In a land of Monsters

Mandonga

Unaffiliated

RedoftheWolf IS OFFLINE

21

Male

"In a world as cruel as this one, there is no room for others."

APPLICATION

4 POSTS & 2 LIKES

In a land of Monsters Aug 7, 2019 2:44:36 GMT

Post by Mandonga on Aug 7, 2019 2:44:36 GMT

January 20th, near a portion of open river that feeds into a grove almost over taken by thorns. Open to anyone))

The great lumbering gait of the massive bull sent small clouds of dust swirling about his flat heeled feet before the wind carried it away. Each stride was mindlessly done, mimicking the last actions with flawless precision. It was simple, front foot, back foot, right leg, left leg. A walk that had been done everyday of his existence and would be repeated until breath no longer heaved his sides.

Mandonga slowly angled his massive head right then left, searching the openness around the river before centering to focus on the gleaming water below. The bank now had a large rut dug into its side from the daily routine of the bull going for water. It mimicked the small divots left by the boars and deer that also shared this stretch of land with him. They had quickly learned that the behemoth now owned this section of grassland and that keeping a low profile around him was a good choice. Which reminded him.

Beaked mouth rose from the water's surface, small droplets falling from his smooth chin, as his amber eyes scanned the horde of flying things in the distance. He wondered, slightly, if that had been, or still was, the rhino who thought to challenge him. If the creature was dead then it was one less he would need to worry about. If not, lucky for it. It didn't matter either way. Things died, and things lived. All that mattered was who did the living and dying. And, as far as the ceratops cared, it was he that should be alive. Thus his head lowered once more and he drank his fill, ignoring the small rat creatures as they slowly crawled away from the bank.

Just as the bull turned and was making his way back up the muddy bank and scent caught in his wide nostrils. He paused as he flared the thin membranes to better in take the smell. What was that? Sudden fear welled in his body, but that fear only fueled his anger. It was a fear that came from being alone, alone was exactly what he wanted to be. He crested the bank and turned to face the wind, head raised with eyes searching. Was it just a phantom scent?

Deleted

IS OFFLINE

0 POSTS & LIKES

In a land of Monsters Aug 9, 2019 0:12:12 GMT Nolybab likes this

Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2019 0:12:12 GMT

It was certainly a foreign land Gudd had been greeted with. Never had the curious liyote seen anything like what his cerulean gaze feasted on today. Black as the deadly tar of his homelands were vines pillaging all the observable land. He had tried to make a game out of staying on the foreboding fixtures and avoiding the ground, but that quickly ended with a pricked paw and the discovery that these things had thorns. As such, the male was now engaging in the game 'keep off the vines'; it was a lot less painful and much more fun. Plus it kept him occupied while he continued to make his way across the new scenery.

The liyote had no idea where he was headed, but a place with others was a lot better than one without. Though he didn't recognize the plethora of scents that the area provided there was no doubt, somewhere not too far off, was a congregation of sorts - a place where many creatures trafficked. All he had to do was make it there and ask for directions back home.

It was still a mystery how exactly Gudd wound up on these strange lands in the first place, but surely if he had found a way here there must be a way back. There had to be. After all, though he might be doing alright now, the scavenger needed someone to tell him what to do. A follower and pack animal through-and-through, he simply couldn't cope with being alone for extended periods. He had to get back. And what better way than asking a local?

Dipping, diving, and skipping over the onyx obstacles made for a great method of progression. At least in his mind. Being the agile, flexible creature that he was, Gudd maneuvered through the clutter with somewhat grace. Sometimes on two feet, and sometimes on all four. It came as a bit of a disappointment when the vines began to grow less thick. This disheartened feeling, however, was quickly swallowed with elation as the looming figure of a living creature shattered the stillness in the distance. Moving closer for a better look revealed it was indeed enormous.

Bent at the lip of a river, drinking unrivaled, was some sort of giant. It had some features the liyote recognized - horns, beak, tail - but he had never seen anything like it before. As the being began to move, so too did the mismatched reptomammal, making his way closer and closer to this strange inhabitant of the land. Though the ceratops was as foreign to these shores as Gudd, he had no way of knowing this. To him it belonged in the area as fittingly as the black vines did and thus was considered a local.

"Hey!" came a chirping bark. The male dodged through the rest of the vines to place his scaly feet on the warm, muddy walkway as he spoke. "Hey, how do you get to the desert from here?"

Perhaps a smarter being would of pondered on whether this creature was friendly or not before stepping out to a clear line of sight, free from the safety of the thorns. Alas, Gudd was not such a creature.

Mandonga

Unaffiliated

RedoftheWolf IS OFFLINE

21

Male

"In a world as cruel as this one, there is no room for others."

APPLICATION

4 POSTS & 2 LIKES

In a land of Monsters Aug 10, 2019 20:57:35 GMT Nolybab likes this

Post by Mandonga on Aug 10, 2019 20:57:35 GMT

Since suddenly coming into this strange land a few days ago, so many unknown things flooded the beast's sense. Scents so foreign it almost hurt his nose, plants so dry and hard compared to his preferred ferns and grasses, these monstrous black masses creeping over everything within reach, the sounds and calls of so many different creatures. Even the air was a stark difference from his normal, humid atmosphere. Thus as the wind changed direction, taking the faint smell with it, amber eyes furrowed below their brow ridges and Mandonga began to turn his attention back to his next mission. It was to be grazing under the remaining trees where the grass was still soft having been protected from the harsh sun.

That was when a sound hit his ear channels. It was not a harsh, threatening grunt or even a high-pitched squeal of protest. No. In stead it was a simple calling out. friendly almost, by the way it seemed to bounce about in a jovial manner. Large head jerking back to face the river, the bull caught sight of a bouncing figure who paused, standing on its hinds and facing him. It was talking to him?

The talking part he was used to. Everyone back home communicated in such manners as this, whether of the same tongue or other forms of vocal or body languages. But it was more of the fact that this...thing was speaking to him. "What...?" Beaked mouth moved slowly, the single word no more than a grunted whisper before Mandonga called across the water, "Look, I have no idea what a 'desert' is, nor do I care. Go back to your home." He was about to call this thing a raptor, as it vaguely resembled the small raptors of his home territory but was different enough that he was completely unsure to what it actuality was. Better to leave it simple than to try and explain one's meaning to another. Or have it explain things to him, which was the most unfavorable course.

"Go ask your herd." Now why he decided to add that he didn't know, but it was said so he merely gave a mental shrug. Though, he felt the conversation done and over with, the ceratops kept his eyes planted on the strange creature. If it was indeed a species of raptor, there might be others. And, even though he was considerably larger than this thing, he would still be at risk of fatal injury if a pack decided to attack him.

Deleted

IS OFFLINE

0 POSTS & LIKES

In a land of Monsters Aug 12, 2019 1:45:38 GMT

Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2019 1:45:38 GMT

At first it seemed like the great horned lizard was going to ignore him. Maybe he didn't understand what Gudd had said? He had observed the beast move its beak for a moment but hadn't heard anything save for the bubbling of the river a few feet from his scaly toes. It didn't dawn on him that perhaps not all things spoke, though thankfully that wasn't the case here.

The liyote was gathering breath to call over a bit louder when audible speech finally broke across the barrier. The words, and the need for more oxygen, made him deflate. Didn't know a desert? It didn't make any sense. Of course a lot of things didn't make sense to Gudd, but this was far beyond the realm of the typical not-making-sense.

Then the titan told him to go home. He was trying. How was he suppose to get there though? His throat tightened and a pitiful whine sung from the male's maw. Things weren't going the way he had planned at all. Thankfully he only managed to get to the beginning of his breakdown before the last comment made by the bull rung in his large ears. Perking upright, cerulean eyes focused back over the river alight with a new idea.

"Yeah! Someone in your pack should know right?" He yipped, giving no time for response before he began moving.

Herd was just another word for pack after all and Gudd was pretty sure everyone had a pack. It made perfect sense. Scuttling forward, the liyote didn't hesitate to slip into the warm river and begin crossing. He sought to get closer to the giant so they could make their way to the pack, once more having little forethought on the safety of the situation. Reaching the corresponding side was relatively easy as the waters weren't very active in their flow. Upon hauling his lithe, reptomammal self onto the muddy bank, Gudd gave a quick shake. Most of the clinging liquid was banished of his smooth hide though his more furry portions remained damp.

Though the bull could have any number of expressions on at this moment, the liyote only noticed how incredible his size and features were up-close. Sure there were a lot of strange beasts back in the desert, but they all had become every day sights for him; this, however, was something Gudd definitely hadn't seen before. Even standing on his hinds like he was didn't even bring him to the behemoth's knee. He was a bit awestruck for a moment - like a kid seeing a super hero for the first time - only coming to his senses when the bull made his next move/spoke.

Mandonga

Unaffiliated

RedoftheWolf IS OFFLINE

21

Male

"In a world as cruel as this one, there is no room for others."

APPLICATION

4 POSTS & 2 LIKES

In a land of Monsters Aug 12, 2019 2:36:39 GMT

Post by Mandonga on Aug 12, 2019 2:36:39 GMT

Even though the creatures was on the other side of the bank, Mandonga saw several emotions in response to his own words play over the entirety of the thing. First overly trusting and friendly, then openly depressed that was suddenly replaced by excitement. The more he watched it the less he felt it was related to the swift, crafty theropods of his native bog lands. A raptor, whether large or small, held a sense of wit that this thing seemed to utterly lack. Or perhaps he was the dud of the herd and often used to bait potential prey into a sense of safety?

His herd? Yeah, this odd misshapen was definitely not raptor. Any raptor would have been taught that all ceratops live in large herds and to find one alone meant it was indeed alone. Of course, the mention of his family unit put a sharp sting of emptiness in an already depleted soul. To this he gave a short shake of his massive, horned head. He wanted to be done with whatever that was more than before, but it seemed he'd have to endure it a little while longer.

Amber eyes glared at the creature as it swam across the sluggish current to reach his side of the bank. BY habit of nature, he quickly scanned the open Savannah around them for any other signs of movement that might hint to an encroaching ambush and was met with stillness. He took a pace back, turning his bulk to stare down at the... Fine, it was a raptor until further notice. If his face could embody his growing agitation like other beasts then he might have killed the not-raptor merely by looking at it.

"Look, raptor. I don't know what you want or why, and I don't care. I just want to be left alone. So, if you don't want to know what being stomped on feels like I suggest you go bother someone else who actually cares!" He grunted with increasing voice, his horned nose slowly becoming level with the thing's head. "I don't know what a desert is, I don't have my herd, and I am alone!"

Why was he explaining himself to this thing? He didn't need to justify his actions or feelings to anyone. He was as much a stranger in these lands as he was to his herd. And that was exactly how he wanted it. Right? His rising temper no longer seemed to know what it was directed at, only that it was there fuming in the depths of his being. "Oh for the love of earth..." He snorted, turning away from the creature and whatever expression might be oozing from its features. "Fine! You can stay, just don't touch me." Mandonga was totally loosing his mind.

Deleted

IS OFFLINE

0 POSTS & LIKES

In a land of Monsters Aug 14, 2019 0:23:37 GMT

Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2019 0:23:37 GMT

Wow. That was a lot of words. Some of which Torgudd had never heard before. His head was reeling trying to catch up with exactly what the horned titan was attempting to say. After a moment or two, the liyote finally decided it was probably easiest to simply start with the first thing and work his way down. The initial statement was already a bit odd - causing a wrinkle of confusion to stir on the reptomammal's face.

"I'm not Raptor. My name is Torgudd; usually just Gudd." He chirped as if to clear up a misunderstanding. He wasn't exactly sure who Raptor was or how that name had even come up, but he was at least glad to help.

The rest sort of had him stumped. First the great beast had said he didn't care. That he wanted to be left alone, which the liyote definitely couldn't grasp onto. And finally he had said he didn't even know what a desert was. How could that be? The mismatched creature was beginning to get a sinking feeling that he was a lot further from home than he thought. Impossibly far. His body sank along with his hopes until all four limbs kissed the mud-caked ground. The idea never crossed his mind that maybe he couldn't get back. What was he going to do? Without Hezalt or Digger, who would direct him?

What once was perplexity was now overtaken with utter fear. It could of been mistaken that perhaps the ceratop's threat had gotten to him. Regardless, the icy claws of true understanding gripped viciously at the liyote's heart. There was no way he could survive alone. If the elements or starvation didn't kill him, then surely his own mind would. Gudd wasn't like most beasts; though jovial and usually carefree, he could not handle life resting squarely on his own tiny shoulders. Much like a newborn would not last long without its mother.

Thus, when the giant spoke again, contrasting what he had originally stated, it was a true glimmer of hope. The reptomammal could live with the no-touching rule and honestly whatever else was dished his way. So long as he had, in the very least, a temporary 'pack' to face this new world with. A faint wag of his lizard-like tail could be noted as he began to bound along after the ceratops. With the liyote's light weight and even lighter steps the mud did the bare minimum in impacting his agile movement.

"So, where are we going now?" Again his voice was a cheerful mixture of clicks and yips. Continuing into, "And what do you want me to call you?"

Light Fury

Unaffiliated

Corgi IS OFFLINE

20 years

Female

APPLICATION

PLOTTER

30 POSTS & 4 LIKES

In a land of Monsters Aug 18, 2019 19:40:24 GMT

Post by Light Fury on Aug 18, 2019 19:40:24 GMT

Why was this land so covered in thorns?

The thought was all that had been nagging at the Light Fury, or Moonlight as Nova had called her once, as she flew around as best she could. She was flying high enough to avoid the thorns, but still... she wanted to know what sort of a land this had been before. What sorts of creatures had lived there, and more importantly whether or not it would be a safe place to reside for a time. The thorns would keep enemies out, should she find a place that was able to be reached, but it also might make flying out again difficult. She chuffed and huffed a bit at the thought and allowed herself to fly lower. Sooner or later, she'd find a spot to land. The Light Fury was not uncertain of that much. It just would be a matter of when and where the opportunity would present itself. Soon enough, though. She just needed to find it.

Eventually, she spotted a river. That gave her a bit of hope. The Light Fury started to fly toward it, and as she did she was able to pick up on voices filling the air. Her instinct in that moment was to stay away on the chance that they were human. Then she remembered her encounter with Toothless and his human from several days prior. If they were human, then... there was a chance that they wouldn't be so bad. Did she dare take that chance, though?

The Light Fury gave her head a shake, and she started to follow the river. From up above, she could see how far the river seemed to go. It looked like it was feeding into a grove of some kind. However, much to her own disappointment, the river's feeding spot seemed to be encased with a thick layer of thorns. Again, she chuffed aloud. Why were things so difficult in these lands? And how were whatever creatures that were down there managing to navigate? She didn't need to wonder for long, it seemed. As she flew down lower, closer to the ground where the two creatures were walking, she finally got a closer look. One was a small and colorful sort of creature. She'd never seen anything like Torgudd before, but there was definitely a first time for everything. The Light Fury had been learning that as she spent more and more time in the expanded world. The other creature, though...

Is that a dragon?? The Light Fury's heart skipped a bit as she looked at Mandonga. For a moment, she thought the dinosaur was indeed some sort of wingless dragon. Her jaw parted for a moment, then she closed it again when she finally landed on a nice bit of the ground. No... maybe not a dragon. He didn't look much like her, Nova, Toothless, or any other species of dragon she was familiar with. That didn't mean he was a bad sort of guy, though, right? Perhaps he would be willing to talk.

The Light Fury parted her jaws again to speak, but once more realized something. These creatures likely didn't speak her language. Well, that would make things awkward. She also realized that her sudden appearance might have startled them. So...

An attempted smile was formed on her lips. She'd seen Toothless do it. Maybe it would work here.