Hopi's Story

Abasi just bedded down, still invisible, and watched the sorrowful scene from the distance. He was a beast of vengeance, but nonetheless he was saddened, and silently, tears began to flow from his eyes

Abasi just quietly weeps

The great beast of the land sensed her sorrow and very gently moved close and ran its snout along Kassandra in a caring gesture. It did what it could to reassure her that however he may die he shall die in peace. He turned around and moved further away toward what appeared to be a cave. As the great beast traveled its death march several of its inhabitants large and small, predator and prey, familiar and not were gathering around and following.

Abasi materialized slowly, to approach the titan in reverence and offer the great beast an affectionate nuzzle, even while his large stomach growled wetly with its own hunger. Abasi was considering devouring the beast's corpse as an act of nature, and he used a bit of telepathy to express to the beast not only his sorrow at the death, but curiosity as to what he wanted done with his body once he passed on.

Abasi is now visibull

Kassandra, still weeping in tears, could not move. The reassuring snout of the giant apex titan was so soothing, but it only allowed her a moments rest from the sadness that she was still being assaulted with. Dath really must have revered this titan. Because all of the swaying feelings that swirled from him to her was coming in and crashing on her emotional shores. She was unaware of time. Just knowing that she was somewhere witnessing something she probably was never meant to. But here she was anyway. In a foreign land. Witnessing her mount and every other creature in the land, or so it seemed, follow the giant dino to where he would lay.

She was still struggling to find her balance. So he held on to Dath, her only true friend, to guide her through to whatever end was coming. She kept on her knee, she continued to stream tears, she continue to be enslaved to this very moment.

Abasi looks at Grimwold, stomach growling, but turns his attention back to the dying titan

Everything capable came to witness this event that only happens rarely. Every being large and small, predator and prey followed the titan to its resting spot. They came not out of malice nor out of bestial hunger, but out of geniune respect and awe. The titans footsteps thundered across the ground despite its strength failing it. It finally stopped walking once it made its way to its resting spot. It was a natural bedding made of grass and leaves, surrounded by trees that focused the suns light like a beam around it like a heavenly spotlight.

The titan laid its ailing body down to rest, its hour coming. Dath himself along with every being who came to watch began to bow their heads and lay down in a solemn silence.

Kassandra watched as every creature, large and small, began to gather and follow the dying titan. The feeling of loss, the gravity of the situation grew ever more apparent to Kassy. She felt Dath's direct feelings, but now the swarm of creatures and beings coming out of thier natural habitats, were coming to witness en masse...it was staggering. The level of emotions was palpable within the mana of the air. Kassy has only ever felt this grandeur of emotional resonance when dealing with a passing of titles inside her own lands.

"Wait...don't...tell me -"

Before Kassy could finish the sentence or thought. Dath began to bow his head, and seeing how Kassy was atop its head, it forced her to have to concentrate on jumping from his head. She stuck the landing, but it was far from elegant. She knew the crushing emotions of those around her was distracting her capacity to focus. But she had her survival instincts, and they would protect her during something as simple as a jump.

The same could not be said for the giant titan that was passing to its death. Upon realizing that this is a crowning ceremony, Kassandra forced herself to snap out of the saddened emotions being transfered to her from Dath. She got on one knew to pay her respects. For she was fully prepared to witness whom the titan would be passing on its title to. She was pretty sure that she knew whom. For she would never choose a weak mount. But she also knew, she may lose Dath in the process. She needed to accept this truth, to be ready for the outcome.

A single tear fell onto her already tear stained face, she was preparing to say goodbye; but no matter how short her time was...it was no easier accept.

The titan finally drew its last breath and laid itself on its deathbed. All signs of life had finally stopped coming from this mighty beast of the land. As if on cue every animal that came to witness this momentous occasion raised their heads and let loose their bellows. Every large carnivore roared in unison, every large herbivore grunted and groaned.

Most of all, Dath bellowed its heavy trumpet of a voice. From the corpse of the titan came a strange energy, it came in waves as they billowed out and up. Rather than dissipate this titanic energy moved toward the wildlife. Specifically it moved toward Dath, whom absorbed it and began to transform in response. Dath's already gargantuan size increased spectacularly, one might even say his head breached the treetops. The other animals turned their attention from their fallen titan to Dath, their new titan.

Kassandra looked on at the spectacular sight she was witnessing.

It was...magical.
It was...heartwrenching.
It was...humbling.

She full on felt the brunt of the enormous waves of magical energy migrating from creature to creature. She was emotionally overloaded from all of the wildlife's sorrow, but the magic in the air was electrifying and attention grabbing. If she were hit over the head right now, she would'nt pass out even if she wanted to; with all the energy transforming Dath before her eyes, she was glued to the scene.

She looked up, as her mount - Dath - grew larger and larger. She could feel the new magical energy resonating and combining with the energy she originally embedded to form the bond they currently have. She was happy for him, the tears she shed earlier about losing him, were in full streams now. But she knew...

This was his fate.

She looked down in sadness and she didnt realize that she was standing, so she looked up with a smile.

"Thank you for our companionship Dath. Short though it may have been...I..." Kassandra choked up at the end with a sob.

But she powered through...she knew she must be brave and move forward. She had things to accomplish, and this would not be a bad place to part until they met again. Dath might not even acknowledge her anymore. He had his new role in life, and he would no longer come to harm easily. Her 'role' if there ever was one, is now done. She had no hard obligations to Dath and niether him to her. She smirked at her false brovado... but she knew this was how things must be; besides, they were still connected with the soul link through magic. Kassandra once more gathered mana into her voice, to speak just above the the creatures roaring!

"I pay respects to the new land titan, DATH!" She roared before kneeling in respect.

It was time for her to go on with her journey, to start anew. Today was a bad day for understanding, she wish she didnt.

Tears fell upon the back of her hand for the 4th time.

/scene

The valley was peaceful this morning, a mere calm before the storm. The Ceratopsian herds were gathering by the lake for a drink, unaware of any dangers nearby. Near the forest the sauropods towered over everything, eating the leaves off the trees where nothing else could reach.

Unbeknownst to the herd, danger awaited in the bush. Eyes, unfeeling, unreasoning eyes watched them. These eyes belonged to a theropod predator, poised to strike at any moment.

Michael Lewis approaches the beast, then realizes this is not a place to be without a weapon, and removes his backpack, opens it, and takes out several pieces of tubing, made out of metal. Each has a sort of screw-shaft on the end, and he screws them onto each other, then removes the blade, three feet long, and tops off the long-bladed pike. He notices the other people here, but says nothing. He approaches them, still, and stands in reverence, respecting the being of obvious power.

Michael Lewis turns to the nearest person, a woman, dressed in what seems to be scales. "How did this great beast die?" He asks Kassandra, genuinely interested.

Once the ceremonies died down the peaceful herbivores departed, for they knew what came next. The many carnivorous beasts who had gathered moved in, teeth primed and ready. It was a horrifying display of voracious hunger, everything that could get their jaws in ripped pieces of meat from the massive corpse.

This was not an act of malevolence nor was it a desecration of any grave. These were animals doing what their instincts told them to do, and in this very moment all they wanted to do was feast.

Michael Lewis watches in interest as the beasts devour all they can, in a mass of carnage and blood. It seemed this would be dangerous to get in the middle of.

Michael Lewis tightens his grip on his spear, ready if one of them were to come to him, but also aware the possibility of that is very low, but still knows that these beasts may go mad with bloodlust for the food they wish to consume.

Michael Lewis says to the others here, "What is going on? I feel as though there is a tragedy, but also a triumph. Can someone please explain to me what is happening?"

Kassandra knew that it was time to move on, she watched as nature fulfilled its natural cycle. Creatures of all kinds within the predator category of those here, all looking to their fix, to be satiated. It was a horrific display of the beautiful everlasting truth within nature. Survival of the fittest.

Kassy finally got up, wiped her tears and started to head away. Dath was certainly moving on, and she needed to as well. She knew not whether he would remember her, or care for her. But they were connected with a soul bond. So she would always know whether he was in danger or not. She could feel his presence, like a vibration on the back of her spine. Like clothes on her back bringing comfort, she knew things were ok.

She turned to hear a voice asking about the happenings. He must not have witnessed the passing of the crown. With great effort, she pulled herself together, shuffling to straighten her flowing clothing that was now very dusty from the last couple of weeks on this mysterious land. She tried hard to force a smile, but only manged a weak smirk of sort. She wanted to laugh at the uselessness of attempting to be 'presentable'. What did that mean in a situation like this? She was leaving anyway.

"This...was the passing of one apex of the land, and the crowing of the new one. Like a new king being crowned, all the creatures in the domain came to witness. Now? I have to leave...you should too. It'll get dangerous soon." She said measured.