[ THE CALL ]

[verty_events]

The inhabitants of the Temple were all assembled in the Dining Hall. It was a large room with high ceilings, warmed by the fire in the fireplace opposite the main entrance and several smaller braziers scattered between the tables. The three large tables, normally set side by side, had been pushed against the walls to clear a space at the center of

Comments

~Re-entering after having her injury tended to~ (multi threads a-ok!)

[bondedgryphon]

Zhaneel had been tend to in the Healers Hall and released immediately after. To say that the experience has alarmed her slightly would be understating it greatly. She had expected Healers and what she'd received was careful cleaning and a bandage wrapped around her head to cover the wound on her eye ridge.

Though her wound was clean it still hurt, which was not precisely how she had expected things to go. The reason these people had summoned she and all these others was becoming all the more clear. Was magic such a rarity here, or just that which she was used to?

In any case, when she stalks back into the 'dining' hall, her head has been wrapped in a bandage and she seems less than thrilled. The young man that had worked on her had apologized profusely any number of times, telling her that her feathers just made it difficult to adhere anything to. So, rather than going that route, he'd have to wrap the wound; and where the wound was meant that he had to wrap her entire eye to cover her eye ridge. There had been nothing much to do for her bruised back other than advising rest and that she not fly for a few days.

Yep. Displeased.

She pauses at the threshold of the room, half her ability to see removed (though she'd been told the bandage could come off on the morrow if she chose and it would be), and studied the people within. They were a mixed lot, and she had no idea how many worlds Eir's magic had extended to when she had Called them all here; clearly, there had been many. She couldn't help but be impressed at the slight woman's ability to focus and send magic so far as she apparently had.

She pads into the Hall, wings folded along her back as she moves to carefully avoid bumping into anyone. She stands, transfixed, as the small animals appear and play music for those assembled, her good eye wide and unblinking. She'd have considered these creatures prey under normal circumstances, however, conscious sentience took them right off that list. If anything made her make this choice, it was appearing together and then .. you know .. the whole playing instruments thing.

Unfortunately, she is still horse-sized and her depth perception is off due to the bandage covering one eye, so when she shifts to move quietly away from the creatures and the crowd gathered around them, she bumps into someone. "Sssssorrrry," she murmurs by way of apology, turning to look at whom she's brushed into, prepared for the worst yet hoping for the best. She really didn't feel like another altercation so shortly after her first.

[pimp_hat]

Don't worry Zhaneel, Kevas was as transfixed as you when he first saw the capybaras. He was seriously starting to consider that at some point he might have gone insane. Maybe Karg's axe had some kind of poison on it that caused hallucinations or sent the mind into madness. Not exactly the most pleasant theory but right now it was the only one that made the most sense.

The only thing that drew his attention away from the spectacle was someone bumping into him. The fact that it was a gryphon didn't surprise Kevas so much, after all Kevas had seen plenty of them back on Azeroth. Though this one was a little on the small side. What surprised him was the fact that it could talk. Just more evidence Kevas was out of his mind.

"Don't uh...don't worry 'bout it."

[bondedgryphon]

Zhaneel's good eye widens a fraction as it settles on the creature before her. He was unlike anything she had ever seen within the borders of Velgarth, but she had no way of knowing if he was anything other than normal on his own world. As she was perfectly normal a creature for her world, so might also be this hulking green man.

She shakes her head once, shifting a bit so they have more room between them. "All the same, my apologies .. I would not seem rude just for being in a strange place."

He was taller than her by about a head and she took the opportunity of their proximity to study him. No, there was nothing at all like him within the borders of Velgarth; not even in the darkest corners of the Pelagirs. "Are you of this place, or are you one of the Called?" Eir had said that they came from many worlds and that this time many had been mistaken for monsters, rather than allies. More than likely, this was another of those non-humans that had been brought here in the same manner.

[pimp_hat]

By the Loa it looked like someone took it her -at least Kevas thought it was a her- good. Had she been on the receiving end of those gun shots? No, it doesn't look she was actually shot, but she was struck with something. Probably some panicked pink-skin caught her off guard with a chair or something.

"Wid all dat be goin' on mannahs ain't be on da forefront of my mind."

Called? This was the first time Kevas heard of anything like this. In fact he barely spoke to anyone since his arrival. All that concerned him was his escape. At least until those giant rats arrived and took him completely off guard. First he thought he had been kidnapped. Now he hadn't a bloody clue what was going on.

"I wouldn't know ladymon. Dis be da first I heard 'bout da Called."

[bondedgryphon]

Zhaneel shakes her head slightly and fluffs the feathers that aren't flattened by the bandaging, hating the wrapping all the more. It wasn't bad enough it left her blinded on the left side but now she found she couldn't settle her feathers appropriately. Vertiline, you're leaving much to be desired in the way of impressions.

She makes a soft sound of ascent, and nods once, but if you could read the expression on her beaked face it could be called wry. At the very least, her tone echoes the expression her physical features cannot aptly convey. "What with the chairs that the locals seem intent on hitting me with, it seems manners are possibly my best approach."

Yes, Kevas, you had been quite correct in your assumption of a chair or similar item meeting an abrupt halt on the poor gryphon's head.

It's apparent she's said things he doesn't understand and she takes it upon herself to explain what she knows. "Eir, the petite human with pale hair," she begins, shifting to sit on her haunches, tail curling around over her feet in a very cat-like manner. "She told me that we have all been Called her to Vertiline. Her magic summoned us to this place to assist in defending its people from creatures .. monsters .. that have been attacking. They needed help and her magic brought us here, though unfortunately it is not as easy to send us back.."

She trails off, glancing around at those gathered within the Hall. All the servants and gathered locals had fled at the appearance of she and the spider-creature. She sighs softly, looking back at Kevas and focusing with her un-bandaged eye. "I was told that these proceedings typically go better, but this time non-humans were included in the Call and our appearance was akin to that of the invading monsters and so the native people defended themselves."

[pimp_hat]

So he was right. She was one of the ones that were attacked when they arrived. At least someone was good enough to see that she was patched up afterwords.

While Kevas wasn't exactly an expert on reading expressions on a bird's face, he did know sarcasm when he heard it."Well I don't exactly plan on bashin' chairs ovah mons heads." Or at least not over hers.

Kevas listened carefully to everything Zhaneel told him, and didn't like a single word of it. Where she said summoned, Kevas heard kidnapped. The troll had much more important things to do than waste his time here. He needed to get back home where he was needed.

"Dey be givin' us liddle reason fuh us to help dem." Kevas was more than a little bitter about this whole situation. He didn't like anything about this so far.

Though the rodents were kind of entertaining.

[bondedgryphon]

She grins, her beak gaping ever so slightly in response to his assurance that he will not be using chairs on anyone. He isn't speaking while she does, seeming to take in everything she is offering in the way of information.

As for his definition of 'summoned'? While Zhaneel did not akin it to kidnapping, she wasn't at all pleased given the results of her own arrival here.

"Aye," she agrees, ear tuft pinning against her head. "Little has happened thus far that would sway my interest to that of assistance." What with the whole being attacked thing. "They seem not to have taken account for the circumstances they have removed us from in bringing us here." It's said in nearly a growl, her tail tip twitching about. "I would much rather be in Velgarth defending the Keep and its people .. I know not what happened to my mate, Father or friends. There was an explosion and the Gate surged while my mate was inside .. then I was here."

No, she is still quite stressed by that little bit of knowledge. And knowing she can't go back to them? No bueno.

[pimp_hat]

Velgrath? Not a name Kevas was familiar. Maybe it was a smaller region within Azeroth. That was at least what he was trying to convince himself. Kevas has seen a lot, but he couldn't have seen everything right? For the time being he pushed that thought aside to focus on something else.

"I was in da middle of sometin' too, and I be havin' a promise to keep."

It would probably be best if Kevas skimped out on the details. While he always found his actions to be justified, he knew not everyone thought the same way as him.

[bondedgryphon]

No, Kevas, it wasn't likely that you had ever heard of Velgarth, but then if you mention Azeroth you'll be in for the same disheartening revelation from Zhaneel. She has heard it from the mouth of the one responsible and has seen outside this Hall. She knows she is not in her homeland any longer, as overwhelming a realization as it was.

"It does not seem that they have much care for it," she says softly, ear tuft still pinned against her head. "We were at war," she says softly. "The battle could have been the end to one or both sides .." She shakes her head, catching a soft keen before it slips past her beak. Had Skan made it back safely? Had he made it back at all?

[pimp_hat]

The more he spoke to Zhaneel the more that feeling of dread began to swell in his stomach. There was of course a war back on Azeroth, but he knew nothing of such a battle. Then again, Kevas was a bit out of the loop so it wasn't as if it was impossible. Denial thy name is Kevas.

"So we be taken from ouh homes and forced to fight a battle dat we be havin' notin' to do wid. T'ink dis be called slavuhry where I be from." If Zhaneel couldn't tell Kevas wasn't happy.

[bondedgryphon]

Zhaneel was right there with you, Kevas, but she was already in the know of being somewhere far from home. She wasn't happy at all about it, but at least she had come to the acceptance that she was stuck here for the time being. We'll get ya there, Kevas, just hang in there. /pats

At his words, however, she shivers, shaking her beak once although there is a level of sense to what he's saying. She swallows tightly, feathers and fur rising down her spine. "I would rather hope not," she says softly. She'd hear rumors of what Ma'ar did to those he captured during the war and there was nothing at all welcoming about it.

She studies the green man in silence for several beats, exhaling softly. "My name is Zhaneel. I flew the sixth Wing in Urtho's army .. If we are to be made to do things against our will, I think it best that we have allegiances we might call on, yes?"

[pimp_hat]

"If dey t'ink dey can keep me here den dey gonna have a mess on dere hands." Willow was waiting for him, and he made a promise to return to her. Nothing was going to keep him from fulfilling that promise either. After all, Kevas killed a crime lord and all of his cronies just for hurting her. He would do whatever it took to get back to her.

"Dat be soundin' like a plan to me. Joo can call me Kevas." Kevas briefly considered giving her his former rank amongst the Horde but decided against it. Until asked, Kevas will speak as little of himself as possible. If the need arose then he could fabricate a background for himself. For now he'll offer a partial bow to this new ally.

[bondedgryphon]

Zhaneel tilts her head slightly and studies the troll as if searching for something. She seems to find it a beat later and nods her beak once before speaking again. "I've little doubt of your word," Her tone is serious and not at all sarcastic. Truthfully, he looked like a figure far more accustomed to doing as he pleased than anything else, although the gryphon knew nothing more than his name.

However he had a will to live and appeared strong. She had no qualms about taking such a figure as an ally in whatever was to come. Who knew if it would be needed, but she was alone here and she would not lose such an opportunity; Skan would have done .. would DO the same, would he not?

"Kevas," she repeats, and manages to not butcher horrifically. Certain letters could be harder to pronounce without lips, but Zhaneel always tried and made adjustments where necessary. "Though I would that the circumstances be different, it is good to meet you."

[pimp_hat]

You would be right Zhaneel. Kevas had longe since abandoned taking orders from those who hadn't earned his respect. He lived his life for his family and nothing else. Although that might not be the healthiest choice. Then again neither was drinking enough to kill a calf but that didn't stop him either.

Kevas was happy to have found a new ally in this place. The people here have shown how they felt about the more...exotic races. Alone, some of these fools might get brave enough to try and attack them but together they could put the fear in any of these pink-skins. Kevas wasn't afraid to fight them, but if a fight can be avoided you can bet he'll try.

"Joo too ladymon. Let's be hopin' dat fuhddah meetin' ain't be so disorientin'."

Sorry for the delay, honey .. holed up in bed and feeling pretty blurgh atm. ;A;

[bondedgryphon]

Zhaneel already knew that she was no longer within the lands of Velgarth, although she really had no notion of just how far she'd been transported. She knew without a doubt that there was no creature known in her lands that was remotely similar to Kevas or word would have reached all of the settlements. Ma'ar would have taken direct efforts to see such a being within his ranks.

She also knew that after the initial reaction to her appearance that she was likely to have similar again once she left this Hall. Perhaps having another non-human at her wing would prevent either of them from being accosted in the near future.

"Agreed," she returned, her tone dry and unamused. "I would really much rather avoid such again. Once was more than enough."

Her gaze moves around the room and she shift slightly, unsettled at the thought of being approached violently again. "We should learn what we can of this place," she softly. "Not knowing these people or our surroundings will not help us at all."

D: Don't worry about tagging me, get rest <3

[pimp_hat]

"Tell me 'bout it." Kevas was unfortunately quite used to reactions like these. Most pink-skins had no love for his kind and trolls had no love for them either. While Kevas didn't share this hatred, he was used to dealing with that kind of hate.

Kevas caught her gazing around the room. She was nervous, or at least that was what he assumed. Reading a bird's face wasn't exactly something was used to. Regardless Kevas set a reassuring hand on her shoulder. He's got your back Zhaneel don't worry.

He nodded in agreement, "Aye, I t'ink dat be fuh da best. Maybe we can find a way home while we be at it."