HAWKS PALACE

[doublefried]

The process of entering the palace is... smooth. Painless.


You are falling, but it's not scary at the speed you're going. You drop through the pre-dawn sky like a feather, light and easy on a breeze, descending towards a bright and multicolored island in a sea of dark trees.

When you land, you are somewhere new.

Comments

[survivaltricks]

[casually]

How's the view up there?

[doublefried]

I dislike the flashing lights and bright colors of this place, but while I am here I can gaze upon my forest, which is more soothing.

[survivaltricks]

[tilting his head towards the forest, peering at it with clear interest]

. . . you know why we're here, right? Do you think it'd be worth it to search for him in there?

[doublefried]

In the forest? He would not travel so far.

[survivaltricks]

How certain are you of that? 70%? 80%?

[doublefried]

I would know if he had intruded.

[survivaltricks]

[squints at the bird]

. . .

Can I go in there anyway?

[AKIRA]

[doublefried]

He stretches his looong neck down to stare at you.


If you would prefer it.

[survivaltricks]

[tiiiilts his head up to stare right back]

[. . .]

Okay. I'll be back.

[and then he turns around to head into the forest]

[doublefried]

It immediately becomes much cooler with the blazing light of the sun directly on you. And kind of dark, in that way that thick forest can get even in the middle of the day.

[survivaltricks]

[tilts his head back to look up at the branches of the trees as he walks. but otherwise, he'll just keep tromping through the forest's underbrush until he runs into something. or gets lost?? one or the other]

[doublefried]

It'd be pretty easy to lose the path.

But for the moment it's just soft earth and thick woods, and every so often a little sparkling ember will flitter through the trees like a startled bird.

[survivaltricks]

[blinks at the embers, holding his hand out to catch one, because that's a wise idea. certainly it won't burn!!]

[doublefried]

The closer you get, the more they skitter away, sort of playfully, like they want you to chase them.

[survivaltricks]

[. . . a soft, amused huff. but he does trot after one, playing along for a little bit while he's here!]

[doublefried]

To their credit, they don't seem to be leading him to his DOOM or anything. They aren't will-o'-wisps.

If he gets close enough one of them kind of looks like this but made out of fire??

[survivaltricks]

[THAT'S. . . SO CUTE??]

Hello? Can you hear me?

[trying to speak to the embers!]

[doublefried]

Hi! Hihi hi hi hi

hey! hi

hi!!

PEEP PEEP PEEP

[survivaltricks]

[holding out! both his hands!! so the bird embers can land in his palms if they want to]

You're very vocal. . . where are you going?

[doublefried]

Chase! Chase!

[survivaltricks]

Chase?

Are we playing tag?

[doublefried]

Chasechasechase!

They flit around a bit.

[survivaltricks]

[they are definitely playing tag]

[trotting after a few of them as he speaks]

Well, while we're playing tag, can you give me any advice on where to look for a guy with big wings? They're usually not on fire.

I think.

[doublefried]

Wings?

Bird?

Are you hunting him?

[survivaltricks]

Nooooo? I don't hunt.

I just want to find him to make sure he's okay.