Daine's Arrival [Closed]

[wildmage_daine]

Daine Sarrasri knows that wandering about with only Cloud and the other People for company might not be the wisest idea she's ever had, but the recent snowfall--the first of the season--is too tempting. It's been months since she's had the chance to take a quiet ride for no reason but the pleasure of it, with no particular destination in mind and no need to hurry. Given how busy things have been--and how busy they're likely to get, as it's only a matter of time before some immortals cause a ruckus somewhere--she's happy to seize the chance while she has it.

At least there haven't been any new holes torn in the barrier lately, and the forest around the castle is safer than most, thanks to frequent patrols. It's not a guarantee that there won't be trouble, but she has her bow--already strung, just in case--and she's quick enough with her shifting that she's not too worried. If anything, it's Cloud's safety that might be a concern. Daine taking a hawk shape and flying off wouldn't do her pony much good.

Cloud lets out an indignant snort, reminding Daine that she's not a helpless foal in need of coddling. If there's trouble, it's as likely to come from the stork-man as an immortal.

Daine can't help smiling at Cloud's less-than-flattering nickname for Numair, but it turns into a wince a moment later. She isn't sure what to think about her teacher's recent protective streak. Given what happened in Carthak, she supposes it was fair enough at the time… but she hopes he isn't planning on continuing with it now that they're home. She doesn't think he'd get into a pet over her outing, but she wasn't certain enough to tell him about it and risk his grousing.

A jay's warning call startles Daine and Cloud, who stops in her tracks. There's something up ahead that has the People upset, and Daine catches something through the bare branches--a glimmer, or a flicker--that reminds her of the holes she's seen torn in the barrier. A quick survey of the nearby animals confirms that there are no two-leggers about, though. Barring mages, who--or what--could be making the hole? Daine's mind races as she slips off Cloud's back. Is the barrier so weak that holes are just appearing? There's a problem they don't need.

"Stay put," Daine orders Cloud as she draws an arrow from her quiver and edges toward the spot where the flickers seemed to be coming from. If any nasties show up, she wants Cloud to have a head start. She doesn't feel any nasties, though; there's no unpleasant buzz of an angry immortal in her mind. If there is a hole in the barrier, nothing seems to be passing through it. Frowning, she steps forward.

There's a whinny from Cloud, and then the world gives a sickening tilt that blurs Daine's vision and sends her sprawling. She lands harder than she expected, because there's suddenly no snow to cushion her. Instead, there's a crunch of frozen grass, and the wind is knocked out of her.

As she gasps for air, she realizes that she can no longer hear Cloud, not even in her mind. Her range with Cloud ought to be miles; how can she not hear her? In a panic, she casts her magic out like a net. There are squirrels, pigeons, a few horses, a fair number of cats and dogs, rats (lots of rats), and--she jerks back as soon as she reaches a menagerie, though she hears enough in that brief moment to confirm that it's not their majesties', but one she doesn't recognize.

Belatedly, she realizes that sending out her magic might have been a mistake. All the People in her range are now aware that she's here and eager to meet her (with the exception of the rats, who are no more welcoming now than they were in Carthak), and she's in no position to greet them properly. Please, not yet, she silently calls as she waits for her head to stop spinning. I'd love to meet you all, but I need a little time, first. There's an agreeable ripple of response, and most of the People go back to whatever they were doing before she interrupted them.

After a steadying breath, Daine pushes herself up and blinks to clear her vision. She doesn't recognize anything, not the smooth lawn, or the trees, or the handful of gray squirrels eyeing her curiously. Even the air is unfamiliar.

Where is she?

Comments

[rebelnpc]

Yuri is caught mid-yawn as he lazes on a park bench and fiddles with his phone. He perks up at the...disturbance? Did he hear something? Frowning, he climbs to his feet. Anything unusual means something to check out, and if it's a rifty he needs to get there before any of the Romac agents do. Stuffing his phone in his pocket, he steps up onto the seat of the bench to look around before choosing the direction that seems right and hopping down to lope off that way, looking for anything (or anyone) obviously out of place.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine is still a bit dizzy, so she looks around for the nearest tree and scoots over to it, leaning her back against the trunk. The squirrels keep a polite distance, but she can feel their eagerness to greet her, so she relents. It won't hurt to meet some new friends while she catches her breath.

"Hello," she says quietly, holding out her hands. Within moments, she has two squirrels examining her fingers, and a third is inspecting her coat pockets for treats. She digs a few nuts out of her pocket, and the squirrels settle in her lap. They've never met a two-legger like her before, who's People on the inside. How, they ask, did she get here?

"I wish I knew," she mutters, tickling one of them between the ears as she glances around.

[rebelnpc]

Did he hear something? Yuri's steps are slowing and he's considering chalking it up to being tired this close to a change. That is, until he sees a girl with squirrels in her lap.

Alright. Rifty or squirrel-charming hobo. One of the two. He steps nearer, and holds up a hand, trying to get her attention without startling her.

"Hello?"

[wildmage_daine]

Daine looks up in surprise, and the squirrels leave her lap so she can scramble to her feet, bow in hand. She takes in the young man's clothing with undisguised bafflement--she's been in several of Tortall's neighboring countries, and never seen anything like what he's wearing--and considers grabbing an arrow until one of the squirrels asks her why she's upset. She'd assumed that they had scattered, but they're still clustered around her, evidently not as alarmed by the intrusion as she is.

She gives the stranger another dubious once-over, but aside from the strange clothing, he doesn't seem threatening. "Hello," she ventures, feeling a bit foolish and very, very lost.

[rebelnpc]

He spots the weapon a bit later than he really should, and takes a hasty step backward, hands raised in what should be a non-threatening gesture. "Easy," he implores her. "I'm not gonna hurt you -- I'm guessing you're kind of lost right now, right?"

Hopefully his guess was right. It's always hard trying to talk to rifties when you're not 100% sure they're rifties.

[wildmage_daine]

She eyes him sharply. He's right enough about her being lost, but is it just a guess, or did he have something to do with it? He seems a bit jumpy for a mage, but that doesn't mean much; without Numair's help, she can only see the Gift when people use it. He could be a black robe for all she knows.

"Are you a mage?" she asks, gripping the bow a bit tighter. "Did you bring me here?"

[rebelnpc]

"...Yeah," mutters Yuri to himself. Definitely a rifty. Then, realizing she'll probably take that the wrong way, he hastily adds aloud, "No. No to both of those. You, uhm, would have come through the rift just now. It's a sort of...gateway between worlds. Thing."

[wildmage_daine]

Daine puts an arrow to her bow after she hears him confirm her fears. His hasty denial doesn't placate her much, though she keeps the arrow pointed at the ground. For now.

She considers his 'rift' thing. She'd thought that travel between the realms was only possible on certain days of the year. Midwinter's closest, though she isn't there, yet. Then again, she's hardly a scholar when it comes to this sort of thing. What she does know is that this isn't the realm of the gods.

"Is this the Dream King's realm?" she asks, wavering between doubt and hope. At least if she's dreaming, she can wake up.

[rebelnpc]

Yuri takes another step back, eyes trained on her bow. But this is what he signed up for, isn't it? Helping people who are lost and confused and maybe a bit dangerous.

"...Huh?" he asks, looking up at her face. The look he gives her is utterly blank. "Uh, no. No, this is Manhattan."

[wildmage_daine]

His confusion worries her--surely everyone knows about the Dream King? Perhaps they call him something else here.

"Man--what?" she repeats, uncertain. She's sure she hasn't heard the name before, but geography isn't one of her strong suits. "What country is this?" she tries instead.

[rebelnpc]

Yuuup, one of those. The whole 'are you a mage' thing kind of prepared him for this, though.

"Manhattan," he repeats. "In America -- the United States of America." you've probably never heard of it

[wildmage_daine]

Daine shakes her head, trying to remain calm. There must be more realms than she knows about, but that doesn't mean she can't get home. She'll just have to find out more about this rift. If it brought her here to Man-whatsit, it can bring her back.

After a moment's hesitation, she puts the arrow away. She can always grab it again if she needs it, and it seems fair rude to keep asking this man questions with her weapon at the ready and him unarmed (as far as she can tell).

"I'm Daine," she offers. "How does the rift work?"

[rebelnpc]

"Yuri," he supplies, visibly relieved. "We're not actually sure -- it kind of spits people out here and there. No one's been able to go back the way they came yet," he adds, knowing the typical next question.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine nods, thoughtful. She's not thrilled to hear that no one else has managed to go back, yet, but if Yuri doesn't know quite how it works, then who's to say it can't be done?

Cloud will have gone to get help--Daine's certain of that. Numair will be trying to find her soon, if he's not already working on it... and it's all but impossible to keep Kitten from going where she wants. It's only a matter of time before someone finds her.

"All right," she says with as much confidence as she can muster, "then I'll wait."

[rebelnpc]

Yuri blinks. He opens his mouth to say something and stops, brow furrowing. He thinks a moment, then opens it again.

"Wait for what?"

That is not a typical Next Response.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine scowls at him. "My friends. I'm sure they're looking for me. It might just take them a bit to work out how to get through the rift, is all."

She leans back against the tree trunk, and one of the squirrels, having finished its snack, makes its way up to her shoulder. "Sorry," she tells it, "I don't have any more food for you."

[rebelnpc]

"...I don't think anyone's ever come through the rift on purpose," protests Yuri, not sure why he's getting that look. "I mean, sometimes other people come through from the same place, but it's always by accident."

[wildmage_daine]

Daine tickles the squirrel's chin, unperturbed. "Has anyone ever tried to come through a-purpose?" she asks, her tone reasonable. Even if people have, she'd guess they aren't as powerful as Numair, and dragons make their own rules.

[rebelnpc]

"If they have, I haven't heard about them getting here." Yuri's still doing his frownyface. It's not like he wants to crush her hopes, but...well, help is unlikely.

He squints at the squirrel. "How are you doing that?"

[wildmage_daine]

Daine lifts the shoulder that isn't occupied by a squirrel in a noncommittal shrug. So long as Yuri doesn't try to haul her off, he can disbelieve her all he likes.

His question relaxes her a little. This, at least, is familiar territory. "It's my magic," she explains. "It lets me talk with animals." That's not all it lets her do, but she'll see how he reacts to that bit before she tells him more. Wild Magic isn't well known in her realm, so she doubts that Yuri will know much about it.

[rebelnpc]

He could haul her off, though, if he wanted. He is strong like bear.

"...Really?" He watches the squirrel, apparently mesmerized by how tame it seems. "Like all kinds of animals?"

[wildmage_daine]

He's taking it well enough so far. Most folk are more skeptical, but then again, she does have a squirrel on her shoulder. "Mammals and birds, mostly. I can talk to reptiles and amphibians as well, but they aren't as common where I'm from."

Silently, she encourages one of the other squirrels to give Yuri a closer look. The squirrel's tail twitches as it takes a cautious hop towards the man, and then it stops, nose wrinkling. The two-legger smells funny, it tells her. Does he have any food?

"That squirrel wants to know if you have any food," Daine translates. "He might come a bit closer if you do."

Tagging on my lunch break, shhh, and hey, correct character icon helps

[rebelnpc]

"Huh? Oh -- uh, maybe?" Yuri digs in his pocket experimentally, trying to remember whether he already finished off all the snacks he set out with in the morning, and comes up with a half-eaten granola bar. He unwraps it and holds it out, unaware of the fact that hes been deemed weird. "All The animals I ever see around here are squirrels," he comments. "Except at the zoo."

Re: Tagging on my lunch break, shhh, and hey, correct character icon helps

[wildmage_daine]

His weirdness doesn't outweigh the presumed deliciousness of the granola bar. The squirrel hops forward without further hesitation and nibbles away, putting its tiny paws on his hand for leverage.

Daine winces at 'zoo,' then gives Yuri a puzzled frown. Most of the nearby wildlife would hide from two-leggers, so she's not surprised he missed the possums, raccoons, and rats, but that hardly accounts for all of the creatures she can hear, even outside the menagerie. "What about the horses?"

Re: Tagging on my lunch break, shhh, and hey, correct character icon helps

[rebelnpc]

To his credit, Yuri doesn't flinch or try to touch the squirrel -- he just watches it eat from his hand.

"Oh!" he says with an embarrassed laugh. "And horses, I guess. You just kind of get used to seeing them around."

He pauses, smile fading as his brow furrows. "...How did you know about the horses?"