The Wild Series: Reign of Ashes (Main Page/Pridelands)

Wildwing wrote:

Jaystep wrote:

Wildwing wrote:Where's Ki? I need her sass right now XD)


"You could have..." Again, with her words fading to breaths, Rinka raised and shook her head, shuffling in agitation before speaking again. "One sign. Any sign. Anything to let me know-even a note. You let me think you-for two and a half years after you came back!"

She wasn't shouting yet, but finally, she could feel her own anger. The feeling had died after igniting far too many times over her first year as Queen, only coming back now in immediate crisis. But in this moment, in this situation, as her mind continued reeling in all her thoughts, she felt a fire in her chest. She could almost imagine it using the decay surrounding her heart as its fuel.
She looked to Tyrin with this new fire and silently demanded he explain, and that he do so quickly.

A spark of anger flew into Tyrin's own eyes as she continued, there was so much she didn't know. "Rinka! Rinka! I couldn't. There was nothing I could do! Any change in your behavior caused by a visit from me, if anyone found a note that I'd left, if I had been spotted-- Rinka do you think so little of me that I would have done this to you, to myself, for no good reason at all? I need you to listen to me."

Tyrin had taken a step forward while he spoke, putting himself in range to touch her shoulders gently with his wings. "Agathar, Zarrock, all of them... they've been watching everything. They know everything that happens in your city, everything you think you've kept a secret, they know. Agathar has turned so many animals against you already. Non-shades. Almost undetectable.... He could destroy this place in a heartbeat but he won't. He wants you to come to him on your own."

At information that was new to her, some of which she had already suspected, Rinka stiffened. Then, with a frustrated growl, she lowered her chin and stared him down.

"Explain," she hissed. And then immediately realizing acting this way wasn't going to do her any favors, she stepped back and inhaled deeply through her nostrils. She was still furious, but sensing a horrible argument was imminent, she tried to be civil for both their sakes.

"I need you to explain everything from the day you came back. The good reason for letting me believe you were dead for three years, the plan that you didn't let me in on, how they've been watching me and how you know they've been watching me. Everything. Explain everything to me right now, and don't leave one detail out." "...Please."

Tyrin closed his eyes and sighed for a moment, shaking his head lightly. "I... I don't even know where to start...."

He nodded slowly and opened his eyes, pausing to clear his throat and calming down. "When I died, I met... something. Something from the Ethyrium, something from here, a God, a Demon-- I don't know what it was. But after I died I was stuck in some kind of empty space. A black void. I begged, I pleaded, I bargained my way back to life and when I woke up... Dalkota was there, and I was laying in a field. Dalkota is the Gryphon I told you about in all my stories from my time on Ethyrium. The very, very first thing I did was try and find you, but it had already been five moons since I had passed away. You had already grieved and healed. Dalkota advised me for the better to avoid contact, and at first I didn't listen at all.... I tried to contact you twice in the past two and a half years, and every time I thought I could do it... I couldn't risk it. We found out really early on that Agathar had already infiltrated your city. If I had so much as come near the place, someone would know. That dragon had the numbers, the muscle, and the fire to destroy the entirety of the Pridelands. You only got this far along because he allowed you to. The only thing we had to win this war was surprise. That's when Dalkota gave us the means to restore the Phoenix Guard. I spent the last two years finding birds who's bloodlines traced back to the ancient Guard. They had the strongest possibility of surviving the Fire, and it worked. Rinka, there used to be three Phoenix left alive... now there's fifteen. Dalkota wanted to wait for twenty or even more, but I couldn't wait anymore. If I had told you anything, if any word of this had gotten out, we would have lost the only edge-- the only thing that can win this war."

(( *the breeze grows a little brisker and as it turns our, Khiarra and Ki were just cardboard cutouts--they topple over in the wind and they birds have noped out of there to grab Starbucks--left behind under a rock is a note that reads "Be back whenever, Ki"* ))

(Krono stares at the cardboard cut-outs and makes the 'srsly?' face. Then he just goes after them to get Starbucks, because man what a day)


Rinka felt she had more questions rather than actual answers now. But there was a lot to cover, so if anything, this was a good place to start. So the falcon took everything he had said, mentally listed topics of interest.

• The God/Demon
  
• Dalkota
  
• Her grieving and healing
  
• The two attempts to contact her
  
• Agathar's infiltration
  
• The Phoenix Guard: Efficiency of the secret?
  
• Do they still have that edge now that Tyrin has revealed himself?
  

Rinka then listed them in order from highest priority to lesser priority. As she did so, she knocked off two of the points for the time being and reformed some others.

• Agathar's infiltration
  
• The Phoenix Guard
  
• Saving the City: Part of the Plan?
  
• Dalkota
  
• God/Demon
  

As she gained information, she would do at least one of three things: 1. Move on to the next question, 2. Press for more information about the topic being discussed, 3. Add or remove other points to the topics she wished to discuss.

Rinka took in a deep breath and let it all out. She looked at Tyrin, her anger dissipated. She held a serious expression and began the interrogation.

"What are the details you have on Agathar's infiltration? Who are they he has sent, how many, and how were you able to obtain this information?" Her voice was civil as she questioned him.

(*facepalm* let's maybe not drag this out to quite that extent, everyone else is waiting on us to rp again after all. I think all her bullet points can be discussed at various points throughout the story... I just don't want to spend another 3 weeks on Rinka's questions.)

Tyrin watched her carefully, unsure if she was really calming down or if she was just getting ready to ague again. He nodded slowly with her question. "From what we know, very few of the spies in your city are working for Agathar himself, only a handful of them at most. The rest are here on behalf of a third party. Apparently they struck some kind of temporary armistice deal with the dragon in exchange for information on you. They're some kind of reclusive... cult, for lack of better words. They're camped somewhere in the mountains to the West. Their leader wants to get rid of all things here from the Ethyrium... Dragons, Shades, Phoenix. That's about all we know about them. That, and the fact that Archeus has been spotted leaving their territory several times. As for how we know... Dalkota has a base of operations between here and the Ethyrium called the Grove of Wardens. From there we can see almost anything going on across the world. I don't really know much about the Grove, only that it exists between time and space, and has some degree of control over the Rifts that have been appearing. Which leads me to my next point... "

Tyrin paused, hesitating for a moment before taking a small step closer to Rinka in offer of comfort. An old habit, he realized and nearly corrected. His voice was soft, almost a whisper. "I'm not the only one who's still alive... Rinka... Fin and Fayru are out there. So are Kale, Drellan's pack, and... a-and we- ... Rinka, our... "

The hawk's voice cracked as he looked away, he hadn't said it out loud yet. Not even to himself. To stay strong, to stay on task, he hadn't even let himself think about them yet. A whirlpool of emotions raged in the hawk's heart, his eyes beginning to glisten as he finally looked back at her. His mind swayed like a storm as he thought. He knew the truth of their hatchlings, but to him it wasn't. He could tell Rinka the truth, but there was challenge in him. He told himself he wasn't even sure it was true yet, that he hadn't heard it from Syrune's own beak. And even if so, it wouldn't matter. It wasn't a lie when he finally opened his beak. Whatever she had done, no matter had been said, no matter who had raised them, there was nothing but truth and conviction when Tyrin spoke. Syrune had long since lost her chance.

"Nykoru and Ambyra... our son and daughter survived."

Rinka was frozen in place for a long moment. And then two. And then three. And then, after that ridiculous amount of time with literally nothing happening, a sudden gust of wind knocked her over. Revealing that she to, was a card-board cut-out.
And then the real Rinka entered the hollow behind Tyrin with a Starbucks cup in her talons.

"Sorry, I decided to join the girls and Krono, what did I miss?"



Rinka gave a small start at hearing about the 'cult'. Or more specifically, the goal they aimed for. She wanted to know more about them.

Her brow furrowed the moment Archeus was mentioned. It had been so long since she had heard that name. The glare in her eyes was all that was needed to communicate how she felt towards that raven.

More questions forming and being added to her list, Rinka was ready to continue gathering the information she needed. And then, once again, her recovering mind was thrust back into chaos. Because Tyrin. Her brother, her sister, her best friend and his family... All of them, they were alive as well?... As she very slowly comprehended, barely able to believe it, turning slightly from him as she did, she looked back to Tyrin as he continued. Nykoru and Ambyra, two of the four adorable faces only existent in her memories...

"...There was a report..." Rinka could barely breathe. "Syrune fled from Agathar, accompanied by two falhawks. Those two... Are they really?..."

Wildwing wrote:Rinka was frozen in place for a long moment. And then two. And then three. And then, after that ridiculous amount of time with literally nothing happening, a sudden gust of wind knocked her over. Revealing that she to, was a card-board cut-out.
And then the real Rinka entered the hollow behind Tyrin with a Starbucks cup in her talons.

"Sorry, I decided to join the girls and Krono, what did I miss?"



Rinka gave a small start at hearing about the 'cult'. Or more specifically, the goal they aimed for. She wanted to know more about them.

Her brow furrowed the moment Archeus was mentioned. It had been so long since she had heard that name. The glare in her eyes was all that was needed to communicate how she felt towards that raven.

More questions forming and being added to her list, Rinka was ready to continue gathering the information she needed. And then, once again, her recovering mind was thrust back into chaos. Because Tyrin. Her brother, her sister, her best friend and his family... All of them, they were alive as well?... As she very slowly comprehended, barely able to believe it, turning slightly from him as she did, she looked back to Tyrin as he continued. Nykoru and Ambyra, two of the four adorable faces only existent in her memories...

"...There was a report..." Rinka could barely breathe. "Syrune fled from Agathar, accompanied by two falhawks. Those two... Are they really?..."

"... Yeah, they are." Tyrin slowly smiled, a touch of sadness in his face, and whispered his reply. A hundred memories filled his head as he nodded slowly.

Rinka covered her beak with a wing. Multiple things were going on inside her head, and at the same time she just felt too numb to fully feel her emotions. But in spite of that, the tears were starting to fall from her eyes, prompting her to turn away so Tyrin wouldn't see.

All this time...


"Have they all been with her this whole time? Or did you use the Key?" she whispered, "Where are they all now?"

Wildwing wrote:Rinka covered her beak with a wing. Multiple things were going on inside her head, and at the same time she just felt too numb to fully feel her emotions. But in spite of that, the tears were starting to fall from her eyes, prompting her to turn away so Tyrin wouldn't see.

All this time...


"Have they all been with her this whole time? Or did you use the Key?" she whispered, "Where are they all now?"

"Ambyra and Nykoru have been with Syrune since the start... she kept them safe... she lied about who they were to keep them close, but for some reason they left. All we know is they're somewhere in the Pridelands... probably looking for you... the rest only just came back. They weren't dead, and it wasn't the Key. The Rifts. How I got here, they... when the attack first happened it made holes in the world. They fell through, and we had to get them back. But that process could have left them confused for a short time... they should be fine now, or will be." Tyrin spoke softly, his gaze wandering down and settling on the maps and charts scattered across the table.

He stared down at them and traced the outlines of the Pridelands with a soft wingtip. "... We don't know where Fayru is. Or the wolves. We know the general area they should be, but... nothing solid. As for Kale and Finnican... I uh.... I sent them to the Land of Blossoms, in the East, to learn from someone who taught me before. They're working on a way to combat the Shades. Kale seems to like research, so... It'll help. I'm sorry. I-I'm sorry that you're the last one to know."

Rinka took a moment to digest this information.

"...Last one to know. First one to know. Somewhere in between. It doesn't matter. I thought you were dead, and I was not at all prepared for any of this." She didn't beat around the bush, but she just sounded tired now instead of angry. "On top of that..." Rinka sighed and dropped what she was going to say. Instead, she turned around and began picking up the scrolls on the ground.

"You being here... You being alive... It changes everything." she whispered.

Wildwing wrote:Rinka took a moment to digest this information.

"...Last one to know. First one to know. Somewhere in between. It doesn't matter. I thought you were dead, and I was not at all prepared for any of this." She didn't beat around the bush, but she just sounded tired now instead of angry. "On top of that..." Rinka sighed and dropped what she was going to say. Instead, she turned around and began picking up the scrolls on the ground.

"You being here... You being alive... It changes everything." she whispered.

"Rinka.... " Tyrin muttered as he stepped after her. Despite everything, it had been so long since he had been this close to her, his mind was near its breaking point. All these years and not a single moment had gone by like he thought it would. Suddenly, the past was there in the present. There was no war, and no friends were missing. His mate was a few steps away from him, and he had not held her in his wings for three years.

He stepped softly around to her side where she searched through the scrolls. "... I didn't want any of this for us... I should have run to you the moment I could breathe... I'm so sorry... " The red-tailed hawk gently took her in his wings and hugged her close. His feathers shivered as soon as he felt her, and he pressed his beak to the top of her shoulder, his eyes brimming with tears as he finally broke.

"I'm so sorry... " Tyrin sobbed as he held her.

Jaystep wrote:

Wildwing wrote:Rinka took a moment to digest this information.

"...Last one to know. First one to know. Somewhere in between. It doesn't matter. I thought you were dead, and I was not at all prepared for any of this." She didn't beat around the bush, but she just sounded tired now instead of angry. "On top of that..." Rinka sighed and dropped what she was going to say. Instead, she turned around and began picking up the scrolls on the ground.

"You being here... You being alive... It changes everything." she whispered.

"Rinka.... " Tyrin muttered as he stepped after her. Despite everything, it had been so long since he had been this close to her, his mind was near its breaking point. All these years and not a single moment had gone by like he thought it would. Suddenly, the past was there in the present. There was no war, and no friends were missing. His mate was a few steps away from him, and he had not held her in his wings for three years.

He stepped softly around to her side where she searched through the scrolls. "... I didn't want any of this for us... I should have run to you the moment I could breathe... I'm so sorry... " The red-tailed hawk gently took her in his wings and hugged her close. His feathers shivered as soon as he felt her, and he pressed his beak to the top of her shoulder, his eyes brimming with tears as he finally broke.

"I'm so sorry... " Tyrin sobbed as he held her.

The scrolls were being organized into a neat stack, so that the room would look less of a mess. She planned to put them away after they had been all gathered up. As she reached for another scroll, she paused in her movement with a glance to the side for a brief second as Tyrin appeared in the corner of her vision again. Then, with her chin down, she wrapped her talons around the scroll. She didn't even realize what he was doing until he had her in his wings.

Rinka froze up, and her breath hitched in her throat. She hadn't wanted to be touched, but Tyrin's sobs-or rather her compassion for him-stopped her from pushing him away. And then, as she stayed still for a moment, she registered his warmth, and his scent, and the memories of him and how she had forgotten just how warm his embrace was. A soft whimper sounded in her throat as she turned fully into the hug, and slowly wrapped her own wings around him. Her body shuddered with silent sobs as she buried her face into his feathers.

Wildwing wrote:

Jaystep wrote:

Wildwing wrote:Rinka took a moment to digest this information.

"...Last one to know. First one to know. Somewhere in between. It doesn't matter. I thought you were dead, and I was not at all prepared for any of this." She didn't beat around the bush, but she just sounded tired now instead of angry. "On top of that..." Rinka sighed and dropped what she was going to say. Instead, she turned around and began picking up the scrolls on the ground.

"You being here... You being alive... It changes everything." she whispered.

"Rinka.... " Tyrin muttered as he stepped after her. Despite everything, it had been so long since he had been this close to her, his mind was near its breaking point. All these years and not a single moment had gone by like he thought it would. Suddenly, the past was there in the present. There was no war, and no friends were missing. His mate was a few steps away from him, and he had not held her in his wings for three years.

He stepped softly around to her side where she searched through the scrolls. "... I didn't want any of this for us... I should have run to you the moment I could breathe... I'm so sorry... " The red-tailed hawk gently took her in his wings and hugged her close. His feathers shivered as soon as he felt her, and he pressed his beak to the top of her shoulder, his eyes brimming with tears as he finally broke.

"I'm so sorry... " Tyrin sobbed as he held her.

The scrolls were being organized into a neat stack, so that the room would look less of a mess. She planned to put them away after they had been all gathered up. As she reached for another scroll, she paused in her movement with a glance to the side for a brief second as Tyrin appeared in the corner of her vision again. Then, with her chin down, she wrapped her talons around the scroll. She didn't even realize what he was doing until he had her in his wings.

Rinka froze up, and her breath hitched in her throat. She hadn't wanted to be touched, but Tyrin's sobs-or rather her compassion for him-stopped her from pushing him away. And then, as she stayed still for a moment, she registered his warmth, and his scent, and the memories of him and how she had forgotten just how warm his embrace was. A soft whimper sounded in her throat as she turned fully into the hug, and slowly wrapped her own wings around him. Her body shuddered with silent sobs as she buried her face into his feathers.

A short while later, when the crying had stopped and the two were strong again, they pulled away and dried their eyes. Whether merely putting on faces or projecting real strength, the two stood strong and headed for the door, Tyrin parting the way with a wing and nodding politely for Rinka to pass through.

Rinka rubbed her eyes before following after Tyrin. She stopped as he parted the way. Then she returned the nod and passed him by. She paused and, with a brief moment of hesitation, she laid her wing on top of his and looked steadily into his eyes. And then she turned and walked out of the hollow.

She smoothed the feathers over her face before calling a summons. And then she hopped off the hollow's edge and landed on the wood platform a few feet below. A few moments later, Krono arrived, bringing the other Phoenix with him.

Lieuna stood behind Krono.

Tyrin stood beside Rinka, catching the eyes of his Phoenix Guard and giving a subtle nod that the conversation had gone well. The hawk waited patiently for Rinka to address the group, but before any of them could speak, a distant and droning horn sounded. The haunting call lasted for several seconds before tapering off, a second horn following immediately after. Tyrin straightened, neck feathers prickling, and turned to look towards Rinka with a cautious gaze.

"Is that yours?"

Khiarra and Ki stood silently and observed the scenario unfolding in front of them

Rinka looked at Tyrin seriously. "Yes. That is my booty call."


"...What does that even mean?!" Tyrin exclaimed.


Rinka just flipped upside down and descended into the sky.




Oh no, what now?!

Her feathers prickling in apprehension, Rinka shook her head. And then looking over those gathered around while trying to conceal her dread, she motioned them to stay put with a wing.

"I'll be right back."

She dove off the platform and shot straight up after exiting the ring of willow branches. A few moments later, she dove back in through the tree top and touched back down on the platform with an ashen face.

"It's Agathar. He's waiting at the border's edge under a flag of truce."

Wildwing wrote:Rinka looked at Tyrin seriously. "Yes. That is my booty call."


"...What does that even mean?!" Tyrin exclaimed.


Rinka just flipped upside down and descended into the sky.




Oh no, what now?!

Her feathers prickling in apprehension, Rinka shook her head. And then looking over those gathered around while trying to conceal her dread, she motioned them to stay put with a wing.

"I'll be right back."

She dove off the platform and shot straight up after exiting the ring of willow branches. A few moments later, she dove back in through the tree top and touched back down on the platform with an ashen face.

"It's Agathar. He's waiting at the border's edge under a flag of truce."

Tyrin had already feared as much, taking a deep breath as she said the words. "That was quicker than I anticipated... We should stay back, just in case he doesn't know yet, or doesn't believe..."

Or in case need to surprise him with hellfire. It's been too long since I saw his face... I want him to burn. For everything.


The hawk didn't wait for an answer from Rinka, he already knew she agreed. Instead he turned to the Guard. "Make a perimeter. Sweep wide and stay out of sight, but get a good eye on the size of the forces and come back to me. Rinka-- "

Tyrin turned back to the Queen, "-- I need to hide, and see him. Where?"

Jaystep wrote:

Wildwing wrote:Rinka looked at Tyrin seriously. "Yes. That is my booty call."


"...What does that even mean?!" Tyrin exclaimed.


Rinka just flipped upside down and descended into the sky.




Oh no, what now?!

Her feathers prickling in apprehension, Rinka shook her head. And then looking over those gathered around while trying to conceal her dread, she motioned them to stay put with a wing.

"I'll be right back."

She dove off the platform and shot straight up after exiting the ring of willow branches. A few moments later, she dove back in through the tree top and touched back down on the platform with an ashen face.

"It's Agathar. He's waiting at the border's edge under a flag of truce."

Tyrin had already feared as much, taking a deep breath as she said the words. "That was quicker than I anticipated... We should stay back, just in case he doesn't know yet, or doesn't believe..."

Or in case need to surprise him with hellfire. It's been too long since I saw his face... I want him to burn. For everything.


The hawk didn't wait for an answer from Rinka, he already knew she agreed. Instead he turned to the Guard. "Make a perimeter. Sweep wide and stay out of sight, but get a good eye on the size of the forces and come back to me. Rinka-- "

Tyrin turned back to the Queen, "-- I need to hide, and see him. Where?"

"Wait."

This was said before any of the Phoenix could leave.

"By now, I will already have forces who will be doing as you said. It would be better to place each of you at strategic points to reinforce my army's strength." She then turned to Tyrin. "I agree to hide you, and I can hide you in a place where you can watch. And I will send informants to keep you in the loop. But it would be counterproductive to act as an independent unit at this time."

At that moment, she remembered one of the Phoenix protesting at having to follow her orders earlier that day. And so she thought it wise to approach this as asking permission rather than sounding demanding, in spite of the situation.

"I understand that these birds are yours to command. And I know that this may be much to ask of you, but if I may have your permission, while you are kept from Agathar's sight, may I have the right to temporarily command your guard?"

Wildwing wrote:

Jaystep wrote:

Wildwing wrote:Rinka looked at Tyrin seriously. "Yes. That is my booty call."


"...What does that even mean?!" Tyrin exclaimed.


Rinka just flipped upside down and descended into the sky.




Oh no, what now?!

Her feathers prickling in apprehension, Rinka shook her head. And then looking over those gathered around while trying to conceal her dread, she motioned them to stay put with a wing.

"I'll be right back."

She dove off the platform and shot straight up after exiting the ring of willow branches. A few moments later, she dove back in through the tree top and touched back down on the platform with an ashen face.

"It's Agathar. He's waiting at the border's edge under a flag of truce."

Tyrin had already feared as much, taking a deep breath as she said the words. "That was quicker than I anticipated... We should stay back, just in case he doesn't know yet, or doesn't believe..."

Or in case need to surprise him with hellfire. It's been too long since I saw his face... I want him to burn. For everything.


The hawk didn't wait for an answer from Rinka, he already knew she agreed. Instead he turned to the Guard. "Make a perimeter. Sweep wide and stay out of sight, but get a good eye on the size of the forces and come back to me. Rinka-- "

Tyrin turned back to the Queen, "-- I need to hide, and see him. Where?"

"Wait."

This was said before any of the Phoenix could leave.

"By now, I will already have forces who will be doing as you said. It would be better to place each of you at strategic points to reinforce my army's strength." She then turned to Tyrin. "I agree to hide you, and I can hide you in a place where you can watch. And I will send informants to keep you in the loop. But it would be counterproductive to act as an independent unit at this time."

At that moment, she remembered one of the Phoenix protesting at having to follow her orders earlier that day. And so she thought it wise to approach this as asking permission rather than sounding demanding, in spite of the situation.

"I understand that these birds are yours to command. And I know that this may be much to ask of you, but if I may have your permission, while you are kept from Agathar's sight, may I have the right to temporarily command your guard?"

Tyrin knew Rinka had grown in her own sense as a leader, but her quick actions and decisive tone took him by surprise. He didn't show it, or at least he tried not to, but just the way she spoke to him made him proud. She was right in every word. It didn't take much thought for him to nod in agreement and cast a quick glance at his assembled guard. He gave them a friendly smile and returned his look to Rinka. 

"Of course. Until I return, they will follow your commands as they would mine." Tyrin declared, giving a subtle nod to Khiarra. "T'lia jourmere Uuso." (My light travels with you) 


[The Guard can speak Hawkentounge after Tyrin trained them, and that phrase is used as a coded goodbye. It means he's leaving for now but will be watching them closely. He usually says this when leaving them to train for the day, but this time he meant it in a comforting sense like "I know she's not your commander but trust me"]

Lieuna gave a small bow to the King, acknowledging the phrase, and turned promptly to Rinka. "I can add great strength to your armies, my Queen. My Fire is yours to command."

(Wouldn't it be funny if I just posted like nothing ever happened and just continued the rp lol)