The Delivery (Complete)

[Cleef]

Cleef walked over to the group, and did his best to also console the distraught barn owl. He smiled a corny smile at her. "I'm trying my best to dig through this head of mine for something on dreams, but I'm pulling out nothing. I know there is information there, but it's hiding." Cleef thought a moment, "I do remember reading a book at the Glauxian Brother's retreat about dreams. If I can remember right, I think it had said that dreams are of a symbolic nature. Their meaning is not always exactly as it appears. The shriek falling apart, although scary, may not exactly mean a shriek falling apart. It could mean that something else that was scary happened."

Cleef felt Prue's head with his wing, she was warm. "Would some snow help you to cool down?" He asked.

[Gabjas]

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[bg=6a2100] "I believe some snow would feel quite nice at the moment, thank you." After placing a wad of snow collected from outside the shelter onto her forehead, Prue turned to acknowledge the more pressing matters. "Perhaps you are right, Cleef. It is very possible that the meaning of my dream is indirect in some way, can you recall anymore about this matter?"

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[Cleef]

Cleef pondered a moment, "No, I'm not able to think of anymore." Cleef looked outside, the storm seemed to have subsided. "Maybe I'll be able to find the book again at the Retreat," Cleef looked at the group, "If that's where we all plan to go."

[Sompom]

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[bg=040707] Tinker shook his head to clear his thoughts. It was nutty that these owls believed you could tell anything about reality from dreams. On the other hand... He thought, looking down at the weatherbeaten letter, discarded but not forgotten. Why hurry? "Yes, I'll come." It was a trip in the wrong direction, but again, why hurry?

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[Gabjas]

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[bg=6a2100] "Great, Tinker." Prue turned to Feliah expectantly. "What about -" She was interrupted by a faint trail of noise; a combination of raucous songs and whooping laughter. "Shh... Do you hear that?" she whispered. Pressing her body against the frosted ground, she slowly began to advance on the sounds, climbing cautiously out of the sheltering cavern. Browsing the skyline, Prue searched for the source of the ruckus. She narrowed her eyes as a familiar stench of rotting fish and bingle juice blew past her beak. She hid behind a rock, watching as a band of owls passed by, their feathers colored with various eccentric colors. She ducked back into the shelter, turning to her friends. "I knew it," she said breathlessly. "Kraals." They waited in silence, Prue listening intently as the laughing neared. A few moments passed, and Prue glanced around nervously as the blaring din halted abruptly, just as it reached it's climax, at a deafening intonation of whoops and drunken chatter. Prue could overhear some of the Kraal's conversation. "Hakon, what'sh der hold up?" a voice slurred. It was alarmingly close, as if hey perched directly above her head. "Shut yer beak, Bjorn. I can smell something over here." another voice grunted. "Oi, yer full of racdrops. Ye are, Hakon." a gruff-sounding owl churred. "Eh, boys? Hakon and his 'marvelous' beak! Ha-ha! Great fer smell, I tell ye. If only he could just shut up, instead!" This was met by a roar of laughter. "Very funny, Argus." 'Hakon' replied with dry sarcasm. "If yer so sure about dat smell 'o mine bein' nothin', then why don' we take a look around?" There was a sudden shuffle of talons above the cavern as one of he Kraals began to search around. Prue clenched her beak shut and squeezed her eyes closed. Hoping to Glaux they wouldn't locate the entrance to the hideout. She cautiously opened an eye, peering out at the mouth of the small cave. The head of a Snowy owl appeared from the entrance. Glancing around at the four of them, Prue, Cleef, Feliah and Tinker with satisfaction. He receded from sight, turning to his companions with a smug "Found em".

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Sorry to interrupt the conversation, guys, thought I should toss in some action. It was getting kind of dull. Wanted to liven things up a bit.

[Felidae]

Feliah froze, hearing noises outside. She shrank down at the back of the cave, staring at the entrance, watching for any Owls to appear. She listened intently to the conversation the other Owls were having. Suddenly, she heard scrabbling claws above them and she guessed the Owls were searching for them. Feliah held her breath as the noise came closer and closer. The noise stopped for a moment, and Feliah let the breath out... Only to take another one in as the face of a Snowy Owl appeared.

[Cleef]

"Ummm.....this can't be good," Cleef said simply as the snowy owl pointed out their hiding place to his companions. What was the worst Kraals did to their prisoners? Kill them? Use them as bargaining chips? Just give them a tap on the back followed by laughter and a "You shoulda saw the look on your face?"

Cleef couldn't remember, and he feared he would soon find out as a group of kraals entered the cave to retrieve their prize. Them.

Cleef moved to the front of his three allies and stood in a defensive position between his friends and the kraals. "I don't think you should step any closer," Cleef said, "We have nothing for you." Cleef didn't want to fight, but if worse came to worst he would protect the other three owls.

One last kraal flew in, this one carrying a very deadly looking ice schimater. Cleef wilfed, but quickly regained his composer. Taking the breath of qui, he waited for something to happen.

One of the drunken owls approached him with a, "Ye can't do anytin. Ye just a puny dirt owl." The owl got close, too close. Cleef shot out like a arrow, nailing the owl right in the gut, making him reel. Cleef returned to his original spot, "Please," he said, "Don't come any closer." The kraals wouldn't have it, the one with the schimater shouted, "Get 'em!" and chaos broke out. The kraals attacked Cleef, he was able to knock two of them out, but the cave didn't give him enough maneuvering room. He was quickly over run by the others and hit in the head, knocking him unconscious.

[Gabjas]

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[bg=6a2100] Cleef moved into a defensive stance, guarding the others from harm. He managed to bring down three Kraals with admirable tactic. This had provided Prue enough time to slink away to the corner where she kept her belongings, which were held together in a small botkin. She drew the lace holding the rim, and the botkin gave way. She quickly fitted her most prized battle claws, a pair of deadly fire claws, to her talons, eager to finally put them to righteous use. Prue glanced over hurriedly as one Kraal managed to overpower Cleef with a quick blow to the head, leaving him lying on the stone ground. From the chaos of battle, an owl plunged towards Prue, landing with immense force. She lay sprawled out on her back as the Snowy Owl, 'Hakon', as they called him, stood over her. He easily held Prue down with merely his left talon, pressing her down to the frosted ground. He clutched a sharp ice-dagger in the other talon, which he held threateningly against her throat. "Prepare yer last werds, girly." he grunted, letting a hoarse churr coarse of him. "No," Prue said defiantly. "Prepare yours." She thrust herself upwards with all her might, sending the Snowy toppling onto the cold ground with a cry of pain. She now stood atop him, wasting no time to dispose of him. She drew her fire claws across his throat, leaving a smoldering wound. Two owls began to advance on her, smiling maliciously as they drew near. One, a Short-Eared holding a scimtar, attacked her from her port side. She swung herself over to face the Short-Eared. The other owl, a Pygmy, pounced onto her back, holding a splint in an awkward fashion, as if it could cause him to topple over any moment. She shook him off with ease. Curling her armed talons into a fist, Prue brought the blunt end of her claws down on his head, leaving him dazed on the stone. She returned her attention to the Short-Eared, he dodged Prue as she tore at him with her fizgig. In a frantic defensive reflex, he brought the blunt end of the scimtar at her, knocking Prue off balance. Her head hit against the walls of ice, she lay motionless on the floor as the sight of the triumphant Short-Eared faded into blackness. "Pleasant dreams," the Short-Eared smirked as she fainted, leaving his voice echoing in her mind. Pleasant dreams, Prue.

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[Sompom]

How many are we being attacked by? So far, I count seven discreet voices.
Gabjas, yay action!

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[bg=040707] Tinker's eyebrow raised as Cleef hopped in front of their group. The little owl was less than half his size. What was he planning to do, be a distraction? Prue hurried to her belongings, near where she had been sleeping. From their generally immaculate condition, Tinker guessed that they hadn't seen much use. Hopefully she knew how to use them, or this was going to be a very short fight. Suddenly, Cleef jumped at one of the pirates and was quickly overwhelmed. Cleef! Tinker thought, as he saw his companion get taken down. They can't leave with him! I need to make sure they don't kidnap him. Tinker dropped his letter and unlocked his battleclaws, which he had neglected to take off, thinking the storm was nearing its end, and found himself face-to-face with the two owls who had survived attacking Cleef. //OOC - Edits from the original post follow, so that the story doesn't have a jarring gap.// Tinker feigned fear, cowering over and wimpering. One of the kraals rushed forward, ready to take advantage of the situation. Tinker snapped up and rammed his claws into the other owl's chest, taking his attacker completely by surprise. He shook the quivering and wimpering form off his talons then, straightening to face his second attacker, he discovered he had been surrounded. "Racdrops!" He thought violently "What happened to Prue?" Looking past his new foes, he saw the snowy owl laid out on the floor beyond. There was little enough blood, Tinker hoped she was still in one piece. "Lower ye claws" One of the larger, more elaborately painted Kraals demanded. "What do you want with us?" Tinker responded. He hoped his voice didn't betray his heart-rending, gizzard-stilling fear. "We want yer to come with us," The owl grated back "and bring that scroll of yern with ye." Tinker looked at the scroll, understanding dawning. "Fine. But I'm keeping my claws and armour." The Kraal stared back, unimpressed, then raised one eyebrow. "Ye kin keep the armour. I'd rather not carry it anyway. But the claws I'm taking." He nodded to one of his lackies, who jumped forward and disarmed Tinker. He made no movement to resist. He was badly outnumbered and he would be easily - and roughly - overpowered. With that, he ordered the rest of his troops to pick up the captives and surround Tinker.

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[Gabjas]

(OOC: @tinker. I know right? I was actually planning on exactly seven Kraals the entire time, so everything is going according to plan. If you guys want, you can toss in one or two extra Kraals, it doesn't really matter.)

[Cleef]

Slowly, consciousness returned to Cleef. He soon began to wish it hadn't. His head pounded, and why was he bobbing up and down? Cleef slowly and painfully opened an eye, blinking as his eyes sensitively adjusted to the intense light. He was in the air, but how? He wasn't moving his wings. The burrowing owl looked up, a large painted snowy owl was carrying him by his talons. "I suppose you wouldn't happen to have any bingle juice for a pain killer?" the burrowing owl asked jokily. He didn't drink, but bingle juice was a possible pain killer. What else would a kraal have for pain?

The snowy owl churred, he actually churred. "I might like you, burrowing owl." "You're a girl!?" Cleef exclaimed. "Yes," the snowy owl replied, "so is the great horned owl in front of us. Kraals aren't all men." Cleef was confused, "You're talking to me as if I'm not a prisoner, why?" "Because," the snowy owl replied, "You started the conversation and I see no need for aggression. You're friends are being carried along side and in front of us. We're nearly there."

Cleef closed his eyes, he might as well rest and enjoy his little ride. Who knew what the kraals would do to them.

[Gabjas]

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[bg=6a2100] Prue was roused from sleep as her body suddenly jerked upwards. She quickly realised that she was suspended from her talons, leaving her body and wings sprawled out in the air in an awkward fashion. Air. Prue thought. Glaux, we must've been captured! Her head ached, and she began to feel nauseated as blood rushed to her pate. She glanced up, as to acknowledge her captor; a robust female Great Horned flew above her, clutching Prue's talons in her own. The Great Horned greeted her with a flustered apology. "Me name's Noga. I apologise if yer uncomfortable. I would've carried ye in me own talons, so ya wouldn't be upside down. I can't carry ye any other way then this here talon-to-talon. Mighty sorry, then." Prue churred, perplexed by the Great Horned's reparation; Kraals are a prideful bunch, they seldom admit remorse. "It's okay, don't worry about it." Prue smiled, then added. "Do you know where my friends are?" The Kraal nodded and quickly glanced over her shoulder. "Yer little owl friend is jus' behind us." Prue swiveled her head so she could view Cleef, who was being carried by a female snowy owl. She tried to wave, though it was rather hard from her angle and turned into an odd sort of flex of the wing. She noted a few remaining Kraals dotted behind Cleef and the Snowy, including the two that had attacked her. The Pygmy she had knocked out earlier was awake, but still too groggy to fly, as he was riding in the talons of his companion; the Short-Eared owl that had attacked and caused her to bash her head on a chuck of ice. She turned her head back to Noga, the Great Horned. "Where are you taking us, anyway?" Prue inquired. Noga stared straight forward, answering with a cryptic: "There."

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[Sompom]

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[bg=040707] Tinker flew, no longer playing attention to the area he was flying over. At least his friends were still alive, otherwise the pirates would have just left their bodies in the snow. On the other hand, that they would go out of their way to bring prisoners was in itself worrying. Had they been hired to capture them? The owl who first pointed them out seemed to suggest that the pirates had been looking for them. Tinker and his "personal guard" were flying at the rear of the formation. He saw first Cleef, the Prue stir and wake from their dazed sleeps. That answers that, then. Tinker thought. They really aren't dead. Maybe now they can fly on their own. Their camp being overrun so easily had made Tinker grumpy. That and his armour chafed and he was angry and chastised at being forced to wear it, like overgrown shackles. It really wasn't going to be a good day.

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[Gabjas]

(Great, Sompom. ;D I only just realised that you had already added in that little bit before the capture. Again, sorry that we skipped ahead without you. I'm just going to post a little bit, then it's your turn, Cleef.)

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[bg=6a2100] "Brace yerself." Noga warned. Prue tried to ready herself for whatever possibly dangerous flight maneuver Noga was about to perform. Noga dipped her wing towards the ground, raising her port so that is was vertical from the other. Prue flailed, desperately trying to avoid colliding with the sharp ledges of ice that jutted out from the sides of mountains. Noga eventually eased out of the complicated position and steadied herself, turning to Prue with a meek. "Are yer alright' then?" Prue sighed in exasperation. "Perhaps I should attempt to fly on my own now, I believe my head has healed enough to manage a small flight like such. I gather that our destination is rather close now, isn't it?" Noga nodded, and gently released Prue's talon's from her grip. She steadied herself, and tried to remain aloft as she adjusted to being right-side-up once more. Prue's beak feel agape, her eyes widened as she beholded the vast structure before her. A jagged circle of mountains concealed a vast sea of ice and snow, on which stood a makeshift village. Kraals bustled through the village, stopping at various booths and stores to gander at the marvels the Kraal shop owners had for sale or display. "Ain't she a beaut?" Noga smiled, acknowledging Prue's evident surprise. "This here be the hidden kingdom of the Kraals."

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[Cleef]

Cleef tensed as the owl carrying him mimicked the owl, Noga's, flight maneuver. When they leveled out, Cleef was just about to tell the Kraal that he was capable to fly on his own, but stopped with his beak opened when he saw the sight in front of him. It was a village. Cleef heard Noga in front of him say that it was the hidden Kraal Kingdom. Cleef felt himself drop as he was released. He quickly flipped himself over and hovered, marveling a bit longer at the kingdom.

The group of owls were led into the village and towards......somewhere......