Braelyn slowed her pace as she reached the crest of the hill. Raising her nose, she took a few more small sniffs. She turned to Robyn, who was glancing suspiciously around the forest. "Robyn, I think I found it. The fishy-smelling thing." Robyn drew her eyes to the horizon, and gasped. "Is all of that water, Brae? It looks like it's stretching on forever, to the ends of the land." She said, her eyes wide. The ocean stood gleaming in the morning sun, as all thoughts of ambush were destroyed. As they peered down at the coast, they could see an unfamiliar sight. Braelyn nodded toward the shore excitedly. "Is that Sayund? That stuff the old traveler was talking about?" Robyn nodded. "I think so. And if it is, then we must be on the southern coast of this continent." She said, squinting against the sun.
They looked at each other for a moment, then one thought raced through their minds at the same time. Swimming!! They raced down the rise, their feet almost never reaching the ground as the jumped in leaps and bounds, avoiding the last few trees on the edge of the sea.
Isabel leaned against a tree near the ocean, the wind whipping through her hair. She clung tightly to her hat, afraid to lose it. "Oh Sariel will you stop that please?" She said glaring at the Ulaith who was flicking the tip of her tail. Her paddle tail heavily fanning her bonded. A soft clinking could be heard as the rings bumped into each other.
Avid enjoyed the feel of the warm sun on his skin. He turned to his bonded, a big smile on his face. He could tell that Quinlan was beginning to enjoy the discovery of the beach and ocean. Quin folded his wings loosely at his sides, still allowing for some air flow. "I like this place. It has a nice feel to it. Let's get closer to the water, Avid." Avid laughed lightly and was about to respond when a younger female Ulaith and, presumably, her bonded came tearing out of the trees towards the water. He blinked and chuckled. "Well, Quin, I guess you were right. Come on. The ocean awaits," he stated with a bit of a grin. The pair strolled out onto the warm, soft sand.
Sariel stopped flicking her tail as she watched another Ulaith and her bonded running at the water. Taking a few steps away from Isabel she spotted another. A blue male Ulaith and his bonded. "Isabel." She said pawing the ground. "More Ulaith!" With a grin she whipped around, snatched the hat atop her bonded's head and took off towards the beach and the water. "Sariel!!" Isabel screamed as she jumped to her feet and took off after her mischievous Ulaith.
Quinlan paused in his descent to the surfside upon hearing a shout from behind them. Avid continued, kicking a small, smooth rock as he went. Oh, another female and her bonded, mused Quin, feeling a grin beginning to pull at the corners of his mouth. He shook his head, succumbing to his grin and growing mirth. He trotted ahead of Avid toward the ocean.
Ignoring her bondeds protest Sariel continued on, nearing the water. Isabel chased after her, holding a corner of her dress. 'Great, running after her with others around. Damn this dress.' Her eyes widened as she saw Sariel bound into the water. "NO!" She screamed as she ran faster towards the water. Sariel pranced around the water, holding the hat in her teeth.
As Braelyn and Robyn sprinted in the surf, they were surprised to see Two pairs of Ulaith and their bonded, one of which was barreling towards them. Braelyn and Robyn made a yelp as they tried to stop in mid-air, and Braelyn ended up falling on her side. Robyn whipped out her bow, nocked an arrow in a heartbeat, and stepped in front of her Ulaith. "Stop right there!" She yelled in what she hoped was a commanding voice. What a time to be caught unawares! She scolded herself.
Quinlan stopped by the water and waded in up to his knees, not sure about getting his wings wet. He swung his tail and splashed the ocean water up at Avid, laughing a little. Avid shielded his face and laughed too. "You goofy beastie." He turned his attention to the girl with the drawn bow. "Hey, it's okay. They're just enjoying the beach." Avid currently wasn't carrying any weaponry. Quinlan turned to look at the two other pairs of Ulaith and bonded. The wind stirred his white mane. "We're just goofing off," Quinlan chimed in helpfully.
Sariel started at the girl with the bow, jaw going slack and dropping her bondeds hat into the water. Her paddle tail hit the water and splashed Isabel as she grabbed for her hat. "Oh Sariel..." She said with a low moan and she rammed the now soaking wet hat onto her head. "Hey, easy now." She said turning towards the girl with the bow. "Just out enjoying the sun." She said with a grin. She saw the winged Ulaith out of the corner of her eye. She turned towards him to gaze at his wings for a moment before looking back at Sariel. "Wow yours are small." She muttered.
*Is walking down a long beach bare footed and it loose shorts that could pass for swimming trunks if it wasn't for having several pockets.* "Wow it's kind of nice out today Abella..." *He keeps walking holding a glass jar with a small embryo of his Ulaith.* "only if you could be out with me walking" *looks further down seeing other ulaiths and people he keeps walking hoping to possibly no be talked to seeing the nice ulaiths playing and talking I start to come up on them watching carefully not wanting to be possibly attacked or stopped I walk a little swifter.*
Robyn looked over the newcomers carefully. Their stories could be true... just enjoying the beach. It was a wonderful day to be in the sun. She lowered her bow slowly. Then her determined face turned sheepish under their eager smiles. "Sorry," she tried to mutter. "It's just I wasn't sure who you were, and... other Ulaiths... and..." she trailed off helplessly. Braelyn, who was already on her feet, gave Robyn a small nudge towards the newcomers. Then she announced in a clear voice, "We apologize. We did not understand, and thought there was a threat. We would love to enjoy the sun with you in peace." Robyn followed her Ulaith towards both parties, her feet kicking up interesting clouds in the water, and her face red, but not just from the sunburn.
Isabel smiled back at the other girl, the point of her hat flopping over. "Well my name is Isabel." She said, nodding her head slightly, point of her hat swooshing slightly as drops of water fell form it. "And my Ulaith Sariel. Don't mind her...she gets into a lot of things and just loves pushing peoples buttons." She said rolling her eyes. Sariel responded by sweeping her paddled tail through the water, splashing them.
Avid and Quinlan drew nearer to theother pairs of Ulaith and bonded. "I'm Avid and this is Quinlan, my Ulaith." He smiled and nodded. Quin bobbed his head in greeting. "Hello," the deep blue male stated calmly, his orange eyes taking in his fellow beachgoers. "This is my first time to a beach, so I apologize if I behaved in a startling manner." Avid patted his companion's shoulder, beneathe his wing, fighting a grin. You big softy, he thought to himself of Quin.
Robyn dipped her head in greeting, and addressed them all. "My name is Robyn Lightfoot, and this is my Ulaith companion, Braelyn." Braelyn reached forward on one foot and looked straight into Quinlan's eyes. "I know you meant no harm." She murmured. But as Robyn looked at Braelyn quizzically, she drew back, and splashed Sariel back with a clawed paw. "I bet you can't catch me!" she called, and she loped off into the shallows, kicking up sand. Robyn stood in her soaked boots, watching her with questions, so many questions in her eyes. When did Braelyn get so mature?
Sariel looked over at the blue males wings, then took a quick glance back at hers. She flapped them meekly, barely disturbing the air around them. She butted Isabel lightly with her head, splashing her again with her tail. "Oh Sariel I was joking around." She said patting her side near her wings. Sariel turned around, flicking her tail quickly, piercing clinking slightly. She took off after the other Ulaith with a large grin across her maw. "I'll get you!" She called, her great paws kicking up sand behind her as she ran.
Quinlan looked back to Avid curiously. Avid swept his arm in the direction the two females had run off in. "By all means, go and see." Quin smiled and chased after the two female Ulaith. "Go easy on 'em!" He laughed, shaking his head as his companion ran through the water, kicking up a fine spray with every step. "I had a feeling he'd take to this place."
*jumps back a little seeing the ulaith move out after others I turn around and walk back some furthering myself away hoping not to be ambused and possibly loosing my Ulaith Abella.*
Robyn looked up at Avid. "Anyone can. Just look at it all. White sand, blue sky, even bluer water, energetic Ulaiths..." she smiled, as she saw Quinlan attempt to pounce on Braelyn, but she dodged it by rolling through his feet. "The beach is always a nice change of pace-" but she was interrupted by her growling belly. "Oh, that's right... I haven't eaten in hours..." she said, slightly embarrased.
Sariel continued to chase the other female, paw pounding the sand still sending it flying behind her. She had not noticed that the male was now following them, only focusing on chasing the other, until he tried to pounce the other. With a wide grin Sariel took a running leap, attempting to pounce the male.
Isabel shook her head slightly as she watched the three bounding off. "Neither have I." Isabel said as she gazed off across the ocean. "Perfect time for use to relax since the Ulaith are all entertained." She headed out of the water, finally pulling her hat of and wringing the water out with her hands.
Avid chuckled at Quinlan's playful antics and nodded. "Yeah. This place could make just about anyone feel better." He grinned a little at Robyn's stomach growling. "I don't have much on me, but I've got some fresh blueberries and blackberries and a bit of dried meat. You're both welcome to have some."
Quinlan wasn't expecting Sariel to pounce at him he made and attempt to dodge by dipping low, pulling his wings tightly to his sides, and yet still grinning like all get out.
Robyn nodded, and started to make her way towards shore. "Thanks for you offer! I bet I can use the dried meat and the mushrooms in my bag to make some sort of stew..." She made her way to her discarded knapsack and rummaged through it until she found a piece of flint, a frying pan, and a wooden spoon. "Now the only question is this: where can we find some fresh water?" she asked, almost to herself.
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