011 {Audio}

[fallintheriver]

Okay, this is stupid. I'm not good at building houses. All I've managed to do so far is make a mess in the side of the river bank. This wouldn't be so hard if I had been listening to Teacher, sure, but when did I ever listen to him? Never. That's why I'm in this stupid situation

Comments

[tyranteyes]

I might be able to help. What sort of den do you want?

[fallintheriver]

[Solidarity, Manny.]

Just something so I'm not falling asleep in the open river anymore. As long as I can turn around in it, I don't really care.

[tyranteyes]

Completely underwater or with an airhole?

[fallintheriver]

Underwater. It's not like I actually need the air.

[tyranteyes]

That should be easy enough. Where in the river are you?

[fallintheriver]

About halfway between Eider and the temple. By that nice big moss-covered rock.

[tyranteyes]

Alright.

*He'll be there within a few minutes.*

Ezra?

Commentlog hurray. Officially dating this before the Jin thing.

[fallintheriver]

Manuel.

[Ezra is watching from high above in his sentry post- an enormous tree whose branches hang over the river like a canopy. It had been a pain getting up there, but the view was excellent. He's lounging up there like a large cat, the epitome of relaxed.]

So you're gonna help me dig, huh?

works for me

[tyranteyes]

*Manny pauses as he hears his name and looks up to Ezra, smiling.*

I can try, at least, I'm not sure what I'm used to is the same thing you need.

[fallintheriver]

A hole in the bank with a bigger hole at the end.

[Swish, swish. Ezra swings his arm back and forth as some strange form of entertainment. And then suddenly, he stops, getting to his feet on the thick branch.]

Think you can manage that?

[tyranteyes]

*Manny chuckles a bit.*

Yeah, I can. I can't talk as an alligator, though, but I'll still be able to understand you.

*He finds a bush to hang out near and starts taking his shirt off.*

...I don't really want to destroy what little clothing I have here, sorry.

[fallintheriver]

You can't change clothes? Heh.

[Ezra thinks this is completely hilarious. Keeping clothing when you change is simple! ...At least for Ezra's species.]

Well, if you want to do this all by yourself, sure you'll be bale to understand me. But if you want me to help at all, I'm not staying like this. You really think I can dig with these hands?

[tyranteyes]

No, I never learned that trick.

*There's a ritual to allow certain things to change with a shifter, but Manny's never really bothered with it.*

I think its best that you change and help, though, that way we can be sure we get it right.

*He drapes the shirt over a branch and starts removing his pants. He'll go behind the tree before removing his boxers--Manny has no issue with his body, but he's so used to others not wanting random people to strip around them its become habit to hide or cover it up.*

[fallintheriver]

Right.

[But the smirk on Ezra's face makes it clear that he still thinks it's pretty funny.

He sighs, starting to walk farther out on the branch.]

Yeah yeah, I know. As if there was any real chance I could get out of helping.

[The limb gets narrower and narrower, and when Ezra is standing approximately over the middle of the river, he stops, sighs again, and does a perfect swan dive into the water. Ta-da.]

[tyranteyes]

*Manny chuckles a bit.*

That too.

*Once stripped down, Manny concentrates and begins the shift. It takes a few minutes, and he doesn't just go straight from human to alligator. Nope, for at least a minute his war form--an 18 foot long, spinosaurus-like creatures--is visible before he finally settles into his animal form and starts towards the river.*

[fallintheriver]

[Oh yeah, that spinosaurus mid-point didn't go unnoticed. Ezra is bobbing up and down in the middle of the river, gaping in Manny's general direction. And then it's gone, and Ezra feels his skin prickle. That smell is familiar.

And so is the sight.]

That's an alligator? The swamp lizards are alligators?!

[Yeah, Ezra doesn't seem impressed.]