deercountry | it was the silence underneath the stars

Yeah, you know? I don't think I have any on me. Right, let's just keep moving for now! I'm sure we'll lose them eventually!

[Scorpia picks up the pace as they move into the more open area! But so do the monkeys. They seem to be everywhere, and practically multiplying. One of them manages to make it onto Scorpia's back and tries hitting her head while she tries to shake it off.]

O-okay, enough! It's not funny anymore, little guys!

[By the stars... What exactly are they supposed to do? Just keep running? Try to reason with them? That would mean some measure of intelligence and understanding from the creatures though... She swats and smacks at them in turn, yelping when the claws work at her face, half stumbling, but keeping upright.]

Yes... Maybe once we got out of their territory?

[The ground becomes a little flatter, easier to run on, and Padmé aims towards that open area.]

You okay?! [She calls back towards Padme after she yelps. It's hard enough to keep the monkeys off of herself, let alone protect the smaller person.]

Yeah! We just have to... find where that territory ends, and go past it! Eas- easy as that! [She chuckles nervously before shaking off some more more monkeys, and whipping one of off the back of her head. She gives a weary sigh before she presses on and tries to pick up speed as the ground becomes easier to traverse.]

Keep going.

[She calls in turn, as if the Trade Federation couldn't keep her, monkeys wouldn't either. They are rather driven, but as Padmé glances back, she can see that some have broken off now that they don't have the tree coverage. The noises still echo around them and Padmé strives to move even quicker in turn.]

A few are... Stopping. [More as the seconds roll on. A few particularly are motivated and Padmé gives a small kick, slowing for a few moments to try to push them away, before picking back up.]

They do persevere rather strongly.

They do! Y'know, I'd admire that about them if they weren't attacking us!

[She responds with a hint of a laugh while pressing on! But true to her companion's words, the monkeys due seem to be dwindling. Scorpia spins around to knock off the ones still clinging to her!]

But hey, good thing we persevere even more. Now let's leave these funny little fellows behind! [Time to try to leave the remainder in their dust!]

[It does earn a soft laugh as she swats at the last few persistent ones, who do finally decide that they are no longer part of a larger group. Padmé doesn't slow down, at least not for a little bit, watching as Scorpio knocks at one bothering her. Only when they had a good lead on them does Padmé slow, still casting a wary eye.]

And let us hope that they are willing to be left behind...

[She does her best to keep up a good pace! Sure enough, they seem to have left the monkeys behind them, and she gives a soft laugh as she starts to slow down.]

Yes, that is a good thing to hope for! [She looks back.] I... don't see them at least. We might really have lost them! [And boy is she relieved by that!]

Um... mission accomplished?

[A hand at her side, Padmé takes a moment to catch her breath. Running from monkeys had not been something that she had planned to do today, but there it is. It does make Padmé wonder what else might be on the board.]

Hopefully... Last time creatures seemed to be of their normal intelligence, so let us hope they aren't regrouping and plotting a new strategy.

[It was unusually tiring for such small creatures! But they were very energetic, and scratchy. Now they can recharge their batteries for a bit while keeping on the mood.]

Right, I am hoping right with out about that! Just, just putting all my hopes in the same basket as you! We should keep our eyes open for some kind of shelter just in case.

[There's that flicker of a smile that is tossed in her direction before Padmé straightens. The jungle has given way ever so to a flatter terrain, although there doesn't appear to be anything too helpful from what she can see. Glancing to the board, she wonders how many rolls one will need to make to get to the finish.]

Hmm. It is fairly open here, which I do not know if that will be better or worse. Anything approaching us must make itself known, although we are also in the open.

[Scorpia smiles right back, trying to keep her optimistic energy going, which is easier now that they've lost the monkeys. And there's no sign of any other threats.... for now.]

Hmm, yeah, that - that is kind of a two-sided thing, isn't it. Well, at least we can see anything coming, so that'll give us some more time to prepare. ...And I'm not sure if anything else even will show up! ...Not until we, uh, make more progress on the ol' board game at least. [She's not looking forward to it, but... it does seem to be the only way forward.]

We may as well take a chance then.

[Although she will poke around with her toe a bit on the ground before placing the game down upon it when it seems safe enough. Her pieces has moved four spots, although there still seems a long way to go.]

Yep, I guess we might as well... roll the dice!

[She gives a little shrug as she opens up her board.]

I guess it's my turn now?

[And now she gives a roll, and her piece moves forward by a good chunk of the board... but then the ensuing message appears.

Every month at the quarter moon
There'll be a monsoon in your lagoon.]

Okay, that does not sound pleasant! But, uh, does that mean it has to be night, or-

[There's the sound of rushing water in the distance, rapidly getting closer.]

[She keeps her eyes scanning back in the direction that they had come, lest the monkeys sneak up on them, preparing in case they need to run again.

She listens, not hearing anything and so she turns, brow furrowing as her gaze turns back to read the message. That shouldn't matter, should it? Are they at the quarter moon? That would be a coincidence, and it's not like they have a lagoon... Her mouth opens to say that, but there is that rumbling beneath her feet.]

... I think... We may need to run again.

[It seems the game has its own sense of time! Scorpia's eyes widen as she hears the sound, and she nods quickly.]

Very, very good. Let's do that. Right away!

[She's still winded from their flight from the monkeys, but they have something potentially bigger and more terrifying to worry about now! With that, she scoops up her board and starts running in... the opposite direction that the rumbling seems to be coming from! But the floodwaters might not allow them much time to flee.]

[A speeder would be nice right now... Even a riding creature that could move faster than she. Scorpia at least has the foresight to pick up the game. There is a moment of which direction, before she follows suit.

Faster, faster, faster, she chides herself, trailing after the form of the other. The only positive is that any lingering monkeys might be in for a surprise too, assuming the water reaches all the way. She hopes it doesn't. It can't, can it? Then again, this place doesn't run by any rules that Padmé is familiar with.

Her mind says to just keep running, but she can't help but glance over her shoulder.]

Kriff!

[Of course they had to get something that was harder to avoid in such an open area! At least there's less reason to worry about any monkeying around. Scorpia runs for her life, but it's inevitable - the water will catch up with them. So she tries looking for the first tree she can find.]

That doesn't sound good! Running, I don't think it's working! If we can climb a tree or something or just hold onto it... M-maybe that's the best we can hope for!

[The first tree is a little questionable, but it will have to do, given the alternatives. It is not like she has any abilities that may aid. Even here, there is nothing but that which Padmé had been born with. It is come up with a solution, or be swept away.]

Climbing. Definitely climbing, at least to try to get out of the water's reach and what it may be dragging with it.

Yeah, exactly! You, you are saying a lot of facts right now! Let's.... get to it!

[Beggars can't be choosers! So Scorpia will throw herself at the tree and start climbing with the help of her pincers! But she'll also keep an eye on her companion to see if she needs help.]

[There are, at least, lower branches, which allows Padmé to swing up with a grunt, circling her legs around before hefting herself upright. Scorpia seems to be doing better than Padmé, yet she works. Hopefully fast enough... There is a rumble, but Padmé doesn't look back. Higher... They need to get a little higher, and hopefully that will be enough. Branches scratching along her skin, swatted by a stick, yet she kept going.

Hopefully it's high enough as Padmé pauses. There's a coolness to the breeze and the rumbling grows louder, and that- that's a lot of water.]

Brace!

Bracing!!

[Scorpia shouts as she digs the tips of her pincers into the bark of the tree! And she winces as it comes, the rushing of water! Fortunately, she managed to get just high enough to avoid being pulled into the water. But it's still not an ideal situation. The tree buckles with the force of the rushing waters and feels like it might not stay upright for long, on top of various objects being carried towards them by the floodwaters.]

Oh boy, hang in there!

[Padmé does work her belt free, looping it around the tree and circling it back to her hand. It's not much, but hopefully enough. There is a gasp as the tree rocks, pummeled by the onslaught, cracks and snaps around them, and a spray of water now and then brushing up against her heels. She can feel her heart in her throat, pounding, as she holds tight, praying that it's enough as well.]

[She grits her teeth as she keeps her grip! Her pincers are firmly rooted in the bark for a moment, even as pieces of it chip off from the force of the floodwaters. Rocks and other debris fly up from the waters, pelting her and forming a few cuts and bruises on her face while she holds her proverbial ground, grunting. And the tree bucks with the force of the waters as well. It's a matter of wondering what will end first... the flood, or the tree's stability.]

[There's a cracking, although Padmé doesn't know where it comes from. She's focused enough on holding on, braced against the trunk of the tree, all but holding her breath. Still it shakes, swaying back and forth against the barrage, and yet... She cracks an eye open. There's some marks along her clothing, the fabric torn. Lashes of blood, and probably a few bruises that will form, but she shifts a little. Nothing seems broken...]

Do you think... it's done?

[There's still water below, in the dips and crannies of the ground, a small stream along the ground, with all the debris.]

[Scorpia slowly looks down and sees something that doesn't look like certain doom. The worst seems to be over! So she breathes a sigh of relief.]

I think... It looks pretty 'done' to me. [She cautiously shimmies her way down the tree towards the ground. And then she stands there a moment, pincers propped on her sides as she looks around.]

Yep! I think, think we're good here. It's safe to come down!

[As she says that, a chunk of the tree falls off and to the ground, barely missing Scorpia.]

Yikes.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject