deercountry | it was the silence underneath the stars

[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.

[She winces, but it seems that Scorpia isn't injured. Padmé slowly makes her way down, dropping the last few feet with a wet slosh. Straightening, she looks around, mindful of her footing, making her way closer to her.]

At least the monkeys should be gone for a while as well.

[Hopefully...]

[Scorpia looks around some more, still seeing no sign of danger. And she watches as Padmé completes her descent without incident. Stepping through some of the water, she closes more of the distance between them.]

Right! They're probably taking a really big bath right now! [She says with a soft laugh.] Are you oka-

[She's quickly cut off as one stray monkey leaps out from the water and lunges at them!]

[It's likely going to be a little soggy for a while, Padmé thinks. The area isn't exactly desert, which may absorb the water quicker. Mindful, she watches how she steps.]

That would be- [Nope. She has a monkey now on her shoulder, literally, as Padmé gives a yelp, trying to bat it off with her hands.]

Ahh!!

[She gives a startled shout as the primate pounces! But she's quick to action, jabbing with her tail to stun the monkey with her stinger.]

There! Now, now things should be okay! ...I hope!

[Her heart's still thumping, and Padmé takes a moment to suck in a breath or too before turning a grateful look towards Scorpia.]

Thank you.

[Which is earnest and sincere as she straightens once more, giving a quick glance around. There's a decent sized stick which she makes her way towards. It should be able to give a good thump and poke at things. She's not going to trust anything here.]

I suppose the monkey came from that direction... which means, should we try the other direction once more?

Happy to help.

[Scorpia assures her, wiping her arm across her bow now that the danger seems to have truly passed, with the monkey knocked out on the ground in some ridiculous position. And at her suggestion, Scorpia just nods along.]

You know, I can't argue with that plan of action. Sounds nice, solid, and full of the opposite of monkey attacks. Which is exactly what we need right now! So... yeah, let's do that!

[And so, the adventures continue...!]

[She may feel a little bad, but at the same time, the creature had been trying to attack her. She casts a wary glance to it, half expecting it to rise up and try again, but for now it seems stunned. Hopefully stunned for a while more.]

Last time there was plants... Huge plants, that tried to eat us. If the ground starts rumbling, we should definitely get out of the way.

[It's just taking a very nice nap while drying off in the sun, that's all! Scorpia's face looks more 'yikes' as her companion recalls her other ordeals.]

Hungry plants, now that does not sound pleasant at all! [And without anyone like Perfuma around to help out!] And - yeah, I do feel rumbling ground is a good sign to get moving, and quickly! Can't there be anything that can happen that can just... be pleasant for a change?

[She gives a soft chuckle at her expression.]

We climbed a tree to avoid them, although they were at the bottom and thankfully couldn't climb.

[Scorpia eases into a smile as she goes on.]

Oh, that's a relief! I guess sometimes one plant can help you get away from others. Y'know, I'm learning something today. Climbing trees can be a solution for a whole lot of problems!

Save monkey problems...

[Offering a soft grin. It would be nice though, if they could just sit up in a tree and play this silly game.]

Let's see if we can find a somewhat strategic place to keep playing this game.

Right! Right, monkeys are... they are pretty much the tree masters. [She pokes at her chin thoughtfully.]

'Strategic' isn't, it isn't always my strongest suit, but hey, I'll help you figure something out. It would really help if we had some kind of fort we could hole up in! Just, uh, not much fort-like going on in these parts.

If they understood what we were saying, I might have been able to reason with them.

[At least talk and negotiate, but talking with creatures is not something that Padmé does, or at least that they can understand her in turn.]

Hmm. Maybe a cave, or some place where we can see but also move quickly if we have to.

That would have been great! I do wish I could have made friends with them. They seem like they'd be lots of fun to be around when they're not... y'know, attacking.

[Scorpia nods along with her suggestions.]

Yeah, a cave would be great! Okay, let's keep moving and... keep our eyes open for any place that could do the trick!

[They had looked rather soft... Although they also appeared to have had sharp teeth and claws.]

When they're on our side, instead of against it.

[A rueful smile. They likely could be helpful in that regard. Scouting. Throwing things. Attacking... She's not one to have an affinity with animals.]

We'll be getting our exercise for the day, anyway.

[She's mostly heard of monkeys in terms of being funny little guys! She's confident they could get along well, in different circumstances.]

Right! That, that seems to be the key difference here. Really hoping we get some on our side sometime!

[Scorpia moves along in the direction of some rocky area, which seems more likely to have caves.]

Oh yeah, for sure! I feel like this adventure's going to end up being like a week's worth of workouts!

Too bad there isn't a nice hot spring somewhere...

[Because it would be nice to soak in it. Yet, knowing this place, it might have flesh eating fish or it would start to boil or- well, who knows what else.]

[Scorpia lets out a sigh.]

Oh, I wish! That- that would make this whole thing worth it. Or maybe just some of it. What do you have to roll to get something like that? [She says with a little laugh while moving right along.]

If there are any good rolls, I've yet to see them.

[That slightly dry expression to her voice. It tended to be bad and worse... Varying degrees anyway. Nothing like pass all the way to the finish line, or surprise, you get to have a wonderful picnic with all your favourite foods.]

Yeah. [She agrees with a deflated sigh.] Kinda feeling like good ones don't exist, but hey... A gal can dream, right? [She shrugd her shoulders, while accepting that this is the slimmest of hopes.]

Perhaps our hopes will be rewarded... [After all, it would be nice. There is no benefit to them for this game, aside from getting to the end of it. Why they are required to play it, she doesn't know. Does someone get some amusement from it, or is there nothing at all?] Thankfully it isn't snow or lava though...

I sure hope so! It's always really, really great when hope's rewarded. [Or if they at least end up with A New Hope.

Scorpia doesn't understand the point of this either, though at this point she's inclined to roll with all the weird events this world tends to subject her too.]

That's one thing to be glad for, for sure! Nice, nice weather going on here in general. Some kind of beach would be even better? But it could be a lot worse! If it weren't for all the dangers, this would be a pretty neat place for a trip.

It would be, yes... [A slightly wistful sigh. Sand, but not too much sand. Not too hot, not too cold, not too dry. Stars knew that Padmé hadn't enjoyed Tatooine overly. She will count her blessings though that it isn't worse.] But I'll take the small blessings. I've been on a planet once that was all sand and little water, and another that was completely frozen over. I can't say I was fond of either.

it was the silence underneath the stars

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