The creature stands tall and imposing, with a muscular and athletic build that exudes power and strength. Its sharp, angular features and piercing gaze lend it an otherworldly and intimidating presence. Its skin is tough and durable providing protection against physical attacks. Two short, slightly curved but straight horns protrude from its forehead, giving it an even more fearsome and imposing appearance.
The creature's most striking feature is its pointed ears, which are long and tapered, giving it an elf-like appearance. Its eyes are large and intense, and seem to glow with an inner fire, reflecting its deep connection to the aether. Its hair is lustrous and silky, often flowing in the wind with an almost ethereal quality.
Despite its fearsome appearance, the creature possesses a grace and elegance that belies its raw power. Its movements are fluid and graceful, and it seems to glide effortlessly across the terrain. Its hands and feet are nimble and dexterous but it has a vice-like grip.
~Excerpt from one of the few remaining pages of an ancient and mostly destroyed tome.
World Location: A Mid-trunk Bough > Bashiri's Inner World > Continent of Creation > Cradle of Civilization
"YALOU..!" AND "VI..!"
1513 IF 1994:00
Day I – Part III
Aurora watched as Elyon's form receded from view, leaving her and her fellow newly hatched creatures in the glade. She looked around at the others who were still testing out their weapons and tools, trying to get a feel for their new bodies and abilities. Aurora felt a sudden urge to say something to them, to reach out and to plan with them.
"Yalou..!"
But as she opened her mouth, only scrambled and cracked sounds came out. Aurora wasn't surprised. She had never spoken before, not even to Elyon who had taught them so much in such a short amount of time. She knew it would take a few tries to go right.
She tried again and although everything seemed to be in order still, no coherent sounds came out.
Aurora's mind raced as she tried to recall everything Elyon had taught her about language and speech. She remembered the feeling of power that had surged through her when Elyon had touched her forehead, imbuing her with knowledge and understanding. Taking a deep breath, Aurora closed her eyes and focused on the memory.
Aurora pieced together the knowledge Elyon had given her, connecting the dots and filling in the gaps. She felt a warm sensation spreading through her body as she realized that she was beginning to get a good grasp on the mechanics of speech.
Opening her eyes, Aurora looked around at her siblings once more. She felt a surge of anticipation, knowing that she was about to speak to them for the first time. Taking another deep breath, she formed the words in her mind before finally saying them aloud.
"Hello," Aurora said, her voice soft and unsure at first but growing stronger with each passing word. "I am Aurora."
As Aurora waited for a response, her heart raced with anticipation. She couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement, knowing that she was about to meet more of her kin. And as four of the others began to approach her, she couldn't help but feel a flutter in her chest.
They looked a bit unsure, but she could tell that they wanted to talk to her. As Aurora waited for a response, the closest of the four attempted to reply while nervously twirling some of her long auburn hair around a finger.
"Vi..!" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Aurora couldn't help but feel a bit amused. She could tell that the others were just as nervous as she was, and the thought made her feel a bit better. Finally, after a few minutes of struggling, the girl managed to speak.
"Hi, Aurora," she said, her voice cracking a bit. "I'm Demetria."
Aurora smiled warmly, grateful for the introduction. And as she glanced over the other three creatures, she couldn't help but feel a sense of kinship with them.
The next creature to introduce himself was Nostradamus, a confident young male who stepped forward with a sense of purpose.
"And I'm Nostradamus," he said, his voice ringing out clear and true.
Aurora couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for the young male. He seemed confident and self-assured, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of respect for him.
But the next male seemed a bit more hesitant, and Aurora could tell that he was struggling with his nerves.
"H-Hi, Aurora. I... I'm...," he stammered, scratching his dark hair embarrassedly.
She smiled warmly, trying to put him at ease. "It's alright," she said, her voice soft and reassuring. "Take your time."
Finally, the last of the four stepped forward. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She tried again, but still, nothing. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she tried once more, this time in a sing-song voice that seemed to reflect the world around them.
"Hi, Aurora. My name is Melisma," she almost sang, blushing slightly.
Aurora couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for the young female. She seemed shy, but her voice was beautiful and melodic, and Aurora couldn't help but feel a sense of kinship with her.
For a few moments, there was an awkward silence as they all tried to think of what to say next. Aurora felt a bit nervous, not quite sure how to keep the conversation going. But then, she remembered something that Elyon had said to her.
"Don't be afraid. We're all in this together. Let's introduce ourselves," she said, gesturing to the four creatures who had tried to speak. "These are Demetria, Nostradamus, Triton, and Melisma. What are your names?"
The other creatures who had been watching the exchange from a distance began to move closer, curious about what was happening. They looked hesitant, unsure if they should join in or stay back. But Aurora could sense their curiosity, and she knew that they wanted to be a part of the conversation.
"Come on, don't be shy," she said, gesturing for them to join in. "For better or worse we're all in this together, through thick and thin."
As the creatures introduced themselves, the forest grew quieter, and a faint breeze rustled through the leaves. It was as if the very air around them was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. Unbeknownst to Aurora and her newfound companions, something ominous changes were happening deep within the shadows of the woods around them.
Aurora would soon learn how true her playful words would turn out to be.
After introducing themselves, the group's stomachs started to growl, prompting them to split up in search of food. Aurora confidently headed into the underbrush, determined to find something to eat. Aurora went off on her own, feeling confident in her ability to find something to eat in the underbrush.
As she picked the berries, she noticed the vibrant colours that surrounded her - the emerald green of the leaves, the vivid blues and purples of the wildflowers that dotted the landscape. It was a breathtaking sight, and she couldn't help but pause for a moment to take it all in.
But her hunger soon pulled her back to the task at hand, and she continued on her quest for sustenance. That's when she spotted the mushrooms - plump and juicy, just waiting to be gathered. She smiled to herself, grateful for the knowledge that Elyon had shared with her. It made her feel more confident and capable in this strange new world.
With her hands full of berries and mushrooms, she made her way back to the meeting place, eager to share her findings with the others. As she approached, she could hear the sound of laughter and chatter, and her heart lifted. It was a good feeling to know that they were all in this together, working towards a common goal.
When Aurora returned to the group, she was thrilled to see that they had all found something to contribute to their makeshift meal. Melisma had brought juicy fruits, and Nostradamus had somehow managed to harvest honeycombs from a fallen bee's nest.
Everitt, one of the seven who had introduced themselves last, had somehow managed to chase down and kill a rabbit.
But it was Demetria who truly outdid herself, presenting an impressive array of herbs, berries, and even some fruits that Aurora had never seen before.
As they dined and chatted, Aurora felt a sense of camaraderie with her newfound companions. They had worked together to sustain themselves, and in doing so, had forged a bond of friendship.
As the sun began to set, they returned to their starting point, tired but content.
As Aurora settled, she felt a sense of peace wash over her. It had been a long and eventful day, and she was grateful for the chance to rest and recharge. She closed her eyes, listening to the sound of the forest around her, feeling the soft breeze on her face, and breathing in the fresh air.
Aurora quietly and contently drifted off to sleep.
Deep in the forest, an owl stirred from its sleep as the sound of something running through the undergrowth disrupted the silence of the night. With a quick shake of its feathers, the owl opened its eyes and looked down from its perch on a sturdy tree branch. The shadows beneath the tree flickered, and the owl could make out the shapes of creatures moving in the darkness.
As it focused its sharp eyes, the owl realized that the creatures were rabbit-like, but something was different about them. They had a wild look in their eyes and were moving with an alarming speed and agility. It was as if they were running for their lives, and the owl couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
Suddenly, the creatures ran off in a particular direction, and the owl watched as they disappeared into the darkness of the forest. Its mind raced with questions. What could have scared these creatures so much that they were running in such a frantic manner? Was there a predator in the forest that even the rabbits feared?
The owl sat for a while, observing its surroundings, listening for any other sounds that might offer a clue to what was happening in the forest. But the silence returned, broken only by the occasional hoot of another owl in the distance.
The owl knew that something strange was happening in the forest. It decided to keep a close watch on its surroundings, ready to take flight at a moment's notice if needed. As the night wore on, the owl remained vigilant, scanning the darkness for any signs of danger.
But her rest was not to last. Suddenly, she was jolted awake by the frantic voices of Nostradamus and Alizeh. She sat up, her heart racing, unsure of what was happening.
Before she could even speak, Nostradamus began to explain. "Aurora, we need to wake everyone up. There is danger coming."
Aurora rubbed her eyes and sat up, trying to shake off the grogginess of sleep. "What do you mean? What's coming?" she asked, her heart rate beginning to rise.
Alizeh stepped forward, her face grim. "I can hear it in the wind, something is coming," she said in a low voice.
Aurora's mind raced as she tried to process what was happening. What could be coming their way? And how did Alizeh know? She didn't have long to ponder, as Nostradamus was already urging her to gather the others and prepare for whatever was to come.
Aurora felt a knot form in her stomach as thought about their words. What could be so dangerous that it required waking everyone up in the middle of the night? Her mind raced, trying to think of what she could do to help.
Without hesitation, Aurora grabbed her staff and rose to her feet, the weight of impending danger pressing down on her shoulders. She woke up the others who were all also sleeping in the glade, her voice low and urgent as she relayed the dire warnings of Nostradamus and Alizeh.
