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

[wildmage_daine]

"I don't think my magic doesn't work with humans; I know it doesn't." Daine shrugs. "Where I'm from, most mages have the Gift, and that only works on humans, not animals. Mine--wild magic--is just the other way around."

As for the line between humans and animals... Daine won't comment. In part because that scholarly sort of thing is more up Numair's street than hers, and in part because she didn't really have a line in her mind between her human-self and her People-self until Numair put one there.

[rebelnpc]

"Huh." Yuri mulls this over, and comes to the conclusion that the fact that she's not talking in his head means he doesn't count as an animal. That's actually quite reassuring.

"Are there a lot of mages where you come from?"

[wildmage_daine]

"A fair number of people have the Gift, though some folk have it stronger than others."

It belatedly hits her that he's asking a lot of questions about something so everyday. "What about here, in Man..." she can't quite recall the name, so she makes what she hopes is an all-encompassing gesture, "Manwhatsit?"

[rebelnpc]

"Here? Nah. Not unless they came through the rift from somewhere else. The natives are all just...I dunno, regular people. Regular for New York, at least."

[wildmage_daine]

"Oh." That explains his curiosity, then. And it means she should probably be more careful about using her own magic. If it's enough to unnerve people back home, it might cause a panic here. At least Yuri doesn't seem to find it that off-putting.

Daine's about to ask what 'New York' is when her stomach lets out an audible grumble.

[rebelnpc]

It won't among rebels, or even among most people from Romac -- but anyone outside those groups would see a person with any magic as a source of danger.

"If we go back to the base, we can get you somewhere to stay," he offers. "And dinner."

[wildmage_daine]

Daine blushes. She's usually hungry after a healing, and it's been hours since breakfast, but she could have done without the announcement.

She starts to nibble her thumbnail as she considers Yuri's offer. It's kind of him, but she doesn't want to stray too far from where she arrived in case the rift returns, or her friends show up.

"Base?" she repeats uncertainly. "Is it far?"

[rebelnpc]

He knows she's reluctant to go, but he figures her friends aren't coming -- and he doesn't want to leave her out here for Romac to catch her.

"It's kind of underneath us," replies Yuri. "Uh, or close to it, I guess, I'm not sure. We do have to go down to the south edge of the park to get in, though."

[wildmage_daine]

Daine's about to politely refuse, but then she remembers the badger's claw around her neck. As long as she keeps it on, the badger god will be able to find her, so it shouldn't matter if she stays put or not.

The cat stretches languidly. If the two-legger is offering food and a warm place to sleep, you should take it, he advises. It sounds more comfortable than the way I've been living lately.

Daine bites back a smile, knowing the cat's pride is the only thing stopping it from asking to tag along. She wouldn't mind the company. Yuri's nice enough, but the animals are the only friends she knows she has, here.

"Can the cat come along, too?"

[rebelnpc]

Yuri frowns and chews his lip -- are animals allowed? He reflects that some pretty animal-like people are allowed in the base, and decides that he'll make it allowed.

"I guess?" he replies. "I don't think anyone'll argue, especially if you say it's yours."

[wildmage_daine]

"What do you think?" Daine asks the cat. The cat makes a show of considering the offer, then states that the two-legger got it backwards, rubbing his cheek against Daine's shoulder for emphasis. Taking that as a 'yes,' Daine gathers the cat into her arms and stands.

"All right. Let's go."

[rebelnpc]

He's not quite sold on this whole talking to animals thing, but if it'll make her happy and get her to come with him, he'll play along even if she turns out to be faking it. She did heal the cat's leg, too, so it's not so unlikely she's telling the truth.

He smiles and gets up, regretting getting down on the cold ground in the first place, and turns to lead the way. It doesn't occur to him that taking her outside the park and down into the old subway tunnels might unnerve her.

"It's not far," he reassures her happily.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine follows him quietly enough for a few minutes, but once they leave the cover of the trees, she stops in her tracks.

Surrounding her on all sides are giant... things. She might have taken them for cliffs, but they're too shiny and perfectly shaped to be anything natural. Turning in a slow circle, Daine gapes. Are they buildings? How can they possibly stay up without magic?

[rebelnpc]

Yuri nearly leaves her behind -- he's just trotting happily along, used to the transition from park to city despite the stark contrast. He realizes she's stopped following him and pauses, turning to look at her. "...Oh!"

Coming back to her side, he tries to offer a comforting smile. "Skyscrapers," he explains without explaining. "I'm guessing you don't have them back home?"

[wildmage_daine]

Daine shakes her head, hugging the cat a bit tighter. Looking up at them is starting to make her dizzy, so she focuses on Yuri, instead. "Two-leggers built those?" she asks, incredulous. "Without magic?"

[rebelnpc]

"No magic that I know of." Yuri turns to glance up at one, as if seeing it for the first time. He shrugs. "Engineering and stuff -- I think they're mostly metal?"

[wildmage_daine]

Daine thinks of how solid they must have to be to keep from falling over, and shivers. For all that they're so big, they make her think of cages.

"You said the base was underground?" If it's up one of those things, she might consider staying in the park, after all.

[rebelnpc]

See, most people are more perturbed by the idea of going down into a tunnel. Yuri does not correctly identify her shiver as fear or distaste, and just gives a cheerful little nod. "Yeah, they made it out of some of the subway stations and things that don't get used anymore."

[wildmage_daine]

"Subway?" Daine had assumed that the base was in a cave system. Now, having seen the skyscrapers, it occurs to her that things might be just as unnatural below the ground as they are above it.

She won't tolerate being trapped in an airless little box again. Her breath starts to quicken, and she takes a step backwards.

[rebelnpc]

Yuri's smile fades and he takes a hesitant step to make up for the one she took backwards. "What's wrong?" he asks, reaching out as if to put his hand on her arm, but stopping short.

[wildmage_daine]

The cat, picking up on Daine's growing fear, hisses at Yuri's outstretched hand and raises a paw, ready to swat at him if he comes closer.

"I don't--I don't like cages," Daine says, shifting nervously.

[rebelnpc]

"Cages?" asks Yuri, mind going to his cage -- but that's not the normal arrangement. "It's not a cage."

[wildmage_daine]

Daine takes a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down. The cat growls at Yuri for good measure, but settles into her arms again.

She's not sure if she can make Yuri understand if he's used to things like skyscrapers. "I don't like being trapped in--in stuffy spaces. You can't breathe in them." Well, maybe he can. "I can't breathe in them."

[rebelnpc]

He frowns, chewing his lip again. "You won't be trapped," he offers. "Maybe you could come and see and then decide?"

[wildmage_daine]

Daine hesitates, then nods. She doesn't think he's trying to trick her, and if she's wrong, she has her bow. If she has to, she can shift, though the idea of running off with nothing but her life and the badger claw isn't very tempting.