dreamposts: (Default)
dreamposts ([personal profile] dreamposts) wrote in [community profile] songerein2022-01-15 02:19 pm

Owl Rescue

✵ MINI EVENT: OWL RESCUE ✵

Late in the month, the blizzard has reached its peak and the skies seem strangely dark and ominous, a soft jingling of bells followed by deep, baritone voice echoes through the skies.


Gone away are the reindeer
Out to play are the dreamers
To lead their return, we gather in snow
All to bring the lost presents home

In the shadows we can build a snowman
To protect the sleigh that's full and bright.
Mimics will attack, and we'll say, "No, man!"
Only the real presents here will do!

We'll raise our mugs to the fire
Raise our voices higher and higher
Then we'll slash through our foes
From head down to their toes
All to save this Christmas Wonderland


In the city we can make some string lights
Beautiful and bright just like the stars
With a little magic, we'll be alright
And top everything off with just a Star

A star so big and bright
with magic all around
shining with all its might
making the world go 'round!

So come join us, all ye citizens
of this little festive town.
Guard your hearts with love and laughter,
and we'll bring this foul Grinch down!


With a mighty bellow the gusting winds clear and for a moment the morning skies seem beautiful and bright, as if the strange blizzard storm had never appeared at all. And then, in perhaps questionably late fashion, a large man dressed in red and astride a giant reindeer descends down to the central plaza.

"Ho ho ho! So this is where that bastard's been trying to hide, eh? I'll give it some credit—it chose a powerful world for its mischief…even if it could still use some work. And it's still just a baby—miracle it's lasted this long." The man, many of which will recognize as the fabled Santa Claus turns to look at the still run down buildings. For a man who is known to being "jolly" and full of holiday spirit, he looks as if he's about to head into war with the large axe at its his side and hardened expression. Just as he's about to say more, he clicks his tongue as a loud SCREEEEEECH is heard in the distance.

"But it won't be around much longer if you kids don't do anything about what's coming."

In the next moment, a large fiery owl large enough to overshadow half the town hovers in the air, the flames dangerously drifting from her feathers.

WHERE ARE THEY…

WHERE ARE MY CHILDREN!!


Her voice shakes the ground, the fire expanding outward as she gives one last heartrending cry filled with anger and agony.



PROMPTS

It's a confusing mess as two large figures have appeared at once, but it's clear that the owl's needs take precedence. With Santa's help, the owl will shrink small enough so that she can wait in the Plaza alongside and wait for those willing to find her eggs and owlets. But she watches over it with an anxious eye, the flames occasionally rising whenever there is a sound of one nearby. Everyone better work fast!

A. Talk with Santa. With Santa remaining with the owl, some may wish to speak to him while the others are working to find the baby owls. Although he plans to speak again once this is over, he will go ahead and answer any questions people may have. All questions may be asked in this thread, and as mentioned in the Game Notes, this will not be an IC thread. It is encouraged for questions to be asked now as it will help speed up dispensing information later.

B. Owl Egg Hunt. The eggs are scattered throughout the town Reverein, the nearby forests, and the lake. As if sensing their danger, the eggs have hidden themselves in various nooks and crannies, which can make it quite difficult to find. Hopefully no one accidentally tries to cook one. However, there are some clues. They will sparkle and will sometimes wiggle and roll out of their hiding place. They can also be "lured" out by friendly, positive emotions, or towards anyone that might exude a feeling of safety, security, and protection. However, if they're frightened the eggs will start to hatch. They sprout wings, legs, or even the beak to try and either escape or protect themselves. The eggs may also take on elemental characteristics, such as turning into a fireball, a block of ice, a giant rock, or a mini cyclone. Another threat will be the snoyotes as the sly buggers will follow would be rescuers to find the egg and try to snatch them and run off.

C. Owlet Panic. For the eggs that have already hatched, the owlets will be panicking and very emotional, causing a great environmental disruption around them. From fire storms to massive blizzards, the babies are out of control. Fortunately they're easy to spot—as well as hear. Their high pitched screeches can be heard from long distances. Calming emotions will be key in trying to soothe them, though dremoation abilities may be needed to get to them first.

D. Owlsitter. Whether already hatched or bursting out after returning to mother owl, the little owlets can be quite the handful. They're born already large enough to fly and while they aren't skilled, they will flutter about here and there. Essentially toddlers, they will get into anything that might interest them and cause mischief. With the owlets capable of casting elemental magic, that can pose a problem as sometimes it can go awry.

E. Snoyotes. The snoyotes are a cross between snake and coyote and they rely on their stealth skills rather than offensive power. They will stick to the shadows and can camouflage themselves well. When they do need to fight, they are tenacious and will try to sink their venomous fangs into their assailant. The venom is paralytic and is potent and fast acting. Although not always enough to kill, if enough venom makes its way to the heart then there might be trouble. As mentioned they will follow those looking for eggs to try and snatch them first, but some may be hunting other eggs. It's not necessary to kill them, driving them off to the Wild Canyons will do.

» BONUS: FANG COLLECTION. Although highly potent, the venom stored within the fangs of the snoyotes can be used in anti-venom remedies (and poisons). Collecting them will need some care. In addition, defanging a snoyote is one way to keep it away for those unwilling to kill. Their fangs will grow back so would be an effective way to farm fangs later.


[Mod Note: Details on this mini event can be found here and we request all thread submissions to be made here. Reminder that this mini event is opt-in.]
hearthwarming: (021)

[personal profile] hearthwarming 2022-01-24 11:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Relief floods through her when she feels him move on her back and hears his words, and although she cannot respond with words returned, she gives another soft hoot. Loose petals swirl around Thoma, seemingly caressing him even as they glide through the air, and they carry with them the warmth of her sentiments: thank goodness I caught you.

With more snoyotes now having gathered below, Ori decides it best to get them back into town and make sure both egg and Thoma are alright. And so she flies them through the woods as smoothly as she can manage until they reach the center of town once more, leaving a trail of flamelike petals in her wake.

Once she finds a less crowded area of the town, her wings spread to their full span as she slows and carefully lands, then lowers herself so that Thoma can easily get his feet under him again. As soon as he does, though, her form is enveloped by light as she shifts back to herself. The moment that she can give voice to her words again, she says, ]


Are you alright? Did you get hurt or anything? Let me look—

[ as she's already fussing over him and trying to see if he has any injuries. ]
Edited (jk I wasn't done) 2022-01-24 23:09 (UTC)
burnbrighter: (💥 021)

[personal profile] burnbrighter 2022-01-24 11:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The trees are little more than a blur as Ori bears them back to town, Thoma keeping himself and the egg nestled tight against her. Every petal that brushes past him feels like a caress, offering affectionate warmth against the chill air that whips by. Soon enough they’re back into the town proper, and once Ori touches down, Thoma takes care to extract himself and get his feet onto solid ground, the egg still nestled safely in his arms.

However, the instant Ori reverts to her normal form and moves into his space, fussing worriedly, he can’t quite help himself and surges down to kiss her. She just saved his life, and it was beautiful. She is beautiful. Between them, the egg grows warm, soothed by the power of his affection. ]
hearthwarming: pov: you're lowkey falling in love with ori (012)

[personal profile] hearthwarming 2022-01-25 04:20 am (UTC)(link)
[ Her string of worried words is promptly cut off by his lips catching hers, and she makes a muffled, startled sound against him before her eyes close and she kisses him back. She doesn't quite realize what she's done to warrant this, but she doesn't refuse it either - how could she ever even want to, when he's so affectionate and wonderful like this?

She pulls away before long, though, her attention caught by the growing warmth of the egg in between them. ]


Oh! The egg...

[ She definitely meant to check on it, too, but evidently got distracted. Ori is relieved that the shock of the fall doesn't seem to have affected the egg in any negative way at least. When she glances back up at Thoma again, the smile upon her lips is apparent, although softened with a bit of shyness. They did just kiss out in the open, after all (and without the influence of any mistletoe gumdrops). ]

That it's getting warm is a good sign, I think?

[ Maybe they should try that one more time, you know, to help the egg some more. ]
burnbrighter: (💥 019)

[personal profile] burnbrighter 2022-01-25 09:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He will probably never tire of kissing Ori - she doesn’t even need to do anything as grand as saving him from plummeting out of a tree to deserve kisses, either, but he especially can’t help himself right now.

She pulls away and he has half a mind to chase her, but they were in the middle of something before he acted a fool and flung himself out of a tree. His gaze lowers to the egg in his arms as well. ]


I think so. It must like all the positive emotions.

[ He grins at her, shifting the egg to one arm so he has a hand free to brush an errant flower petal out of her hair. The remains of those flame-colored blossoms are everywhere, aren’t they? ]
hearthwarming: (058)

[personal profile] hearthwarming 2022-01-25 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[ If the situation had been reversed, somehow, Ori would have absolutely leapt out of the tree herself, too. She doesn't hold his actions against him in any way, and she understands that willingness to do whatever is absolutely necessary to protect others - even if it means having to send yourself plummeting down several feet, at times.

(Still, she's relieved that she was there to catch him.)

Her smile only grows as his fingers reach for and gently brush through her hair, and it's then that she notices that he's got quite a few petals on his person, as well. She decides, however, that she rather likes the sight of him covered in petals, so instead of reciprocating his gesture, she reaches for his free hand and laces her fingers between his, squeezing a bit. ]


I'm really glad that you're okay. Ah, and the egg too, of course.
burnbrighter: (💥 045)

[personal profile] burnbrighter 2022-01-26 07:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Thoma isn’t normally quite so reckless, but with the fate of the whole town at stake, he just acted on impulse. Those moments are rare, but at least they keep working out for him. Jumping from a tree and flinging a spear at the local deity both could have ended much worse than they did.

For his own part, he doesn’t seem to notice or care that he’s still covered in flower petals. Ori is much more important, her hand warm and small inside his own. ]


You saved us both. Thank you.
hearthwarming: (013)

[personal profile] hearthwarming 2022-01-26 09:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[ For better or for worse, Ori has plenty of experience in dealing with reckless actions of others, and Thoma can easily be forgiven for partaking in one every now and then. As a treat. Even without talking about it, she knows and understands that he did what he had to do, to ensure the safety of the egg, and thus that of the town.

If anything, it makes her feel incredibly proud of him, actually. He is a paragon of safety and a protector not only in his everyday gestures - in meals shared, in warm embraces and in kind words - but in what he does in crucial, harrowing moments as well. Just as he has shielded her from the flames of her nightmares, he has shielded the egg from freefall, from meeting its end in the maw of a snoyote. ]


Always...

[ Her gaze softens as she glances down at the egg, and then back up at him, her eyes filled with admiration and adoration all at once. ]

I'll always be there catch you if you fall.

[ The words seem to spill out of her, and as soon as she's said it, she bites down on her lip and the color in her cheeks deepens. Is it alright for her to say such things, she wonders— but only for a moment before she hears the sound of something quietly cracking in between them. ]
burnbrighter: (💥 068)

[personal profile] burnbrighter 2022-01-27 07:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[ One of these days, the way she looks at him might literally give him wings, because every time, without fail, his heart feels like it’s soaring. Whatever might happen in this place, however long any of them might be here, he’s glad that they’ve all accepted this thing between them. It makes being worlds away from home so much more bearable.

Though they’re all adjusting to this open sort of affection in their own way. Ori seems unsure when she lets out a statement that frankly makes his heart do a little flip in his chest. ]


I know. That’s one of the things I lo– oh!

[ His statement is cut off quite quickly as the egg jerks in his arms and he has to scramble to keep a hold of it. The shell is indeed cracking as the little owl inside tries desperately to get out. ]
hearthwarming: please don't take any of my icons! ♥ (001)

[personal profile] hearthwarming 2022-01-27 10:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Lo—?

Ori knows that she's not as charismatic as Thoma is, and she's surprised herself by saying what she did; it feels so pledging and romantic, and she's never really thought that she would be someone who would have anyone to say things like this to. (And now she has two of these someones.) She hopes that the sincerity with which she does most anything, especially when it comes to Thoma and Diluc, is enough to convey how deeply she cares for them both.

More than anything in the moment, though, she wants to hear his words— but any trepidation Ori feels goes flying out of her mind when the egg begins to move and crack and hatch. She finds herself reaching and bracing her arms against Thoma's, helping to steady the egg through the process so that he isn't alone in carrying the responsibility. She casts Thoma a quick, reassuring glance and smiles at him again before she looks back down at the egg, cooing at and coaxing it softly. ]


It's okay, little one. You can come out. We're here for you!
burnbrighter: (💥 120)

[personal profile] burnbrighter 2022-01-28 06:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[ They will have to circle back around to this moment later - if Thoma has figured anything out about his partners, it’s that a little reassurance goes a long way. Ori could stand to be more bold and speak her mind, and he wants to encourage that in her - and telling her that he loves something about her is a good way to start.

But right now, there is a new life coming into the world, breaking free from its shell, cradled in their linked arms. He smiles back at Ori, and then down at the egg in turn. ]


You can do it!

[ Between their emotions and their words of assurance, soon enough the top of the egg breaks away and the head of a small owlet pokes into the open air with a soft hoot. ]
hearthwarming: (062)

congratulations to these two new parents,

[personal profile] hearthwarming 2022-01-28 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Ori has spent a lot of time within forests in solitude, with only wildlife and the spirits of nature to keep her company. This is no doubt not her first time witnessing a bird's egg hatching, and yet there's something so incredibly heartwarming about this moment. She's never seen a magical sort of bird hatch before, but above all, it's really Thoma's presence and their shared affection that stand as the reasons why she wants to remember this moment forever.

Still, the moment her eyes meet that of the baby bird's, she feels like she's simply going to melt. ]


Oh, you're so precious...

[ The little one swivels its head to look up at Thoma and Ori with wide eyes and then it shakes, its fluffy feathers shifting and giving way to tiny leaves which then peek out. ]
burnbrighter: (💥 033)

[personal profile] burnbrighter 2022-02-01 07:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[ In all honesty, Thoma couldn’t ask for a better conclusion to this little adventure. The two of them have saved this tiny life, and watching it come into the world is the perfect capstone. That, and the look of utter adoration on Ori’s face as she looks at the owlet is totally worth it.

He bends to set the remainder of the egg on the ground, letting the owlet break free and stumble around on new legs for a few seconds. Plus, it leaves his hands free so he can twine his fingers with Ori’s as they watch. ]


I think it takes after you.

[ With the leaves and all. ]
hearthwarming: (016)

[personal profile] hearthwarming 2022-02-01 08:45 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She claps a hand over her mouth to stifle a high-pitched 'awww' bubbling up, although she's sure that Thoma wouldn't have minded if she had cooed at it some more - a fact that she only feels more sure of when she feels his hand clasp hers. She squeezes their hands together tightly, both in approval and in reassurance for herself that he really is here and he's okay. And so, too, is the owlet continuing to stumble about at their feet.

Now, Ori is not the most insightful person she knows by any measure. Peoples' subtleties often escape her, whether in words or in actions. Her wisdom comes from her profound love for nature and it serves her well in situations where she must depend on it for survival, but in conversations and social interactions? Not so much.

That being said, there's something in the inflection and the warmth of Thoma's words that make it easy for her to read between the lines, and— ]


Oh.

[ —her heart feels like it's bursting at the seams for a moment. She's aware that he's joking, naturally, but at the same time it feels so tender and sweet and she can't help but briefly dwell on the idea of them being... parents? To this baby owl? And she can't help the way that her face feels almost unbearably warm in just a few short seconds. Is it really okay for her to feel giddy at what he says, like this? All she can really do is jest in return, saying, ]

Thoma... You know the mother owl would get upset if she heard you say that, silly...

[ As she fails to conceal the affectionate grin on her lips. ]

Come on, let's get this little one to the rest of them before you get any other funny ideas.
Edited (jk i wasn't done) 2022-02-01 20:47 (UTC)