Desperate Skies

[Sparkles]

OPEN FOR PROFILES - Desperate Skies Information and Profiles

Desperate Skies

In a time past, man and beast alike ruled the earth. The people of the age named the beasts in three; bestiis terrae (the beasts of the land), bestiarum maris (the beasts of the water), and caelum feras (the beasts of the sky).
In an almost impossible feet, the humans were turned against the beasts and an all-out war for power ensued. Convinced of deception, betrayal and the threat that they believed the beasts portrayed, mankind went not to war, but on a killing spree. They targeted those who would rally with them and used these powers of trust to conquer the beasts one species and then the next (once all beasts were believed to be gone, they then betrayed their allies; the 'beasts' more human in appearance)
The humans were led by the Kainar, a group of people who believed the human race to be the only true custodians of the Earth. They convinced the people that the beasts could provide them with powers and could cure the sick to name a few. Dragons were enslaved and treated like dumb animals – shackled in dungeons and treated as they were refered (as beasts). Many were used to fight man’s wars and killed for many, many reasons; these included potions, medicines, as trophies and for sport. But the beasts were sentient. They understood when the time came to retreat; to take those they loved and flee to safer lands.

Over many centuries, they became less than legend.. It was safe to be considered merely mythical.

However, as the beasts live for many years, they have not managed to bring up their numbers once more. Occasionally a beast (which they had come to call themselves many years past) will be seen by a human, but it’s been many centuries since the bestiis terrae have been seen. However, it’s only recently that man has begun to truly explore the seas and the skies.
The bestiarum maris have retreated to the parts where man has yet to discover such as the deep oceans of Antarctica, the depths of the Dead Sea and other areas of the world where, for the moment, they believe themselves safe.
The caelum feras are only safe if they’re on the move. Until recent technology, they rarely encountered any threats. Since the invention of jets, satellite tracking and the sheer number of humans at every corner of the Earth, it’s hard to stay safe.
Especially when the descendants of the Kainar continue to hunt. They no longer strive for dominion but for fame and fortune. For the one who reveals to the world that the beasts are real… great fame and great fortune await him.
Along with the constant threat of the Kainar, safe territory is decreasing rapidly. This is forcing conflict between the different species of caelum feras and a great number of lives are being lost.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.

This is where we begin.
On this day there was a terrible battle; one that could have been prevented.
7 of the remaining groups of caelum feras left were to meet to define boundaries of the territories. Something went wrong. A battle ensued. There was terror. There was anguish. But most of all, there was blood. And death.

Before the battle, the infants and the juveniles were sent to a protected area. As there are not many of these, they were sent together in trust that they would keep each other safe.

Down through the fog is the safe haven; the place that the adults sent those unable to fight or to defend themselves. Here they are protected for the time being until the warriors return. But they do not. They shall not return in the numbers they left.
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The hopes of the future lay with the few who know little of the past and the even fewer who know everything to teach them; to train them to be the true beasts of the sky and find their place in the world. Together.

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[Sparkles]

As he walked, his talons would sink into the soft ground underfoot, his front feet leaving a heavy impression on the ground. As he looked around at the gathering, Sinuo closed his eyes briefly to concentrate on the sounds behind him. He could hear the shrieking and roaring from the battle behind him as if it was upon them. He felt the pull to join. But he had his priorities at this moment.
Reopening his iridescent blue eyes, he gazed around the clearing to what, he knew, would likely be what was left of the caelum feras once the battle was over.
Greatest in number were his own, followed by the griffon, the phoenix and then, with few left, and no adults present, were the thunderbirds. There were only three - two juveniles and a hatchling.
Nearby, the pregnant griffon lay, her forelegs crossed over one another with her head on its side, facing the direction of the battle. He knew, that with her vision, she was probably witnessing some of what could be seen over the treetops.

Sinuo stood, watching, waiting to hear any clue as to what way the battle was turning, just as every other adult was doing - the ones not preoccupied with the young ones.

[Yuffie Kisaragi]

His eyes may not have been fixed on the direction the roaring and shrieking came from, but Arakeil was still listening whilst he watched his brother. His large ears meant he could hear much of what was happening, though he wasn't sure what sounds meant wounds and which meant death...he'd not heard those two sounds before...not in the sense of battle, at least. He kneaded the ground beneath him with his feet, black scales shimmering slightly in the movement, hoping the fight would end soon...he was afraid of the sounds he was hearing, and the thought of his brother having to face the sight of the wounded and dead, if he did, wasn't a pleasant one. The hatchling shouldn't need to face such things. Neither did he, himself, even if he was the older of them.

He glanced up as the large, red foot of Sinuo, an elder from Latet clan, moved into his line of sight. He didn't speak, but he looked up imploringly, as if asking the elder if everything would be alright, a slight squeak -a sound that mostly only young dragons could make- escaping his throat.

[Elario Luminus]

Asterion paced impatiently, feeling cooped up and hampered down. He so desperately wanted to be in the battle, as his kind needed all the help they could get, but his parents had asked - no, demanded - that he stay here and help guard any little ones here. As he walked to and fro, feathered wings twitching with barely controlled energy, Asterion listened to the battle in the distance. He had been keeping an ear out for any sounds of distress or pain from the aerial war-zone, so as to be ready for any bad news when, or if, someone returned.

Asterion stopped pacing and came to sit in a large tree that he'd come to unconsciously claim as his own. He climbed up the trunk and settled on a thick branch that gave him a view of the creatures in their little clearing. He sighed and focused on the trunk in front of his face and idly scratched the wood, every now and then blowing the shavings away and singing quietly to himself.

[Sparkles]

The wind ruffled Sinuo's grey beard as he gazed down at the small juvenile dragon at his feet. He wouldn't bear falsities to the young ones - they would have to bear even greater burdens soon enough. Lowering his head to that of the young one, his beard grazed over the mixture of dried grass and rough dirt underneath them. "Be strong child" his nostrils flared slightly and he moved his head up higher moments before a chilling screech split the air around them. It wasn't time to be grateful that it wasn't the sound of one of this own - there would be no victory here today.
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Aura's heart and stomach both jumped into the base of her throat as she stood with the speed of one in rapture. Heartache and confusion passed across her eyes as she took three involuntary steps towards the battle and flared her wings as if she was about to take flight.. as if she was unconsciously aiding her brethren by doing so.
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Sinuo kept an eye on the young Griffon that seemed ready to join her flock. If she decided to do just that... he wouldn't allow it. Regardless that she was not one of his - he was aware of the precious cargo she carried within her that could not, under any circumstances, be compromised.
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The screech was either griffon or phoenix in origin - and it tore right through Zephyrus as she stood, huddled with a group of 2 adolescents and 1 other juvenile. Her wings clamped down hard on her smooth pink-scaled back as she shivered. She glanced, curious to see the reaction of the young griffon that she had seen earlier in the day.

[Yuffie Kisaragi]

Arakeil didn't FEEL terribly strong, but he took the elder's wisdom to heart and silently promised his brother he would try his best for him. It was about then that the screaming wail pierced the air, causing him to recoil and flatten his large ears against his neck. The sound was a little too loud and high-pitched for him, as well as a terrifying and heart-breaking sound. He glanced over when a young she-griffon got up as if to take to flight, seeing the distress on her bird-like face. She wasn't of his kind, but even if there were at times some communication difficulties in body language between the species, that anguish and fear was evident, and he understood it well...he silently prayed that this terrible battle might at least bring back some survivors, so not all would be lost.

At the sound of the wail, Ara's hatchling brother came skittering over, on clumsy, young feet to dive for safety under his brother's wing. The elder sibling lowered his head to nudge the cowering child comfortingly, before turning fearful eyes to the battle...he hoped that their mother would come back okay...what would they do if she died? they would be alone without her. 'I would have to take her place and care for Irt'u...I would have to learn how to hunt all on my own.' Ara thought, his ears drooping slightly, against his will, making it very hard to keep his fear to himself.
"it's okay, Irt'u..." he whispered, his voice very soft and timid compared to the uproar amongst the other youngsters. Irt'u, who couldn't speak properly yet, simply squeaked and buried himself under his brother's wing.

[Elario Luminus]

Asterion's head jerked up at the screech and he glared in the direction of the battle. As he watched the combat, he could have sworn he saw familiar colours fall from the sky. He clicked his beak in agitation and stood up to full height. The Griffon whimpered quietly as he climbed down to the ground and gazed at the battle far in the distance.
Please come home...please... He silently begged, front talons scratching the dirt beneath them.

[Yuffie Kisaragi]

((I know it's not my post, but I just have to point out that I LOVE the way you mentioned the beak-clicking <3 ))

[Sparkles]

[Yuffie... Are Arakeil and Irt'u from clan Latet or Silice? - I can't interact with your characters properly unless I know.]

Asterion's sudden movements caught the eye of the light red juvenile dragoness. The distress she could sense from him was almost palpable.
Feeling rather unsure of herself, yet determined nevertheless, she would walk with her head down towards him to signal that she meant him no disrespect from approaching; her grandsire had made sure to council her on the basic manners of the other caelum feras.
Griffons were very proud creatures, as were all in the battle. The difference in size between Zephyrus and Asterion was immense and she didn't feel like offending anybody today - this is why she kept her head lowered as she approached him.

Ears twitched, flattening closer to her skull but not enough to convey fear; just anxiousness.
The top of his shoulder blade was the extent of her height at a stretch, so she kept about a metre between them in case he were to lash out at her. Zephyrus would tilt her head in question and lower it further for good measure, keeping her grandsire's wise words in wind. She would then wait, her muscles coiled for escape as she waited for his acceptance of her presence.

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Sinuo's eyes were trained on his Zeppi as she approached the griffon. His wings would lift ever so slightly in pride as he watched her lower her head in submission.
She could very well be the first step towards what would be needed after the battle - an allience - what he had suggested to the new leader of his clan before the battle began.

[Yuffie Kisaragi]

((it was in my profile but It's Silice))

Ara watched silently as the young dragoness approached the Griffon, not really having an opinion on the matter, but interested to see how the avian-feline would respond to the attempt at contact. He watched her closely, eyes drinking in the motions she made and committing them to memory, recognising that they must be Griffon gestures, feeling perhaps the memory of such gestures might be useful in future. He noticed the Latet clan elder's wings puff slightly in pride at the young dragoness, and after glancing between them, he huffed a soft, polite "purr" of sorts, to request the elder dragon's attention. When the dragon had responded, he glanced to the young she-dragon, the returned his gaze to Sinuo, with a questioning look, being a dragon of few words.

[Yuna Braska]

Adelonda was at the back of the clearing, resting her small head on her large feet. Her breath pushing the blades of grass back and forth in front of her as she waited out the battle. She wanted to soar, she wanted be in the battle but with the little experience she had with fighting Raze didnt agree with that idea at all. She could only hear bits of the battle but she was listening carefully for the rough roar of her brother. She was sure that he would return but being apart from him made her anxious.

[Elario Luminus]

Through is anxiety and worry, Asterion didn't see, but rather heard one of the Dragons approach. Quickly mentally fixing himself back into his old proud self, he shook his body from head all the way down to his tail, ending it with a quick flick. Asterion puffed his chest out slightly and held his head high as he looked at the young Dragon from the corner of his eye. Huffing sharply, he almost imperceptibly nodded with a single movement.

[Sparkles]

At the nod Zephyrus received from the griffon, the front of her body rose, her light pink chest scales glinting as they reflected the sunlight. She would then sit on the grass where she had stood. One of her back feet she let slide to the side, the impression of her talons being left in the soil as it did so. She would glance in the direction the griffon looked, to the battle she could barely see, "We should have shared the land" she whispered, loud enough to make sure the griffon heard her but quiet enough that she hoped her voice, though full of the sweet chimes of a bell, would not startle him from his musings if he was having any.
Having never talked to a griffon before in all her 113 years of life, Zephyrus couldn't help but continue to glance at the griffon's beak, his feathered wings, the tuft at the end of his tail, at everything so very different about him when compared to her own kind. She hoped he wouldn't catch her staring, because she could barely help it.

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Sinuo glanced back down at the black dragon. He had met the child twice before, once as a hatchling, and again a decade ago - the last time the clans joined to sanctify unions between each other; to allow the dragoness the ability to move to the clan of her mated if she so wished.

When the young dragon gestured with his head in the direction of his grandaughter, Sinuo knew the question. "My blood is in young Zephyrus's blood through a generation" he confirmed, as his way of explaining that she was his daughter's daughter. Without glancing over at the red dragoness, Sinuo directed the vestiges of his attention to the young Silice. "We may very well need to regroup and make new alliances once this battle is over. Zephyrus is, I assume, trying to make the process less razor edged."
Although Sinuo was, to knowledge, the oldest dragon alive in this age, he did not always speak in this way; not to the young ones.

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Koron lay just outside the clearing, his wings perched high and flat on his back, the frills between his spinal spikes folded down as so were the spikes themselves. Shielded from the others by the trees, he was camouflaged in to his surroundings by his forest green complexion. For this reason, he could not be seen. Yet, though a gap in the trees, he could still watch his clan. This was how he liked it. He preferred a solitary lifestyle with no one at his back and everyone in his line of sight.

Close by, in front of the tree-line, lay the white furred juvenile from his clan. Koron kept his head aloft as he watched her momentarily, unconsciously pulling his fore-foot back against his chest, the stubs of his calloused toes , where talons should have resided, rubbing against his chest as he did so.

[Yuffie Kisaragi]

Arakeil nodded slightly in understanding, turning his green eyes back to the dragoness as she spoke to the griffon, pawing the group slightly. "...mama always says we should join the caelum feras..." he remarked, voice soft from years of preferring silence. He flicked his spined tail, then, tilting his head to the side slightly and swiveling his ears so he could better listen to the sounds around him, and less hear the sounds of the fierce battle beyond the trees.

[Yuna Braska]

Adelonda began to become uneasy, she wasn't sure what this battle would bring. 'New alliances'; she overheard this from up in the clearing. It would be unusual. Her parents had told her that there were separate clans for a reason.
With a sigh she lifted her head for the first time in a few hours. It ached and she could feel it strain slightly. While taking in a heavy breath, her ear flinched at the sound of something behind her. When she turned her head slightly to the side she couldn't see anything in the tree line but she knew someone was there. She frowned, becoming uneasy.