Journey to the Mountains
Meta ORP excerpt where Cloy appears to find the fourth obelisk as if she has no choice
[Intro: Ruriska]
At the border of the Swamp, Swarm waited. Her form alternated, shifting between wasp and mare freely, from one step to the next, a constant cycle. A call had gone out, messages passed on from one kin to the other, offering those who wanted it a chance to travel beyond the Swamp. The mountains awaited them and Swarm could still feel the biting cold that stole her breath; knew very well the dangers they could face.
It wasn’t a place she would have wanted to go to, not of her own accord, but she had been chosen and she would complete her task. Those kin that chose to travel with her would be part of her family, her swarm, her hive. She would protect them with every fiber of her being and surely the MotherFather had known that.
But would anyone come? She had at least one follower. Her lifemate, Dapper Mantis, would not be left behind. They’d taken so long in finding each other that leaving him in the Swamp had not even occurred to her. She would keep him safe. He was the one she had asked to send the message out, his affable personality the complete opposite of her own was much more suited to such tasks.
It was Brother and Sister who would not come. The cold mountains would not be kind to a pair of giant wasps and she could not bear to lose them though she knew the pain of being separated would be immense. They waited nearby, their presence adding a gentle buzz.
Mare to wasp, wasp to mare - and then suddenly she stopped her nervous pacing and turned her head towards the far off horizon.
“It’s nearly time,” she said.
Now was the time to join her and travel forth into dangerous foreign lands.
The adventure was about to begin.
After having dreamed of the obelisks and their strange puzzles, it simply didn't feel right to ignore the call to travel to a new one. And yet...Cloy was no social kin. She stalked towards the place where she'd seen others gathering, trying to peer over the rolling ground before she got there. Even from far off, she could tell there were many in the group already. At least one had a loud voice that carried over the swamp in such a way that made her think she'd be happier going back the way she came. But when would the call come again? Would she be punished in some way for ignoring the dreams? It was all to cryptic to tell and she had no interest in asking if anyone knew better than she did
Trying to push her discomfort into a place where it couldn't bother her, she made the decision to creep onward. She'd make no move to announce herself as joining the party. Maybe, she thought, they'd just accept her presence. Perhaps they'd even dislike her and leave her alone... She gave the kin lingering around an exceptionally wide berth before taking up standing off by herself. She sat, trying to make her figure appear smaller. There would be less chance of being approached if she didn't draw the eye. Yet, her orange coat wouldn't do her any favors. She shoved the thoughts further into her mind a second time and instead perked her ears to listen to the group to occupy her focus
[Aphid: Ruriska]
Of all her siblings, it was Aphid who had decided to follow her parents to the mountains. She was certainly the weakest member in her family but her determination and spirit more than made up for it. She was hanging back, listening to the various kin mingle and talk while full of excited nerves.
A fluffy tail caught her eye and she smiled, delighted by the kin she spied sitting away from the main group. The Kiokote seemed interested but nervy, clearly not ready to talk to anyone yet but that didn’t stop Aphid from walking over to say hello.
“Are you nervous too?” She asked, giving her best friendly smile. “Hi, my name is Aphid!”
[RP advance: Ruriska]
At least someone here thought she would make a good leader. Swarm wasn’t sure herself but it hardly mattered. She would get them all there and back regardless. From another scan of the growing crowd and listening to the burble of conversation, there were quite a few strong personalities she would have to contend with. They would listen well or be put in their place.
She was growing impatient, ready to begin their long journey and so she moved away from the group to slightly higher ground. Brother and Sister rose into the air, flanking her on each side with a loud buzz of their wings.
“It is time." As usual her voice had little inflection and wouldn’t have carried over loud conversation but the wasp duo was usually enough to get the attention she required to shut everyone up for a second. Plus she had another boon to take advantage of and she exerted her will as queen of this hive.
Her voice held the hum of a thousand wasps and would be heeded.
“Prepare yourself to leave. Weaker and less experienced kin travel close to me. The rest of you guard our rear and flanks.”
(Hivemind - Swarm can, when she wishes, rally a group of kin together for a common purpose or task, letting them act in near-perfect unison,
as if they are all of one mind. She cannot ask kin to do something they would not ordinarily do [such as leap off of a cliff or eat poison],
but she can inspire them to act on impulses they agree with but would not normally undertake solo.)
She had since watched a few more kin creep up on the gathering that didn't seem as eager as the rest. It made her feel a bit better, a little less out of place. Still, these others seemed to know each other and ones that didn't would just start getting along... It reminded her not to draw any nearer despite feeling herself relax slightly. It didn't seem to matter, though
She flicked her eyes towards the figure approaching, at first only using the corner of her vision just in case she had miscalculated where the doe was going. She was most definitely coming this way. Cloy subtly straightened herself and turned her head fully so that she would look polite
"Hello," she murmured, introducing herself before answering the question "I am Cloy. And I do not think I am meant for this, but I feel I have no say in the matter" She motioned slightly towards the growing crowd with her nose
She scarcely was able to finish her thought before the leading mare separated herself from the group demanded attention. The first sentence did not bother her, but the ones that followed made her flick her ears against her head. She didn't like the way they rattled around in her mind... What a way to gain a kin's trust, to do...whatever this was. She shook her head vigorously, as if it would toss the buzzing away. Logically, yes, she should be in the center of the group when it started to move, but she felt something deep within her balk. To be surrounded by kin with no means of escape did not exactly interest her. She shifted her hooves, grappling with what to do before flicking a glance back at Aphid and grumbling "I find myself doubting I will enjoy that one's company"
“I think you are,” Aphid replied mildly, also glancing at the crowd. “Meant for this, that is. You look very capable to me and there’s no knowing what sort of kin will be important on this trip. You have every say in the matter.” Her smile brightened. “It’s daunting now but once we’re on the way, I’m sure everything will be fine.”
The buzz that rolled through her was a familiar one. She hardly needed the extra pressure that was her mother’s will. She would have heeded regardless, taught well to obey her queen.
“She’s uh, not so bad once you get to know her,” Aphid said wryly, shuffling her hooves a little bit. “And she doesn’t really talk much.” She was already shifting to move forward and follow the call. “She’s nervous too. You won’t be stuck near her the whole time. She’s just trying to help.” Her mother was often misunderstood and she couldn’t help but defend her.
“Come on, we can stick together!”
[RP advance: Ruriska]
Slowly they all moved to comply and Swarm knew the satisfaction of order taking place. For a few minutes she lingered, her own nerves now swept away by the steady thrum from Brother and Sister, as she allowed everyone to figure out where they belonged. Now and again she leaned closer to Dapper Mantis, so she could feel his closeness, always knowing he was just right there, a comforting warmth.
Those she had deemed ‘weaker and less experienced’ began gathering close to her and she studied each one, giving gentle nods to each in turn. It had not been a slight to single them out. It was simply a fact that some would fall behind or find it harder to keep up. Keeping them close would ensure their safety.
“If anyone is struggling,” she said to the small group that had gathered near her, “I will assist you.”
Satisfied all was as it should be, Swarm turned to face the mountains.
“We march,” she announced, and began walking at a steady but not difficult pace. They could keep this up for some time without stopping and she did not plan on stopping until nightfall. They had a lot of ground to cover. She tilted her head up once, to curiously watch the crane soaring high above them, and then her head was turned only forward.
The mountain was calling.
She blinked, not having expected such a reply. Especially after she had...apparently insulted the doe's mother, no less. She wouldn't backpedal on her comment, but was thankful that the other didn't seem horribly offended. It could have been worse
"Thank you" She mumbled, rising to her hooves at the offer to walk. The buzzing was getting increasingly difficult to ignore and it'd give her a reason to near the rest of the group without looking like she was contradicting herself "I will attempt to keep my comments on your kin to myself as we do so." The words didn't exactly sound right with her flat delivery. They were meant to be a bit of a joke, but she held her own reaction back besides the slightest upturn of the corners of her mouth in case it wasn't received well
With that out of the way, she pushed her reluctance towards the others down as far as she could and made to catch up with the leaving group (without leaving the doe behind). However, she did intend to stay a bit further away from the leading mare than she probably would have liked. Just in case she spoke in that strange hum again. There was nothing saying being closer to her when she did that wouldn't make the effects worse
Aphid was used to flat delivery and she caught the underlying note of humour. She gave a small chuckle, big eyes wide and full of smiles. She knew very well Swarm was easy to misread and she wasn’t going to lose out on a potential friendship over a single comment. An intense wasp legendary wasn’t going to appeal to every kin.
“Do your best,” she teased in turn, falling in alongside the furry Kiokote.
They caught up to the inner group as the march began and Aphid hopped up and down a bit to get a good look at her parents at the front. They looked cute together. She hoped that one day she could find the sort of love they had.
It seemed like an interesting mix of kin they would be travelling with, her gaze catching on a cute rotund Acha. So pretty!
“What do you think the mountain will be like?” She asked Cloy as they walked.
[Trailbazer: zelflamigo]
Trailblazer didn't seem to mind the effects of Swarm's power. If anything, she was grateful of it. It was much easier to fight the urge to take the lead this way. By taking up the flank, Trailblazer could focus on committing their path to memory. Out of instinct, she wanted to carve out some path markers in the rock, but she was able to suppress the urge. It would take too long, and she had to keep up with the group. She had to remind herself that they may never get a chance to see the mountains again.
Idly, she wondered if she was the only kiokote among their group. Then, she spotted another. With so much fur, Trailblazer almost didn't recognize that it was a kiokote underneath. Trailblazer shifted formation to get a bit closer to Cloy for a chance to strike up some conversation.
"I was beginning to worry. I thought I was the only kiokote." Trailblazer spoke fast, with barely any pause. "You look anxious. You're not alone. Perhaps when there is a break, a good race will help shake those nerves?"
Cloy was pleased that her comment had landed as intended, noticeable by a slight sparkle in her eye. She nodded in reply as her focus turned to weaving through the bodies of the other kin until she found a place in the ranks that felt natural. Well...natural enough. She seemed to disregard Aphid's hopping around for the most part, her eyes trained on the ground in front of her and the nearest sets of hooves on top of it. But, she politely returned her gaze to the Kimeti when she was spoken to
"I don't know." She hummed, suddenly thoughtful. She raised her muzzle to try and peer towards the mountains over the horizon, as if the peek would yield useful information "Colder than I've ever felt for snow to cling to them as it does"
Her gazing was interrupted as Trailblazer came up on her other side. She perked her ears in greeting, though she couldn't help but be mildly surprised. She'd always thought herself unapproachable, but that didn't seem to be the case today "Mountain crags must not appeal to running types." She replied with a hint of her flat, trying-to-joke tone "You and I must be lost."
"A race would be nice" She mused. It wouldn't be long, but it would give her a break from the crowd if it did end up becoming too much later on "I imagine it would help keep one warm in that snow, as well"
The opposite of Cloy, Aphid felt comfortable in the group. She settled into an easy pace, knowing they were going forward and her mother would lead her well. There was nothing to worry about. “It must be so cold,” she murmured in wonder. “I think it must be pretty as well. Everything covered in snow and so close to the sky.”
When Trailblazer joined them, Aphid peeked over Cloy’s shoulder with a chipper, ‘Hello!’.
She was glad Cloy had even more company and future friends to make her worry less about the trip. Someone to talk to about Kiokote things. Whatever those might be. Apparently running was one of them.
Aphid let them talk, falling back a bit when a new arrival caught her eye, the flash of red and a pretty doe with a... she squinted at the long bug-like mammal. She nudged Cloy slightly with her nose. “I’ll be over there. If you want to find me,” she said and then sidled over towards Seeing Red.
[Rp advance: Ruriska]
They marched onwards.
Swarm half listening to the conversations around her with the rest of her attention firmly forward. They were getting closer. She could feel it. The terrain changed as they walked, becoming less swampy. The earth hardened and grassy flatlands stretched out before them with the darker stain of hills in the distance.
It was finally time for Brother and Sister to part ways with her and they did so without any outward fuss but Swarm felt their distress keenly. She shivered, closing her eyes briefly in silent farewell as the two giant wasps simply stopped in midair and hovered as the group continued on without them.
This was where she knew the Ache would take hold and drive the denizens of the Swamp back into her grasp. This was the last chance for anyone to turn around. They continued on without a fuss, untouched by the Ache in Swarm’s sheltering presence.
“You must not wander,” she warned the group, lifting her voice to be heard. “Here the Ache takes hold.”
[Unquenched: Corn]
Only a moment later he was off again, bouncing from kin to kin in the crowd, freely moving from front to back and back again. At Swarm's announcement, he leapt with a start and shouted, "THE ACHE?! But I don't feel - are we leaving the swamp?" For the first time, he actually took a look at his surroundings as the group traveled and realized where they were going. "We're leaving!! Oh, wow, I didn't think I'd ever leave the swamp again after I got here. Wow! I get to see whole 'nother part of the world! That's so exciting!!"
His boundless energy brought him within range of two kiokote, seemingly alone in the crowd.
"Hey!" he opened loudly, "Did you hear that?? We're leaving the swamp! Isn't that cool??"
"You’re energetic." Trailblazer laughed quietly, just a hum at the back of her throat. What a curious acha. He was rather frightening in appearance, but he had excitement of a little dog. She had the feeling that he would be difficult to tire, but in a way, she was the same.
"It is indeed ‘very cool’. I myself am buzzing with energy." She responded flatly, with no shift in tone, walking very steadily. Whatever energy Trailblazer had, it was entirely internal. With a small smile, she looked at Cloy and back at Unquenched.
"What do you imagine we might see?" She asked the both of them.
Aphid was gone before Cloy had a chance to acknowledge her leaving. She glanced over her shoulder, but elected that the other doe probably won't mind the fact that she wasn't willing to raise her voice in the crowd. She quickly had other things to worry about anyway. She was aware there was an excitable, chattery kin somewhere in the group, but hadn't bothered to pinpoint them, as they'd sounded somewhat far-off. As it happened, she didn't have to worry about that mystery going unsolved. An Acha was suddenly nearby, asking questions faster than she cared to answer. Thankfully, Trailblazer didn't seem to mind the interaction and served as a nice barrier between she and him. Still, she tried to maintain her posture and not shrink behind the other Kiokote
"If this is anything like the dreams that have been pestering me, there will be a puzzle somewhere out there." She replied, voice even as ever despite herself "I hope someone here is good at them. I'm not sure I've ever solved a puzzle..."
"Ooooh! I've heard about the whole obelisks thing, folks have been having dreams about them lately right? I haven't, personally, but the whole thing sounds so mysterious!!" He hopped as he walked alongside Trailblazer and Cloy, nattering on as usual. "I bet we're gonna find all kinds of cool things, like, like -! Like totoma in their natural habitat! And new plants and animals! And like a MOUNTAIN?? Maybe TWO mountains. And and, I dunno what else?? But I bet it'll be exciting!"
Just then, someone else caught his attention, and he was off like a shot once more
[Owlsomniac's Hush also tried to say hello, but the RP was moving too fast for me to catch it
They arrived at the mountains after another couple time skips]