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Post by Cyclops on Mar 3, 2009 0:09:32 GMT -5
"Alright square it away now." Cyclops looked over his squad of Corsairs as they stood there in the ready area of the Danger Room. "BURNS! I said lock it up!" Scott wanted them all to maintain their bearing, and for the most part they did, although Kelly Burns was always the exception. He was a fun-loving decent guy, and brave when he had to be, but mostly he was a goof ball. Scott never forgave Emma for sticking him with the kid, but ever the optomist Scott thought one day that Kelly might step up to his potential.
Mason on the other hand was a man who had completely realized his potential and was constantly pushing himself to achieve it. He had been a perfect choice to take the reins of the Corsairs. Scott was confident that he would be one of the few students he would want to join the X-Men and stay on at the institute to pass on Xavier's idealized views and adapt them to the next generation. He put a lot of faith in Ironclad and had high hopes for him.
As for potential Cyclops had only the word of Forge, a trusted ally and X-Man, to go by when it came to TrueSpirit. At a glance the youngest member of the Corsairs was hardly worth a second look, but that was probably one of his greatest assets. His disarming nature and meek demeanor belied his incredible power. The Shaman, a man by the standards of his tribe, was too new to the school to be expected to make a mark with his team, but surprisingly he had.
As Scott walked down the line of his team of young heroes he came to the ladies. Ariel, tough and scrappy on the outside, but her heart tender and caring. She had come a long way since joining the school. Scott could recall her being not too different than a lot of the kids. They all have the phoney bravado to some extent, she had grown up with older brothers, but she wasn't the youngest. In fact as he recalled she was a middle child and so she always clamored for the recognition and strove for perfection, a classic overachiever. Smart and physical she was virtually raised in her Father's gym, toughened by her older brothers, since her mother was busy with her two younger siblings. Hotwire knew about big families, and the Corsairs were just that.
The Mother figure of the team was certainly HeartString. Tracy was nurturing and trustworthy. She had to be to be able to deal with knowing what everyone around her felt and not sharing the gossip. Her trust of herself and her own abilities had been the only thing she had been most lacking in and Cyclops had taken the words of advice given him by Storm about the girl to heart. She had been Tracy's Team Leader when the girl was on Storm's Blitz Squad, and she had made him promise to throw her into any and every situation he could. Scott didn't think the girl could handle it but Storm had seen something in her and knew it would take self discovery for the girl to see it too. Ororo had been correct, and her instincts were right on the money. Tracy needed to be pushed beyond her comfort zone and thrust into the thick of things to see for herself what she was capable of.
The one person on the team that didn't need to be shown what she could do however was Ember. The girl had come to the Institute completely capable to handle herself. She knew how to fight, her self control was amazing. Emma had said something about knowing about the girl for many years and having had an eye on her from time to time. The fact that she was gifted and well trained was impressive, in all actuality she didn't need much training at all with her mutant powers. What Aideen needed was interaction and contact with others. She was a self starter and a self finisher too, but what she lacked was human contact.
Cyclops came to understand her from the time he had spent with her. He had taken an almost instant liking to her due in large part to her maturity and professionalism. She had however touched him on a deeper level though and it was hurtful to have to see her deal with the advances of her none too secret admirer. He had talked some with her earlier at dinner, and then they had met briefly right before coming to the Danger Room. There was little that could be done short of killing the Hellion, and Scott didn't want to have the young man's blood on anyones hands. He did assure Ember that Rumble would make a fatal mistake one day and that he would reap the harvest he had taken such pains to sow.
"O.K. team" he said as Kelly finally settled down. "Tonight's practice is a checkpoint objective. The setting will be The Savage Land." He paced in front of them describing the scenario as he went. "You will be split into teams of two. Be wary of traps and the indigenous flora and fauna, as well as..." he scratched his chin for a moment before deciding on a unified enemy that would have long distance communication capabilities "...Cyber-Nazi's. You will be expected to find each other without alerting the enemy, and then meet up at the checkpoint located at the base of the Volcano. This is a level seven exercise, so serious injury may result. As always watch out for one another and the shut off panic word is 'ROMEO'. Everybody clear on that? Any questions? Kelly?"
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Calorie
Corsairs
Kelly Burns
You know what word is funny? Pickelweasel!
Posts: 84
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Post by Calorie on Mar 3, 2009 0:36:00 GMT -5
"Yea I do have a question. Two of them actually," Kelly said and adjusted the protective glasses that he was told to wear because of all the times he injured his eyes. "What's that stuff that they put in chick's lip stuff that make your skin like tingle and burn and their lips all puffy? Is that poison cause if that's the case I think I'm gonna die soon," he said rubbing his cheek and giving Ariel a look since it was her lip gloss that caused it.
"Oh and can the Cyber Nazis be hot bikini chicks? Cause that would be awesome and it would totally make my day better. You know I lost that super bouncy ball today? Well sorta, Emma confiscated it cause of the dinner thing," Kelly said thinking back to dinner when he bounced his ball all over the room and it ended up hitting Kitty in the head. Emma confiscated it and he felt like someone took his favorite ice cream away right then and there.
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Ironclad
Corsairs
Mason Rictus
Posts: 197
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Post by Ironclad on Mar 3, 2009 1:07:53 GMT -5
Mason gave Calorie a pointed glare and gave him a whack on the back of the head. "Burns, you're a piece of work. It's cinnamon oil, you're not gonna die," he said with a glare at the team goof ball, though at times was refreshing, this was not one of those times. Mason's head was busy analyzing a plan in his mind on how to make this work. He needed to take the team out of their comfort zone a bit for this one. Usually he paired Calorie up with either himself or Hotwire, keeping him clear of Ember, more for Calorie's safety than anything else. TrueSpirit worked well with everyone, as did the others. Mason decided to try a new sort of strategy, since it was supposed to be training for potential real life situations.
"I think we're okay Cyclops. Listen up team," he said turning to his team. "This is the pairing we're going for: Burns, you're with me. I'm not having you try and touch my guns again, you won't like what happens. Reyes, you're with Mato and Fox you're with Tracy," Mason said looking at each of them as he said their name. His strategy was taking those with abilities that don't compliment each other perfectly and have them work it out.
He looked over at Aideen, his second in command to see if she had any issues with it. "Cool Fox? I'm trying the Split Sector we talked about. Might as well be now," Mason stated referring to the team strategies he went over with her. He trusted her opinion and took her advice seriously, though he normally chose his gut over all else.
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Hotwire
Corsairs
Ariel Reyes
Posts: 97
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Post by Hotwire on Mar 3, 2009 1:34:42 GMT -5
Ariel rolled her eyes at Kelly and, just to tease him, looked at him and blew a kiss with a smirk before hearing how things were going to go down. "I double dog dare you to touch his guns Kelly," she said playfully and looked to Mason knowing she would get a look and gave him a face that said 'I just had to do it.' "And works for me," she said and looked toward Mato. Ariel thought Mato was pretty awesome although he was extremely quiet. Maybe it was her loud and crazy upbringing that made her think it, but she still liked him regardless and had no issue working with him. She thought this would be a good chance to see what he was like when he wasn't silent or so very serene since they were teamed up. She was interested in this practice because she was so accustomed to having always been paired up with Kelly just about every time.
She grinned as she walked up to her Native American teammate and gave him a small playful nudge in the arm. "You're stuck with me today. This'll be fun, eh?" she said to him and then let the grin soften so that she could get into her team practice mindset. There was a mission to start soon and rarely if ever was it time for games.
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Post by Ember on Mar 3, 2009 1:59:20 GMT -5
Aideen's attention slipped from Cyclops to Mason when he spoke to the team. She was still in a good mood, despite seeing Rumble at dinner and the talk that she had with Cyclops. It eased her worries about him being upset with her, but she was really getting tired of Rumble. She'd handle him though, she was confident she could as long as he kept those she cared for out of it. Her heart was still light though, and not even Rumble can take away the new feeling that took over Aideen's heavily guarded heart.
"It's fine, works well for a jungle setting," she said quietly after thinking about it for a moment and analyzing it in her head. Tracy will be fair to work with. Our powers are hardly as complimentary as hers and Mato's, but I do trust her enough to work well. Aideen adjusted her single long braid and smoothed out her uniform. Looking back at Cyclops in full warrior mindset, she looked him right in the eyes with respect. "Thank you sir, objective and mission is understood," Aideen said before looking at Tracy and waiting for her to come with before she started separating. "Spread out then?" she said to Mason, ready to walk to the other side of the chrome like room with Tracy.
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Post by TrueSpirit on Mar 3, 2009 10:14:30 GMT -5
Throughout all of Cyclops' and Mason's explanation, Mato stood tall and strong listening to his respectful team leader and team captain give them their objectives. From the corner of his eye, he watched Cyclops' Lion walk beside him, looking at each of them in turn along with him. Mason's cheetah did much the same as it stood swinging it's tail in a stance that would tell anyone that a plan was formulating in his head. Mato was fascinated by the team's spirit animals during a practice, for they were all so vivid and animated, as focused as the team.
Mason's strategy with the pairings was wise, and Mato smiled at Ariel slightly, bowing his head to her. "It will be a time to remember I am sure," he said to the girl with the Wild Mustang within her, that stood by her prancing and ready to go. Our Captain was wise with the pairings. The Platypus may be a handful, but the cheetah will have no qualms reeling control over the rambunctious animal. The Cougar and Hart is a pairing of interest, for they are generally predator and prey. Their spirits connect in a similar manner of the Felines, but for a different reason. The Grizzly Bear that my spirit belongs to will balance the Wild Mustang of the Plains. Whereas the Grizzly is patient and silent, the Mustang's excitement is contagious. A very interesting strategy indeed, Mato thought looking at his teammates.
He bowed to Cyclops in respect, adjusting the symbolic Cormorant feather that he wore in his hair for all practices and on most days as well. It was given to him by their Tribal leader, the Symbol of a Silent Warrior. Mato bowed his head with the same kind of respect to Mason as well, silently blessing their spirits for a safe venture through the Jungle Mission. When instructed, Mato held out his arm to Ariel, walking off with her to a respected distance in the Danger Room to begin their practice.
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HeartString
Corsairs
Tracy Goddard
Trust me, I know what hurts you, I know what you're feeling
Posts: 222
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Post by HeartString on Mar 3, 2009 22:47:25 GMT -5
Tracy nodded at Cyclops and smiled at the rest as they separated saying "Everybody, please be careful...Stay safe!" Walking off with Ember she took a look back at Mason and catching his eye she winked at him. She could feel the excitement and anticipation of her teammates and the pride that Cyclops had in them all. It was well earned, and they had trained hard for many years, the latest additions to the team only now being tested were proving themselves worthy of the praise as well.
She was hopeful this evenings training session would be a good distraction from the problems of their real life. The Danger Room was not just a place to get beat up, it was a place where you could vent and let all the frustrations of the world out. Frustration, it seemed, was the order of the day and had been for too many days in a row as a singular dissonant note of an emotion drifted though them all and some carried it more than the others, she felt it in herself too.
The source was the issue with Aideen and Brock. Tracy was trying to ignore it and block it out, but being teamed with the one person on the team whom it most affected made the task difficult. Yet there was another feeling now that registered in HeartString's emotional sense and with it came a slight smile on Tracy's face. She had been feeling it build in Aideen for weeks now and she had a good idea what it was all about and who was responsible for it, but being a friend she would never let on, or reveal what she knew. "Over here's good, Cyclops should drop the lights in a minute and then we'll start. You ready?"
Tracy's eyes searched the face of her teammate for any signs of what she was feeling from her. There was no indication and when she had mentioned starting she could swear that she actually felt the entirety of Ember's emotional being fold in on itself, with only mere wisps of emotions left in the tiniest trace amounts. The girl was good at that, but she was not quite as perfect as she once was, perhaps the joy in her heart was too overwhelming, or the angst over Rumble too great, but in a way Tracy was happy for it.
The girl was no longer a machine, still a soldier of the highest caliber, but now with a renewed sense of self, and desire. She seemed now to have a reason to fight, a passion for life, and a depth to her soul. She seemed somehow released from a cage she had been long imprisoned in, a cage she had had help making no doubt, but one she had made for herself. "Uuhh, sorry...silly question, you're always ready, right?"
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Post by Cyclops on Mar 4, 2009 1:57:40 GMT -5
Cyclops saw them all breaking into their teams as Mason had called for and so he headed up into the control room. "Going hot in five..." the lights dimmed and there was more than a second or so pause between his count down "...Four..." a smell now permeated the areas around each two person squad "...three..." the sounds of the Savage Land began to fill the ears of the Corsairs "...two..." the young heroes eyes started to detect the increase in the ambient light "...One!!" Before their very eyes the room that had mere moments ago been an empty chrome arena was revealed to be.... THE SAVAGE LAND
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Ironclad
Corsairs
Mason Rictus
Posts: 197
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Post by Ironclad on Mar 4, 2009 16:25:53 GMT -5
Mason stood calmly and and looked around their new surroundings trying to accustom to the scorching temperature. The air was thick with humidity and heat and it felt like a sauna. They were on top of a jagged cliff that looked like a nasty climb down and behind them was a whole mass of jungle. Just as he always did, Mason looked around and took in their surroundings, analyzing and planning in his mind on what would happen and their course.
Loud roars and sounds of animals echoed through the air and he could see at a distance a group of brontosauruses grazing in a large open field. From their spot on the cliff, Mason saw two tyrannosaurus rexes charging through the jungle, apparently on a chase of something. I really hope that's none of the team. They're okay with each other. Fox would never let anything happen to Trace and Trace will keep her composure and be able to detect any of us in a second. Mato is as good of a scout as Fox and Reyes can multi-task her powers well. They'll be okay, he thought moving his eyes from the chase to the large lake where what looked like a couple of plesiosaurs were swimming and not far off he swore he saw the fin of a Megalodon popping out of the water and then disappearing under. Mason really hoped that none of his team had to deal with a prehistoric 75 foot shark with teeth half the size of them.
"Volcano is just on the other side of this section of the Jungle if we climb down. We gotta keep a heads up for any sign of Fox and Trace or Chief and Reyes," he said to Kelly before turning to look at him with serious and harsher eyes. "Burns remember this place? It's the one with dinosaurs that have an ongoing dinner time. No freaking around here," he said and turned to look toward the jungle a movement catching his eye. Mason's dark eyes hardened and then heard a sound that he like at all, making him pop one of his guns and fasten a silencer on it in two quick steps. "Aw freak, it begins."
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Post by Ember on Mar 4, 2009 20:32:41 GMT -5
Aideen nodded to Tracy, kinda glad for the most part that she was with her. She trusted her, had from the moment that she saw that Tracy never revealed any of her secrets. Also, Aideen just felt more comfortable with her more than any other female excluding Haven. The first thing that Aideen felt was the rise in temperature, her body absorbing it like a sponge. Jungle conditions were not new to her since her Uncle often brought her to South America for her 'training' and missions, were she would spend days in the Jungles of Amazon.
What was new to Aideen was the fact that her and Tracy ended up in a small clearing with two large tyrannosaurus rex looking savagely taking apart a smaller T-Rex for a meal. They were enormous and more savage looking than any digitalized pictures she ever saw before. Worst of all they were barely fifty yards away from them. Aideen looked at Tracy silently, putting a finger to her lips. She indicated her head to the jungle and began walking back to the cover of the jungle as silently as possible.
*SNIFF* One of the T-Rexes lifted up his head and smelled the air. Aideen cursed herself for showering again before dinner, though she had little choice. Both the T-Rexes looked right at them and Aideen stood perfectly still for a moment as the two animals looked at them curiously and inched forward, saliva dripping from their jaws.
"Run," she said to Tracy before she sprinted off with her into the jungle with her. The chase was on and the T-Rexes let out a loud roar and followed them into the jungle growling and snapping their jaws. "Stay close, keep under low trees. We need to find something it finds more interesting than us!" Aideen said to Tracy as she leaped over a tree root and onto a rock, pushing off the rock and landed on the ground, still running hard as the Earth shook from the pounding of the two T-Rexes behind them.
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Hotwire
Corsairs
Ariel Reyes
Posts: 97
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Post by Hotwire on Mar 4, 2009 21:33:25 GMT -5
As the Danger Room transformed into what looked like a really large tropical jungle, the heat and humidity seemed to start blasting, although it didn't quite bother Ariel. It actually reminded her of what the weather was like when she and her family would visit their extended family in Rio de Janeiro just about every summer, or whenever else the family had the time and money to take a trip down other times in the year. The main differences here was that it was not the widespread cityscape she would see, and there were the sights and sounds of dinosaurs and other animals that had been around millions of years ago.
Ariel found Mato and herself nearby a seemingly massive lake where she could see the heads of plesiosauruses poking up out of the surface of the water as they slowly swam around each other before dipping their heads back down. Beyond the lake was the volcano that was their goal. On one side of the lake were rocky mountains that made a wall and on the other was jungle, which was what was also behind them. Ariel looked around the new surroundings and then at Mato. "This is just gonna be loads of fun. There's the volcano we need to get to," she said, pointing across the lake. "I don't think swimming will be a good idea. If I remember right those things that keep poking their heads are plesiosauruses or something...I think they may be carnivorous plus we don't know what else might be in there," she said, watching as they continued to slowly move around.
She looked back to Mato and thought for a moment. "Do you have some flying animal that can either scout ahead or get us across?" she asked, knowing he could summon a bear and other animals she was sure, just what types she wasn't too clear on.
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Calorie
Corsairs
Kelly Burns
You know what word is funny? Pickelweasel!
Posts: 84
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Post by Calorie on Mar 4, 2009 23:41:49 GMT -5
"Wow this place is awesome. Hey you think Cyclops did it so Shanna's around here too? Man that would be awesome. Remember when she showed up in like that tiny little leather bik- OH MY GOD!" Kelly screeched and pointed to the Cyber Nazi that just came out of no where and just looked right at them. In that instant the Cyber Nazi fell into a pile of pudding. Kelly didn't really think quite then, he just acted on a trained instinct that Mason almost literally beat into his head to act on certain instincts when danger hits.
Now in front of them was a pile of pudding and Mason didn't have to shoot anything. "Hey Mason look at that, pudding! I wonder if it like the kind we had for dinner," Kelly said with a laugh. Just as Kelly laughed, they heard a fierce growl behind them. His eyes widened in fear as the saw the trees moving and the Earth under them shake a bit. "Ummm Mason... I don't think that's a Cyper Nazi or Shanna. Her jugs aren't that big," he said a bit fearfully.
Out of the wooded are came one Velociraptor. Followed by Another. And Another. And Another. "AHHH We're gonna die!" Kelly whispered in a squeaky voice. Then the Raptors launched at them, and they had no where to run on th edge of a cliff. "RUN!" Kelly yelled and turned and ran hard straight into Mason. He didn't stop his force and sent them both right over the steep cliff down the rocky slope. "AAAAHHHH HAAAA HOOO!" Kelly screamed and just before they hit the downward slope on the way down, Kelly turned it into butter. He kept making the area in front of them into butter as they literally slid down the cliff, almost as if they were on a crazy water slide racing to the bottom.
They slid down at insane speed, Kelly facing the front and Mason the back of them since he ran into him. They were shoulder to shoulder together in a technique that Mason taught the team to always keep a hold on the other in situations such as this one. "I HATE LIZARDS!" Kelly yelled in a whiny voice.
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Post by TrueSpirit on Mar 5, 2009 12:53:54 GMT -5
The new world that formed around them was much different than anything Mato knew. The air was thick with heat and moisture, the smell of a dead carcasses in the air along with an exotic smell that could only come with such a tropical location. As with the terrain back home and the ritual training of every boy to learn his surroundings and the signs that Mother Earth showed no matter were your location may be. Mato studied the thick jungle and the rocky cliffs that surrounded it. He also spied the pterodactyls flying in the air, which instantly had him reject going airborne. "We cannot fly over the cliffs, we may be spotted by the Cyber Nazis or become prey for the pterodactyls," he said in his calm voice as he observed the relatively calm looking body of water, with relatively little animals visible other than the plesiosauruses thats swam in a small colony.
Mato thought through the situation a moment longer, voicing his thoughts to Ariel. "They are carnivorous creatures yes? I believe that is what Dr. McCoy said several months back. It would be unwise to fly high in the air, for there are as many predators there as on land. Perhaps fly slightly lower close to the water. If we go calmly, we may just be passed off as one of the many tropical birds fishing," he said nodding at that. "I will call the Heron, he will fly true and take us to our destination."
Closing his eyes in reverence and prayer, Mato called forth the spirit of the Heron. The same spirit that served him so faithfully in LIMBO formed in front of them, glowing as brightly as him for a moment before they both returned to normal. He patted the Heron's large beak and stroked his neck for a moment. The heron lowered it's massive body and spread its wings so they may climb on. "Thank you my friend," Mato said to the bird before climbing on top of him carefully. Once settled, he reached back and helped Ariel climb up behind him.
"Hold on to me, however tight you wish your grip to be. His feathers are sleek and I am located at the best place for a good grip. My best advice is to find a comfortable and firm grip before we take off," Mato said and gave her a moment to do just that. When Ariel was settled, he patted the Heron's neck and the bird rose up in the air with a few flaps from his wings. Mato steered him a good bit away from the plesiosauruses and further out towards the body of water. "We must stay on the lookout for any threats," he said to Ariel as they flew smoothly over the water, at least seven feet above it at all times.
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Ironclad
Corsairs
Mason Rictus
Posts: 197
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Post by Ironclad on Mar 5, 2009 13:23:21 GMT -5
Mason had his guns out, silencers on and shooting at the Raptors. He hater Silencers, they screwed up his maneuvers and limited him far more than he cared. Nevertheless, his aim was accurate and shooting was perfect. Mason shot at the eyes of the Raptors with one gun and hit most of the raptors that tried to climb down after them in the eyes or the neck. Several Limp Raptors fell past them in a dead heap, others just tripped down.
His quick reflexes allowed Mason to reload from the ammunition he kept on his belt in less than a second. "Burns, keep us as steady as you can!" he yelled having to shoot at them a couple of times before he pierced them. These bastards got some tough ass skin, he thought as his bullet finally hit the one that kept tumbling closer to them right in the area under its jaw, making blood splatter.
When they reached the ground, both of them slid across the grass, and Mason didn't stop shooting. He scrambled up to his feet the second he saw a chance and pulled Kelly up with him. The Raptors that weren't dead were still scrambling down the cliff after them. "I don't wanna waist anymore bullets. Turn that area into molasses and make it deep so they get caught in it," Mason said in a hurry to Kelly still keeping his guns out and shooting only when necessary.
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Hotwire
Corsairs
Ariel Reyes
Posts: 97
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Post by Hotwire on Mar 6, 2009 1:37:24 GMT -5
Ariel nodded as Mato spoke aloud, and then watched with her usual slightly widened eyes as she saw him summon one of his animals by having them both glow brightly. I can't believe I forgot to think about how hot that is, and him in general, she thought as she watched and then dropped the thought as it was time to focus again. "Alright," she said and got up behind him on the Heron and wrapped her arms around his waist, holding on tightly against his back as she was not used to this and didn't want to fall off. And in non-team practice terms where things are less serious, hehehehe, she thought before speaking aloud. "I'm good," she told him so that they could take off.
"Yeah I know," she said, and looked around them as they flew lowly over the water and away from the plesiosauruses. From side to side she looked to see if there was anything in the water to worry about besides small swimming fish. Turning her head back to look behind, she felt something weird as if something wasn't right. The water behind them seemed calm and unmoving, although she wasn't sure if it was a trick on her eyes or not, but she saw something dark moving under the water, both behind and somewhat beneath them. "Mato something doesn't feel quite right here. Is it just me or is the water darker beneath and behind us than other parts of the lake?" she said, her eyebrows knitting together a little in confusion and weariness as she wondered what the big dark thing exactly was, and if it was a danger.
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