Wish I Were Singing In The Rain, Open, wandering about the border.

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Paper shot into existence like a lightning bolt onto the land. The border of the desert that he had passed so long ago on his way to the Isle was surprisingly only changed in small ways. This dune had shifted a bit, that one had lost some height... But he was a Spiorad, he was naturally inclined to have a good memory, correct? That was good. It would make his job that much easier. He needed to find one of the Tineans if he was going to get started... Unfortunately, he found himself afraid of moving much past the border. He was just inside. It had taken him a quarter of a day to get out here to the border. So he could only spend about another quarter if he wanted to get back home and still sleep. So, all he had to do was wait. Getting displaced would be a fatal mistake. He couldn't survive without blinking. It was his nature. He'd be lost without it. So he thought. And he let the thought drift and leak out of his head like the trickle of a stream. And it surrounded and enveloped the area. Behind him, the spirit he now referred to as Vulture for its creeping, watching nature made a light ticking noise and blew some sand in the air with its long appendages. >>>Anyone home?? I'd like to ask permission to enter your lands as a guest, to learn from you. I come in complete peace.<<< He glanced backwards at the tall, crookeed shadow of a spirit behind him. Its empty eyes gazed back, and it whispered something on the wind. Yes, he thought. It's true. I am completely alone. But I surely can't impose and just waltz in. Vulture wanted to move. Paper denied his desires, and sat down, letting out a yawn in the hot sun.

Jona was not too far behind the borders as he was making sure they remained strong. Jona rubbed his body on rocks, trees and avoiding the prickly cacti as a voice entered his mind. Jona paused to listen to it and growled some. So a wolf wanted to gain permission to enter his lands. An interrogation would ensue before prior entry.

So upon heading to the voice of the spiorad, since that was how the voice entered his mind in the first place, and saw the white wolf sitting there and a spirtitual sort of entity floating beside him. Jona dipped his head to take in his scent so he would remember it later and studied his markings.

"I heard your call. Unfortunately unless Firehawk expects you, I cannot let you pass. However, I might be able to answer any questions you have unless you wish to speak to our Luminary himself."

Jona knew there was only so much he could tell the male without letting out weaknesses and such. Jona watched the male carefully as flames trickled along his body and flickered in and out of existence while he waited for a reply.

This post has been edited by Jona: 30 Oct 2009

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Paper glanced in the direction of the newcomer who had answered his beckoning thoughts. Behind him, Vulture slammed his lengthy appendages and nonexistent body into the sand aroudn him, whipping up small, weightless amounts of the stuff in what appeared to bedust devils. What was this spirit's problem? Why was it always shifting so constantly between anger and curiosity, joy and pain? What had this thing been when it had lived? What kind of environment had it grown and festered in? He would investigate that later, right now... >>>You need... go... -ks...<<< Fragments of thought clicked into Paper's mind. Vulture was clearly distraught about something. He had this unnatural affinity for spontaniety, for flashing into Paper's awareness and into random situations. But they couldn't communicate effectively. Something was wrong with the aura surrounding Vulture. But right now he would have to ignore his incomprehensible companion and concentrate on the task at hand. Paper's mind shot a thought out that drifted into Jona's skull, raspily conveying his almost irritated, yet neutral state of mind. >>>I am simply doing my job, dearest Tinean. I have no intention of imposing upon you or your people. I ask only for whatever information you can and are comfortable with providing me. I am simply doing my duty as a keeper of history. <<< He blinked out of existence, or his head did, for a moment. And when it reappeared the second it had disappeared, it was tilted in an inquiring position. >>>A friend of mine once spoke fondly of your lands, I am simply coming to see for myself what Markos was talking about. It is quite beautiful, now that I see it for myself. I do not ask for anything you do not wish to provide. At your request even, I will turn and head home right now.<<< Vulture clicked behind him, almost sadly now. What in the world... Could possibly be wrong with this blasted spirit?

This post has been edited by Paper: 01 Nov 2009

Jona listened intently as the Spiorad male blinked out of existence for only a moment and then popped back into place with an inquiring look upon his brow. Some one had told him about the lands? Interesting. "Yes indeed our lands still remain to be beautiful. If you so wish, you may ask your questions. I do not see why you need to leave." Jona kept his thoughts silent for the moment knowing that the male could indeed read thoughts perhaps. Jona knew better now than to let anything secret about their lands to others not of the element of flame. No matter.

Upon hearing a clicking from his spiritual partner, Jona looked to the right and eyed it carefully. What was wrong with it? It seemed to have a different outlook and emotion that showed it was unsure of its emotions. "What is wrong with your companion?" Jona asked as he tilted his head to the side some wondering why it was acting the way it was. He knew the weather had begun to change partially, but was unsure if even that would affect the spirit like it affected other animals and such.

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Paper listened intently. IF he were not mute, he would have given an almost amused huff. "What is wrong with your companion?" The question of the day! He honestly had no clue. So he told the truth. >>>Friend, if I could tell you I would. But even as a shaman I find myself nearly incapable of understanding anything about him. All I get are emotional fluctuations. He is quite childlike in nature when you've been in his presence for long enough, but other than that there is little I can say. I don't even know what kind of wolf or... Other thing he might have been while alive. Because of his stalking habit I have taken to calling him Vulture, just between you and I.<<< He blinked his empty eyes slowly, but not deliberately. The nature of his blank stare was just that, to exist without purpose. He couldn't fill his eyes with life if he tried. No matter what power he posessed. And thus his stare persisted. He decided to ask any and all questions he could think of. Yes, that would work. After all, it could not hurt to try and gain every piece of information that he could glean from this Tinean here. How polite, yes, he was going to very much enjoy his exursions out to the desert. Now, what to ask? He let his thought flow straight into Jona without any hesitation or consideration. >>>Well, let's start with you, my friend. What is your name? Family members, anything you're comfortable with shari-<<< A massive flash shook the horizon to the north, and instantly Paper's gaze was there and the thought he had not finished sending to Jona had shattered. For a vague second, he nearly uttered a whimper. Nearly, but he was still indeed mute. Instead it came out as a thought, as was the nature of his kind to communicate. >>>Heavens above and Meabhair of the mists... What in the world... What in the world was that?!?!<<< When the low rumble reached his ears, and a sliver of dark cloud appeared on the edge of the blank desert horizon, the spirit who behind him had remained silent for these last few moments let out a soft, nearly silent whistling noise. If the spirit itself had not been constrained by its state of being, it would have been a deafening metallic screech. Paper's gaze without movement shot to Vulture, his movements accompanied by blinking that masked them as always, as though he never moved at all but was an optical illusion that could change position without one even noticing, so quick was the change. Here his gaze stayed on the lanky, stretched ebony spirit, and he kept it htere as the rumbling in the distance grew silent and his dark companion watched with its empty, dead eyes in silence and dispair. ~OOC~ Finished, couldn't resist referencing the new plot, hehe. Loving this character, my best yet.

This post has been edited by Paper: 02 Nov 2009

Jona perked a brow when he began to speak upon family and others such and never got to finish his sentence when he looked a little frightened of something. Turning, Jona saw a flash and heard the rumble and let out a chuckle. "That is just possibly the Anords testing their powers, however... that was too big for that.... I will perhaps need to speak of it to Firehawk to be safe. Anyhow, you asked of family and my name. My name is Jona and I did have a family. Once." Jona spoke as he looked to the ground as if to gain strength.

"I had a sister and parents of course and a brother. My sister was killed by a predator that attacked our den and me and my brother were too small to defend it, but we attempted to. Soon my sister died from her wounds and we were just on the border of it. Our parents came back to find the mangled mess and attempted to heal us. My brother blames me for her death. She was all I had."

By this time, Jona was partially fighting back tears, but he never had a problem sharing that portion of his story. Though he thought it odd that he would be speaking to some one other than a pack member, but he was sure it was because he didn't trust them.

"Eventually, my brother proclaimed revenge against me and left our small pack, and my parents let him go. It has been years since I have seen him, but now I don't think a day of it - though I do have to watch my back from time to time... Just to be on the safe side."

Letting a huff of breath out Jona finished his story and looked to the Spiorad male. Karrash, that was a lot he had to get out! Now feeling better of this, Jona was not as irritated as before, but he still remained solemn and prepared to answer any more questions of the male.

This post has been edited by Jona: 03 Nov 2009

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That lightning bolt would require careful investigation after the business here was taken care of and a return to the homeland was made to recover his elemental purity. If Paper could have sighed, he would. Again, muteness was his enemy. How quaint also that he was cursed with the inability to correctly make expressions. He could not show his sympathy. But he could speak it, and so he did. Such a lonely and unfortunate life so many wolves lead, and so tragic were the circumstances that bound most. >>>I can understand circumstances so... Depressing. My own parents went insane shortly after I was weaned in the Shrouded Lands. Other pack members raised me from then, and I never really knew my mother or father. It's also been difficult for me to live up to them, they were much more proficient in our abilities than I.<<< He looked at Jona, his empty eyes showing their ususal blank on emotion, compassion, or thought. But indeed he did think, and he did wish to show emotion. Oh well, such was his nature. And now, he must consider his options. Continue and finish his inquiries, that was a must. He didn't have long before he would have to start back to the Isle, but it would be worth investing his remaining hour or so in recovering the rest of the information that Jona had to offer. Of course, the name Jona was unknown to Paper. He simply knew him as a Tinean. Nationality was such a poor personification of the individual. So, on to that next vital piece of information. >>>I never properly introduced myself, friend. I am Paper. Is it acceptable to ask what I may call you??<<< ~OOC~ Didn't know where to go with this one, meh. Hope it satisfies at least enough for you to get something out of though.

Jona nodded as he listened to the male speak about his past and what his parents were like. He had to cope with him some. Jona nodded listening to his every word until he spoke for his name. "Jona. Omega Sentinel for the Tineans." Was his reply as he did a semi-bow of respect to the male. The white Spiorad with the blackened markings upon his face and such Jona was curious about. Still he kept his mouth silent as he waited a reply from the male.

The thunder continued in the background as Jona periodically turned an ear to it. He wondered what could be happening on the lands of the Anords. He some how had a feeling of uncomfortable properties as he thought of it, but before he could continue the wind began to pick up and sands began to blow about them. Jona looked about and as quickly as it had started, it had stopped. "Weird."

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Paper bowed his head for a moment to acknowledge Jona's reply. The wind rustling and the dust devils flying about just then gave Paper an odd, inexplicable shiver that caused him to blink several times. This was utterly strange. Utterly, completely, fantastically strange. Something was desperately wrong. Vulture shot forward and chased after one of the wind gusts, crossing over some dunes and disappearing from view. How spontanious, how odd, and how very, very like that spirit. Quite "wierd" indeed. As a matter of fact, the weather going off on its odd tangents just now was quite perturbing. The nature of the elements was always shifting, of this Paper was sure, ut this was drastic. And the low rumble of thunder that constantly grew more regular was disturbingly off. Why in the world did he get this bad feeling from this sudden shift? >>>I wonder if this sudden change is going to affect us all negatively... It's quite suspicious. Perhaps when I finish here I should search for information on this... Oddity.<<< His gaze had during this speech been blinked toward the north, but now that he had finished his head shot back looking at Jona, instantly. It was a conundrum, this, and he was quite sure that he would find himself embroiled in something quite soon. Gesturing to the north, he asked another thing of Jona. >>>Jona,what do you think is going on out there? ...Wait, first, do you have any questions for me?<<< ~OOC~

"I am unsure of the suspicious weather conditions myself. Indeed it seems to be happening in an odd order. Usually this time of year we do not have wind such as this. However I shall take it up with my shamans and meditators to see if they know of events that could cause such weather."

Jona perked a brow as the male asked him if Jona had any questions for him. Jona looked to the ground in thought and then thought of his symbol on his forehead. "What does the symbol on your forehead mean? And why do you have a spirit companion?" Jona asked as he had watched it fly over the dunes chasing after a dust devil. Jona had to chuckle at the shifting emotions of the thing for he was unsure of why it was acting as such.

Jona turned his attention back to the male and listened for any reply. The curved sections protruding from the straight line in the middle of his fore head with interesting lines which were curved at the top made him interested as to what it meant. The deep black coloration around his eyes also were attached to the curved lines from the corners of his eyes closest to his forehead. Jona remained silent so the male could think his reply.

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Paper, had he been born with the ability to express himself physically, would have cocked one brow or furrowed the both of them at Jona's inquiry. It was a very insightful and very deep question. True, Paper was not at a loss for providing an answer. If he didn't find himself so utterly paralyzed in the face, he might have perked his jowls up at the sides. But he could not find it in himself to even think of doing so. So he simply answered. >>>Once I asked my mentor Markos about them, when I was three. And he told me about what they meant and how they coincided with aspects of my self. The center marking represents the fountain that Meabhair has provided for us in the Spirit Realm. As a shaman, I quest for knowledge. Thus the fountain of wisdom is a natural goal of mine. The marks above my eyes represent the paths that are mine to take during this life.<<< >>>Finally, the marks beneath my eyes represent sorrow. Of course, Markos afterwards told me that the Higher Powers must have a sense of humor. And I do believe he was right. After all, I am a bit lacking in any emotional expression. But that is just how my form and mind were crafted. I'm glad you asked. I had almost forgotten that, to be truthful.<<< Again, no expression formed on Paper's face. But such was typical. And now he must wait, for he wasn't sure where to go from here, and he would so like to simply come to know this wolf from a foreign land who seemed content enough to chat with a simple stranger on the borders with no problem. This was a good time, or so it felt. And that was a perk of the job. >>>On the subject of my companion, he will not leave me alone nor I he. It's a kind of... Mutual curiosity. He wants to know something about everything, and I want to know everything about him. Unfortunately, there is an odd communication barrier that I have no way to comprehend.

This post has been edited by Paper: 10 Nov 2009

Jona nodded interested in the markings upon his brow. Indeed he had solemn story to go along with his, but the only thing Jona had that would mean anything was the strange symbol on his shoulder. He had yet to find out what it meant, but he remembered his mother telling him it meant 'fire' or 'passion' whichever it meant. How the hell did he have passion? That was one thing he wished to know.

No matter. He studied the spirit thing again and looked about it. How confusing it must have been for the thing. Not only that, its shift of emotions was possibly even confusing for the Spiorad male perhaps. It was interesting how he could have such things by him, but then Jona remembered that he had his own that floated around from time to time.

"I wondered about that when you showed no emotions, otherwise I would compliment you on the control of them." Jona chuckled lightly as one of his flame orbs appeared into the air and seemed to whistle in his ear. Of course the Spiorad would not be able to understand the whistling, but Jona could. "Heh. Play with the spirit? He might put you out."

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Paper's blank eyes blinked slowly, where as another personality and physical form he would likely have cocked his head back and given a sort of laugh at Jona's words. Control was not the case, it was the complete lack of ability in facial muscle movement. Of course, it wasn't that he couldn't move these muscles, it was that it simply did not happen unless Paper forced it to. And that was just soemthing that didn't want to happen. But these little wisps of flame... Oh my, what were they?? How very interesting. Yes, the Spiorad had far too much to learn of the other inhabitants of Paragon, far too much. How could he be so ignorant? But then, instantaneously, Vulture had moved its towering, lanky form in front of the orb and was bent double, peering at it upwardly with its hollow, ebony form. >>>I mean not to express ignorance, but what is... That? That flame? <<< yes, this ignorace was surely something to be ashamed of. He had had fifteen years out of the Shrouded Lands, and what had he spent it doing? Lounging and sulking about the Carnelian Isle, doing nothing with his time. How very, stupidly wasteful. ~OOC~ Bad post...