torn clothing. Chastity, you said you know something of healing?"
Chimera whispers to Copernicus, "Better check it for a pocket-watch though, just in case."
Jenora walks over to take a look at the wolf. "Oh, my..."
Chastity blinks and opens her mouth, then nods, 'Er, yes, a little, but I don't know the local herberia yet...."' She pads over cautiously, leaning on her cane the while.
WolfSinger looks up at the 3 of you, his eyes glazed over a bit. He whimpers softly, backing away from Chastity.
Copernicus kneels his taur portion next to the creature to watch him and purrs, "A pocket watch? Whatever Chimera. Could you get some food and water out of the bags across my back. I want to keep an eye on him for now."
Chimera nods and rummages through Copernicus' saddle bags.
Chastity kneels down , albeit a little painfully, setting her cane to the side. "It's all right," she merrs softly. "It's all right, hon.... I'm just a run-down old fox, not gonna hurt you...."
WolfSinger weakly manages to get up, taking a few steps away from Chastity before tumbling to the ground again with a *yip!*
Copernicus figures he'll look less threatening as he lays down, keeping a close eye on their visitor. He moves a little closer to the wolf, "He's either hurt, or starving, or maybe both."
Chimera hands Copernicus a canteen. "He seems delirious."
Copernicus nods and pours some water into his hand and tries to offer it to the stranger.
Jenora says, "Probably a bit of both."
Chastity shuffles a little closer to Wolf Singer, gingerly reaching out a hand toward shim, moving very slowly.
WolfSinger sniffsniffs at the water suspiciously before lapping it up quickly.
Copernicus hmms and notes that they'll need a desalinization facility too. He offers the canteen.
WolfSinger tilts his head, looking up at the felitaur before taking the canteen, which he promptly empties.
Copernicus purrs, "Did you get some food out too Chimera?"
Copernicus purrs, "I think he's hungry. Hand me the food Chimera. Chastity, Jenora, I think we can move to a clearing and set up a temporary camp for the night?"
Chastity nods slowly. "All right." she looks around. "It should be pretty safe..."
Chimera hands over the food to Copernicus.
Chimera says, "I'll go start the camp back at the clearing where we landed."
Copernicus nods, "I'll call for a shelter to be flown over Chimera. Show them where to set it up."
WolfSinger tilts his head, as if trying to understand what you are saying?
Copernicus offers Wolfsinger what appears to be fried fowl of some sort. "We'll need to lead him to camp."
Chastity tilts her head to the side. "He might see that as a trap...."
WolfSinger sniffs at the food, then SNATCHES! it from Coper's hand and munches it down quickly, as if he hadn't eaten in months.
Chimera suggests, "Leave a trail of sandwiches.." as he heads off for the clearing.
Chastity blinks. "That... ah, might help....
Copernicus purrs, "We'll just have some blankets outside then, and yes...I think so. I wonder if he can walk that far."
Copernicus gets up and moves about 30 feet away and offers another piece of fowl.
WolfSinger whimpers softly, his tail wagging. He barks something in Lupine, as if to say "thank you."
Chastity hobbles parallel to Copernicus' path, thing the strange wolf's progress, and at the same time trying to compare the local flora with what she knows about herbs and such.
WolfSinger weakly stands up, and walks toward Coper.
Back at the clearing, Chimera has built a campfire in a pit lined with lava rocks.
It takes nearly an hour before they are able to guide the strange wolfman to a pallet outside the camp that has been set up for the group.
Chastity makes her way back to the camp, having gathered some herbs that seem likely, and sits beside the fire, arraying them before her as she frowns down at them and tries to remember how to figure out how she used to figure out which ones did what.
WolfSinger lays down near the fire, panting heavily. The long trek through the woods seems to have taken what little energy he had left. He curls up with his tail over his nose, letting out a big SIGH.
Chimera sits down near the fire. "So, do you think the wolf was attacked by a giant rabbit, Copernicus?"
Jenora, Copernicus and Chastity all groan, "Chimera." in unison.