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Post by Tiasalle on Apr 14, 2007 19:22:52 GMT -5
"Quick! Get the doors! I'll cover the windows!" 43 year old Justin Tyler yelled to his wife, Tiffany The wind howled threateningly around the middle-aged couple's small beach home, almost tearing it away from its foundation, not far from the city of Prosperine. Tiffany held to her husband of twenty-two years tightly, both of them wishing that the storm would pass quickly and without leaving much damage. ***** Justin woke up and left his sleeping wife to take a look at what the fearsome winds had done to their property. Palm leaves, loose bark and all sorts of debris was scattered around his house. He looked at the residence he had worked so hard to build so many years ago when he and Tiffany were courting. He sighed, much of the roof had been blown off and a lot of their furniture was destroyed because of all the strong winds the night before. He took a deep breath and looked out over the ocean. At least the beautiful view had not been destroyed he thought ruefully. Suddenly, something stirred in the debris and captured his attention. Thinking it was some injured animal, he ran to its aid. Throwing the debris from the body, however, he discovered that it belonged to a young girl of about twelve to thirteen years of age. Her auburn hair was abnormally long and tangled around her entire body. Justin leaned over and felt her lungs rise and fall. She was alive! Gently, he turned her over and examined her for any other injuries. There was a nasty gash across her forehead, but not much else, unless you counted the minors scratches and bruises strewn across her tiny body. Content that she was not harmed terribly, other than the gash on her head, Justin lifted her into his arms and took her back to his destroyed home and his wife, who was watching for him anxiously.
ooc: I might be posting here multiple times. This is a test fanfiction and I would REALLY appreciate anyone who reads this message to PM any critiques they might have. I'm hoping to publish one day... Thank you! -Tia
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Post by Tiasalle on Apr 16, 2007 10:00:07 GMT -5
Darkness enveloped the girl's mind as she was gradually brought back to conciousness. A soft voice the girl identified as a man's whispered to her, "Tiasalle" Tiasalle? What did that mean? the girl wondered. The strange voice faded away as the girl felt something warm and wet press against her forehead. She opened her eyes and gazed into a pair of motherly blue irises. Startled, the girl flipped back and landed on all fours atop the head of the bed, causing it to flip over on top of her. "Oh! Dearie!" cried the woman, "Are you alright? I didn't mean to scare you, honey" The girl's head throbbed and she dazedly repeated the word she had heard just before she was brought back into conciousness, "Tiasalle" The bed flipped over, revealing the woman and a man at her side. The girl repeated the word again, "Tiasalle" The couple looked at each other and the woman asked, "Tiasalle? Is that your name?" The girl looked at her blankly, then fell over, fainted. ***** When the girl awoke again, it took her a while to remember what had happened. The word beat on her mind like a mallet on a drum, "Tiasalle, Tiasalle, Tiasalle" She pressed her hands against her ears, trying to drown out the thrumming. The word had to be something important, like, her name? It fell into place like a puzzlepeice. Tiasalle was her name! Happy to know something for certain, Tiasalle sat up in the bed she was in and walked out of the room. She ran into the woman and smiled, "Breathe Deep, my name is Tiasalle, what's yours?" The woman's eyes softened and she relaxed, "Ah, so you do speak, Tiasalle, good. My name is Tiffany Tyler, do you know where your parents are?" "Parents?" Tiasalle asked, blankly, "I don't remember..." Tiffany looked at her charge studiously, then shrugged it off. "You are obviously Dinotopian, since you know the traditional greeting and speak our language. Could you possibly go take care of Ridgeback and Nory? I have much to do, as well as Justin, in fixing the house up after that terrible storm" Tiasalle cocked her head, causing her auburn hair to swing across her bare feet. The word Dinotopian sounded very familiar, and, didn't everyone use the greeting "Breathe Deep"? Tiasalle shook her head, trying to make everything click. Tiffany led her outside and to a dinosaur barn. When Tiffany opened the door, Tiasalle smiled for the first time she could remember. A large, female red and gold stegosaur was in deep conversation with a dark purple and black Ceratosaurus. The duo lifted their heads and uttered a greeting to Tiffany in their own language, then said to Tiasalle, "Breathe Deep" in English Tiasalle replied in the same language, "Seek Peace" Startled, the saurians looked at each other. It was highly irregular for a girl Tiasalle's age to know English fluently if she were Dinotopian and if she was a Dolphinback, she would have reacted differently to the sight of them. Tiasalle approached the saurians, scratched Nory's beak-like muzzle tip and rubbed her palm in the direction of Ridgeback's scales on his forehead. The saurians were uncertain how to respond, no one had done this to them, but stories of their ancestors being greeted like this ran through their minds. They had a feeling Tiasalle would become a good friend of theirs.
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Post by Tiasalle on Apr 16, 2007 13:55:18 GMT -5
Weeks passed, Tiasalle constantly showed her gratitude for Tiffany and Justin's hospitality through serving and assisting them in any way she could with the reconstruction of their house. Tiasalle soon learned to braid her hair to keep it out of her face as she worked. Justin and Tiffany's friends would always comment on "That sweet, hardworking, adopted Tyler girl with the long braid" Tiasalle was shortened to "Tia", and she was soon accepted as part of the community. Even though no one knew where she had come from other than Justin had found her on the beach one morning after a storm with a large gash on her head. During the next few years, Tia grew from an awkward, forgetful little girl to a beautiful, understanding young woman of eighteen. Her hair remained long and always in her famous braid as she served and helped wherever she could in the small, outer community not far from Prosperine. However, during this course of Tia's life, there forever remained the question of who she really was... ***** Tia opened the barn door, hoping to surprise her friends. She tiptoed to Ridgeback's nest, relying on his contancy in being there and yelled, "FIRE!" Nothing replied. <Strange> she thought, <Niether of them are quiet during this time of day> She looked around, "Nory? Ridgeback! I brought something for you!" No reply. She climbed the stairs, looking for her adopted parents' Partners in the upper rooms. Soft voices greeted her ears, Tia smiled mischievously and tiptoed up to one of the doors. She almost jumped into the room, but the tone of the whispers was forbidding. "She can't be Dinotopian, she has too much of a dolphinback's carriage" said Ridgeback "Yes, but how else would she be able to speak all of those dialects so fluently?" Nory crooned "Have you noted her accent? Highly peculiar, it denotes the way the ancients used to speak" That was the voice of Enit, who was visiting the small town for some, unknown reason "Not only the ancients, but the royal ancients, my good friend" said Nallab, who was always with his partner, "Do you think she might have come through time?" asked the ever-imaginative Nory "Don't be ridiculous, Nory" Ridgeback replied, "How on earth would she be able to do that? From the past, no less" Tia took a step closer, tripped on a loose floorboard, and sprawled into the room, her surprise for Ridgeback and Nory spilling out of the basket she had been carrying. <Well> she thought, <That was graceful>
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Post by Tiasalle on Apr 16, 2007 15:34:46 GMT -5
When Tia stood and brushed herself off, she suddenly felt very awkward. Nory, Ridgeback, Enit, and Nallab were there, which was no surprise, since the young woman had heard them, but Tiffany and Justin's faces made her heart freeze, "What's going on?" she asked timidly, like a child who had just stumbled on parents trying to figure out a way to inform her that her favorite pet had just died. Tiffany remained silent, not knowing what to do, while Justin turned to Nallab, "Professor, do you really think she needs it?" he asked quietly "Do I need what?" Tia asked, "Dad, what's going on here?" Nallab turned to her, his face solemn, "Tiasalle, Enit and I came here to meet you, to see if we could help in some way for you to remember your past." Tia's heart began beating at a very swift rate. "How?" Nallab looked at Enit, who then took up the conversation, "There is an old tale dating back centuries that, when a Dinotopian is uncertain where he or she belongs, they reside in hermitage for a number of days, even weeks. The connection to our pasts lies in seclusion and the basic neccessities of a substantial life, along with a connection to ourselves that not many can find. The question is, Tiasalle Tyler, are you willing to live such a life and possibly sacrifice all that you have here in order to find out who you really are?" Tiasalle looked at Justin, who shook his head, telling her she had to make this decision on her own. Tiffany's old eyes were full of tears, but she was smiling. Tia looked at Enit and Nallab and said with a courage that surprised her, "I am willing" Nallab nodded, "Then I suggest you prepare yourself for your journey into the Basin."
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Post by Tiasalle on Apr 16, 2007 21:38:11 GMT -5
The sun was just barely setting when Tia exited her house and approached her waiting adoptive parents, their saurian partners, Enit, Nallab, and countless other friends of the small community that had come to wish her well. Tia felt overwhelmed by the show of affection and her importance to her friends as she played her travel plan out in her mind. First, she was to take a wagon to the Forbidden Mountains, then, she would be escorted by a caravan of mammoths across the trecherous mountain range, then led deep into the basin by Marigold and Paddlefoot, the Freshwater Habitat Partners themselves! Overcome by gratitude, Tia embraced her adopted parents, thanked Nallab and Enit, then wished her friends farewell. Tiasalle then hitched her pack onto her shoulders and followed Nory and Ridgeback to the road, where she would dive into the first third of her journey towards a knowledge of her past... The short journey was shortened even more by Ridgeback and Nory's harmonious singing. Tia loved music, especially the old Dinotopian lullabys that seemed to stir her memory. She hummed along quietly and the saurian duo sang. They soon quieted and Nory asked, "Tia, you know how to sing, don't you? Why don't you perform for us?" Tia blushed, but Nory had hit her with something she could not refuse. She loved singing, "Well, alright" she said shyly, then began, the words coming to her as her clear voice rang out over the beach scenery.
The trees sing sweetly in the breeze, Oh, how they seem to sway and dance with ease! Each creature in their own harmony, Reach out and strive with music to touch me.
How I wonder! Oh! How I wonder!
Ev'ry hope a future brings, Ev'ry honor some past sings. How can I, so humble and new, Reach in and join the chorus, too?
How I wonder! Oh! How I wonder!
Ridgeback was nodding and Nory sighed when Tia finished. They carried on in silence until the reached the road. Then, Ridgeback turned and grinned, showing razor sharp teeth, "Here we must leave you, Tiasalle" he said, Tia nodded, "Breathe Deep" "Learn Much" he replied, making up his own response Tia then turned to Nory, "I will miss you, my imagination" she said Nory honked a sob, "And I you, my voice" Tia scratched her beak, then rubbed Ridgeback's scales, "May you always see the light in everything" she said, "And may you find what you are looking for" the saurian duo wished in return And then, Tiasalle Tyler was alone.
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Post by Tiasalle on Apr 17, 2007 12:48:56 GMT -5
Tia camped out by the road that night, keeping herself company by singing and telling stories to the stars. She was soon asleep, despite her persistant excitment about finding for herself who she truly was. The next morning, Tia awoke to the creaking of large wheels. She quickly stuffed her blanket into her pack, put out the fire, and looked up to see an elderly gentleman looking at her, "Need a ride, missy?" he asked "Yes sir, you wouldn't happen to be headed towards the Forbidden Mountains, would you?" Tia inquired The man thought a moment, playing out his route, "Just so happens that me and Whiplash here are passing by there, we've got a load at Powder Top to pick up. Is that your desination?" "It's perfect" Tia replied excitedly "Then hop aboard, missy, we've got a long ways to go" Tia stood and walked to the back of the dung wagon, where there was an opening specifically made for travellers. As she struggled to get aboard, a saurian face popped up in front of her, "Hiya!" it squealed in her face Tia screamed and fell backwards just as the wagon lurched forward. Gathering herself, Tia ran and leapt onto the wagon's deck. Sighing, she leaned against a wall and asked, "What was that?" A massospondylus and her partner groaned, the man said, "Don't even ask" just as his partner replied, "Braveheart" "Someone call my name?" asked a voice in the crowd This time, the entire crowd joined in a groan, some looked at the massospondylus as if to say, "You just had to, didn't you?" A juvenile Thecodontosaurus leapt from the crowd, landing in a pose, his tail missing the massy's head by centimeters. His large head was held high, as if he was trying to look dignified. To Tia, however, he just looked like a juvenile Thecodontosaurus in his ugly years. His head was too big for his scrawny neck, and his legs looked too small for his muscular body. It took all of Tia's selfcontrol not to laugh at the scene. Braveheart stood on his hind legs and began what Tia thought was going to be a long introduction of himself, he looked right at her at one moment, then swung his head from a lifted left to a raised right at the next. "'Tis true, fair damsel, thy rescuer has arrived. His legs are swift, his body strong..." "His head swings left from right" Tia finished, deciding to challenge this Braveheart to a duel of poetry The Thecodontosaurus looked at her indignantly, "Ah, the hatchling has a gift for the rhyming word" "Be careful, sir, for 'tis an unweildy sword" Tia replied laughingly "That's all he needs" said the man sitting across from Tia, "Encouragement" "Hold thy tongue sir, 'tis only a small measurement" said Braveheart Just then, the wagon bounced on a rock, sending Braveheart flying, he landed on his tail, in a very strange and awkward position. The entire crowd started lauging. Braveheart hung his head in humiliation. Feeling sorry for him, Tia stood and helped the seven foot long herbivore up on his feet, "Come sir, we must have more of this measure" Braveheart brightened, "Fairest damsel, 'twill only be my pleasure"
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Post by Tiasalle on Apr 17, 2007 13:49:07 GMT -5
Countless, happy hours were spent as Tia and Braveheart chatted. Tia had no idea why the others found him so bothersome. She found him poetic, creative, and lighthearted. "So, where are you going?" Tia asked him on the second day of her journey Braveheart hung his oversized head, "The wanderer knows not where his destination lies, he goes wherever the land doth catch his eyes." At first, Braveheart's constant rhyming had annoyed Tia, but it soon had become second nature to her ears and she found herself admiring his gift. "So you don't know where you are headed?" Braveheart broke his rhyming rule for a rare moment, "Not really, you see, I want to do something with my life, but in a town as small as Azonthus, there isn't much opportunity for a rising poet like myself. My first destination was Waterfall City, naturally, but I found my heart yearning for even more." "Have you considered getting a mentor?" Tia asked Braveheart cringed, "Yes, I got a mentor, but it seemed too restraining for my skills and I dropped out." Tia looked at him, "Sometimes an education may seem restricting, but once you learn the basics, you can be off to a great start in any profession you choose" Braveheart shook his head and sighed. He then perked up and asked, "Wonderous damsel, what be thy pursuit? Whether it be by sea, by air, or foot?" Tia smiled, "My journey, sir, doth require feet, otherwise will I not get what I seek" "And what has moved thee to thy journey?" "Nothing but hope, and past, and yearning" Tia replied "There is more to this than meets the eye..." Braveheart said inquiringly "Aye, sir, more wonderous than the blessed sky" Tia sighed and began her own story, starting with the day she awoke in the Tyler household just after a storm of great proportions and finishing with her meeting Braveheart. The Thecodontosaurus listened with rapt attention, his large brown eyes meeting Tia's hazel ones. When Tia finished, they were silent for a second or two before Braveheart said firmly, "Fairest, nobel damsel, I will join thee on thy quest" Tia smiled, "That, good sir, would please me best" ***** At around noon the next day, Tia awoke to find that the wind was bitterly cold, and the wagon had stopped. The driver rapped on the door to the inside of the wagon and said, "You had best get something warm on, missy, it be freezing out here" Tia looked at Braveheart concernedly and got an idea, "Hold on!" she replied She brought out her coat that Tiffany had given her, then her warm, thick blanket. She wrapped it around Braveheart's neck and rubbed him down, getting the blood to pump freely. The door opened and a wild gust of wind hit everyone full blast in the face. Tia jumped out and turned to Braveheart, about to ask him if was going to join her. He was standing before their fellow travellers, making a farewell speech, "My sincerest apologies to my friends, but it behooveth me to follow this nobel damsel across the great barreness of the mountain range known as Forbidden. My greatest regrets at having to rob you of my company, fellow seekers of fortune, but it is required, and so I say..." "Come on, Braveheart!" Tia called to him from outside the wagon The saurian poet saluted the people, "See ya!" he said, and leapt outside There was a great cheer coming from the wagon as Tia and Braveheart made their way towards a very small village called Rocky Pass Junction and Braveheart sighed contentedly, "I believe my speech eased their pain at my departure" he commented Tia bit back a smile and remained quiet.
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Post by Tiasalle on Apr 17, 2007 15:13:24 GMT -5
They walked through the small village until they reached a building that said, "Caravans and Supplies" in the footprint language As they entered the room, they were greeted by warmth coming from fireplaces situated around the shop. Braveheart was not paying much attention to his surroundings and stepped on something soft and furry. A sabertooth cub snapped at his ankle. Braveheart honked and ran into Tia, who was just barely able to rescue a statue from being crushed on the hard stone floor. "Fluffy!" squealed a little girl of about five years, she ran to her friend and pet the cat to calm it down, "Did that mean old dinosaur hurt you?" she asked in a babyish voice Braveheart huffed, but remained quiet, not wanting to hurt the girl. "Try to be more careful, Braveheart" Tia said, catching her breath as she stood and placed the statue in its proper position Braveheart muttered something inaudible and snarled at the sabertooth cat, who swiped its claws across his nose. Honking again, Braveheart then remained close to Tia for the remainder of their time in the shop. "Sorry about that" said a gruff-looking man in his late thirties, "Sara has been protective of that cat ever since we found him as an orphan out in the cold weather" Braveheart's indignant glare turned softer, "He's an orphan?" he asked humbly The man nodded, "Well, what can I help you two with? You headed out through the pass?" Braveheart lifted his head proudly, "Yup, we're off to the Basin" "Off through the Basin, huh? Strange, we got a Dimorphodon yesterday telling us to prepare a caravan through the pass to the Rainy Basin, said it was for a woman 'bout eighteen looking for her past. She didn't say anything about a...a..." "Thecodontosaurus" Braveheart finished "Yeah, what you just said." Tia smiled, "Yes, I'm the girl. Braveheart here agreed to go with me, the Dimorphodon couldn't have known anything about him" "Ah, a straggler, eh?" said the shopkeeper, "It's a good thing we are prepared for such...Mallorie! We've got a straggler!" A plump, good-natured woman came from the back of the shop, she stopped when she saw Braveheart "Well bless my soul, if it isn't the town poet of Azonthus!" she exclaimed, "And if he hasn't gone and got himself a partner, Gregory! Isn't she a pretty one, too! You'll have to be extra protective of this one, Braveheart" "That can't be the little runt that was reciting poetry all over town, could it?" Gregory asked, looking Braveheart up and down "You know him?" Tia asked "'Tis great to see a face familiar, but the weather couldn't get much chillier" Braveheart replied, motioning towards the exit and bringing Tia's blanket closer around his shoulders "You're perfectly right, Braveheart, let me go get you two a nice cup of Trilobur Tea, that should warm you right up" Braveheart winked at Tia, "These two brought me up when my parents died, what a wonder to see them here, huh?" Tia didn't have time to reply because Mallorie had set her down in a chair, wrapped her up in a thick woollen blanket, and pushed a teacup in her hands, then, before she could thank her hostess, Mallorie shoved Braveheart onto a much larger chair, gave him a blanket so big it covered his body easily, and provided him with a cup and saucer as well. "Wow" Tia said, "That happened quickly" "Such is the hospitality of old friends" said Braveheart, "'Tis a lifetime treasure that never ends" Tia turned in her overstuffed chair to look at Gregory, "Sir, my parents are expecting a Dimorphodon from me as soon as I get to the Basin, what can I help with in your preparations for the caravan?" Gregory smiled at her, "Everything's done and ready to go, Tiasalle, we leave first thing tomorrow morning" Tia smiled and settled back into her chair, listening to Braveheart describe his adventures to Mallorie and Sara. With the comfort of friends and the warmth of the fire, Tia couldn't help but fall fast asleep in her chair, the image of the fire fresh in her memory. Soon, the flames in her mind began twisting and turning, transforming into figures and images that tickled her memory...
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Post by Tiasalle on Apr 18, 2007 11:39:01 GMT -5
"Reth!" screamed a familiar, feminine voice that refused to reveal its name to Tia "I'm fine, Zhenga, keep Tiasalle and yourself safe, I'm going to find help!" said another, masculine voice Tia recognized as the one that had revealed to her her name "Mother!" Tia yelled helplessly, she couldn't see a thing in the darkness of her mind's eye "Tiiiaaa" said Braveheart, interrupting her nightmare, "The caravan doth depart, if thou doth remain, 'twould break my heart" Tia snapped awake, clunking her head onto Braveheart's, "Ow!" she yelped, and rubbed her skull Braveheart shook his head sa if to rid himself of the pain that way. "Come, fair damsel, we must leave, or...or...aww, what the heck, come on, Tiasalle, let's go!" Tia let herself be pulled outside and into the biting cold morning. She shivered as she shed her blankets and returned them to Mallorie. "Oh, no, dearie, you are going to need those in this weather, come, put them back on again" Sighing at herself, Tia pulled the blankets around her shoulders once more and turned to Braveheart, who was wrapped in his own blankets from head to tail. "Ah, so this is the one so many have told me about" said an unfamiliar voice that sounded like a girl about Tia's age Sure enough, a girl clad in blue and white, the colors marking her position as the Habitat Partner of Alpine. Tia suddenly felt warm and nervous, what had she done to deserve such an honor? Didn't the Habitat Partners have better things to do that ecort a mere girl and her poetic friend through Rocky Pass? "B-b-breathe Deep" she stuttered, partially from the cold and partially from nervousness "S-s-stay Warm" the Habitat Partner replied, laughing, "Shall we begin our journey, then?" One of the mammoths lowered itself to the ground and made a series of trumpetings, the Human Half almost translated, but Tia beat her to it, "He says he's not used to carrying Saurians, since they hate the cold so much, but he will be willing to try for someone as loyal as you are, Braveheart" The saurian lowered his head shyly, "I am honored he believes as he does, but it is your friendship, Tia, that straightens my toes...to the path I am meant to take" Tia blushed, but soon shook it off and leapt easily onto the mammoth's back, soon followed by Braveheart. Thus began Tia's second third towards the discovery of her past...
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Post by Tiasalle on Apr 18, 2007 22:48:49 GMT -5
Moraine and Bigtusk proved to be amazing friends and companions on the trek westward. Tia, Braveheart, and the Habitat Partners of Alpine shared many conversations that lasted for hours on end. "Why did you simply drop everything to help me?" Tia finally gathered the courage to ask Moraine smiled as Bigtusk replied for the both of them, "When we heard a yound woman was searching for her past, we figured it would be more important to get her across Rocky Pass safely than let her risk it by herself" Braveheart broke out laughing, "Although your intentions are noble, I believe your charge is more than able" Tia shook her head, "I doubt it, Braveheart. I am more than grateful for your help, Moraine, and Bigtusk" she added in the mammoth's own langage "There's no problem" said Moraine, sitting leisurely on Bigtusk's back, "Actually, the only worry we could have is Sabers, but they would hardly attack a caravan this large, if anything at all..." Out of nowhere, the mammoth Tia and Braveheart were riding reared and trumpeted, "Cat!" she yelled, "It thinks I'm going to die! It's going to eat me!" During all of the rearing and trumpeting that was now ringing throughout the caravan (with the exception of Bigtusk, having dealt with Sabers many times before), Tia fell off the mammoth, but landed on all fours. Shaking her head, Tia stood up and did what was natural to her, marched up to the Sabertooth who had swung in front of her mammoth, and stamped her foot to get its attention. The enormous feline started at Tia's air of command and looked up at her. Tia wrote in the snow, "We are not a Sick Caravan, we are simply passing through to the Basin. Is there any possible way we can pass safely?" The Saber looked at the writing, then up at Tia. Its eyes narrowed as if concentration, then they widened, it bowed to Tia shortly, but with respect. Tia raised an eyebrow in confusion as it began to purr. It sat down and began writing in the snow, "I am Slash, Head Female. We were simply passing through. Your mammoths almost squished my mate in their blind terror. You may pass safely, even with our protection if you wish, cub princess" Tia's eyes widened, there had to be some kind of mistake. However, they could use the protection... Tia smoothed the surface, "I honestly don't know why you call me princess, but we would appreciate the protection" The Saber shook her head confusedly, but nodded. With a roar and a leap, her clan followed her away from the mammoths. Tia turned back to Braveheart, th mammoth they were riding, Moraine, and Bigtusk. Braveheart's mouth was open as wide as it could go. Moraine's eyebrows were as high as her forehead, and the mammoths were swaying from side to side uncertainly. Tia mounted her mammoth and they resumed their trek. "When I write thy life, Tiasalle Tyler" said Braveheart, " 'Twill be beginning to end in praise, and could still go higher" Tia blushed bright red and allowed her head to sink between her shoulders. Moraine and Bigtusk said nothing and Tia couldn't help but wonder what the Habitat Partners were thinking... ***** They safely trekked Rocky Pass as the sun just set over the western horizon, there, they once again met up with the Sabers. "Here we leave you, cub" wrote Slash "Thank you" Tia wrote back The caravan was planning on camping for the night, then heading back through the pass in the morning. Moraine and Bigtusk, having to take care of a problem deep in the Forbidden Mountains, approached Tia with a farewell. "It has been an honor meeting you, Tiasalle" said Moraine, "Thank you for allowing us to participate in some small way in your journey" "When Moraine speaks, it is for both of us" Bigtusk said humbly, "Thank you" Tia shook her head, "Thank you. I feel as if I do not deserve such honor to ride with Habitat Partners, much less become friends" Braveheart finished, "As the sun disappears in its journey around the earth, so must we depart. Take heart. There may be a time when two add the third and the forth. A thousand adieus, my friends, and may your happiness have no end" With that, ended Tia's second third, and the next morning marked the last stretch of her journey...
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Post by Tiasalle on Apr 19, 2007 0:00:50 GMT -5
"Damsel, I do insist upon you accepting me as thy mount, 'twill give more credit than what you count" Tia shook her head, "I told you, Braveheart, I've never ridden a Saurian before, it just seems too demeaing, that's all" Braveheart put aside his rhymes for the moment, "Tia, get on my back, I'm trying to be a gentleman's saurian, all you're doing is insulting me by refusing my offer"
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Post by Tiasalle on Apr 19, 2007 18:46:54 GMT -5
Tia sighed as Braveheart stood still for her to get on. "Alright, I can't argue with that" She straddled his back. "Try lying flat, so the weight is evenly distributed" Braveheart suggested They went on like that all day. "Where could our assigned escorts be?" Braveheart wondered Tia suddenly got a feeling like a fist was squeezing her heart, "Braveheart, we shouldn't go to the Basin" "What? Why not?" "I don't think my future lies there" Tia said, "I don't know why, but I think we should turn more southward, towards Sauropolis. Hopefully, we can find a wagon, I don't want to put more strain on you than is needful" Braveheart huffed, "Huh. Thy doubting heart rips me apart" he said "What?" Tia asked Braveheart stood and began running on his back legs swifter than Tia had ever gone before. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, trying not to fall off. Surprisingly enough, they covered much ground before night fell and they began to set up a small camp.
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Post by Tiasalle on Apr 19, 2007 20:26:37 GMT -5
Tia and Braveheart fell asleep almost immediately, so much had happened that day.
Tia awoke with the sun and began fixing breakfast. Braveheart didn't wake up until later, which was strange, since he was usually up before Tia. "Are you feeling alright?" Tia asked concernedly "Just a little tired" Bravheart said as he ate his breakfast and helped his friend clean up Despite Tia's constant refusals, she ended back onto Braveheart's back and they continued their journey. However, sometime around noon, Braveheart collapsed and could not get back up. Tia immediately got of his back and put his head on her lap, "I never should have let you talk me into riding you" she said, feeling guilty and terrified "It wasn't you" Braveheart gasped, "Tia, I feel sick, there isn't a doctor for quite a while, until Sauropolis. Go ahead, I'll get better myself or you can bring a doctor back" Tia looked Braveheart over and shook her head, "There's no way I'm going to leave you alone on the outskirts of the Basin, can you stand?" Braveheart attempted the feat and almost got to his feet, but his legs buckled and he fell down again, hard. Unable to speak because of his lack of breath, Braveheart laid on the dusty road, trying to get back up. "No, don't try again" Tia said, thinking fast, "I'll carry you" Braveheart opened his brown eyes, "How? I'm much too heavy for you to carry" Tia smiled weakly, "Thy doubting heart rips me apart" she said, spinning Braveheart's words back on him. With that, Tia reached underneath Braveheart and, with a good deal of effort, raised him off the ground. She shifted him onto her back and began walking the rest of the one hundred miles towards Sauropolis. ***** Day after muggy, tiring day, Tia carried Braveheart towards their destination. At first, she could only go so long before pausing for a break. However, after the first three days, Tia found within her a strength before unknown to her. She found it easier to lift Braveheart and she could carry him longer distances than the day before. When Tia was finally about to give up, she shook her head, "Just over that hill" she said, hoisting Braveheart into a more comfortable position and trudging upwards. When the sight before her presented itself, Tia felt warm tears running down her cheeks as she gently placed Braveheart on the road. "Braveheart" she whispered in awe, "We arrived" The Thecodontosaurus opened his eye a slit and Tia caught the slightest smile spread across his face. She picked him up again and almost ran the rest of the way to Sauropolis. ***** Bandele leaned on the rim of the rooftop of the school house. Having taken care of the day's homework and other responsibilities of teaching a class of small children, "Bandy" was bored out of his mind as he watched the traffic below him pass to and fro on the streets of Sauropolis. A cry echoed above the tumult and Bandy looked towards the sound. A young woman was kneeling next to a thecodontosaurus, evidently trying to wake him up. Bandy rushed to the bottom floor of the building, he finally exited it, found the young woman to the side of the road, and ran to her. "Is everything alright, miss?" he asked concernedly The woman looked up at him and the beauty of her tear-streaked face tickled his memory, did he know her? "Braveheart's sick, he stopped breathing just as we entered the city, we need a doctor as soon as we can get one" It was as if fate itself had prompted Bandy to go to this young woman. "It just so happens that I room with a doctor. Come, I'll help you carry him in." Bandy and the young woman carried Braveheart into the building and took him to a room conveiniently located on the bottom floor. "Doctor Collins! We have an emergency!" Bandy yelled into his room They laid Braveheart onto one of the beds in the room just as a tall, white-haired man entered the room from the kitchen. Bandy didn't mean to eavesdrop, but he couldn't help but watch the young woman stroke the Saurian and say quietly, "See? It's just like I promised, Braveheart, I carried you into Sauropolis" Bandy's curiosity was peaked, but before he could ask anything, Doctor Collins approached him, "Sorry Smallstep isn't here" he apologized, "She had some family business to take care of." He looked at Braveheart, "Oh my, what's the matter here?" The young woman looked up again with her shimmering hazel eyes that shone with concern and Bandy was once again struck by how beautiful they were, "Braveheart is sick, I don't know what happened to him. He stopped breathing just when we entered the gates only a few seconds ago" "Oh my" Doctor Collins repeated, "May I ask for your absence while I examine him? It will only take a moment" Bandy could tell the young woman was having a conflict of whether to obey or not. She decided the former and exited the room, followed closely by Bandy. He closed the door and sat next to the girl on a bench situated in the hallway. There was an awkward silence before Bandy spoke gently, "I couldn't help but notice your loyalty to your partner" he said The girl sat up straight, "He isn't my partner, just a friend I met coming from a community not far from Prosperine" she explained in an emotionless voice "How far have you been carrying him?" Bandy asked, not knowing how else to word what his mind was dying to know The girl answered blankly, "Since he got sick not far from Rocky Pass" "Rocky Pass?!" Bandy almost shouted, "But that's over a hundred miles from here! How did you...?" The girl changed the subject, "My name is Tiasalle Tyler, what's yours?" "Bandele Grant" said Bandy, "But most people just shorten it to Bandy" "Thank you, Bandele, for helping me get Braveheart to a doctor, I can only hope..." she broke off as a new wave of tears doused her muddy face She leaned on Bandy unconciously. The twenty year old man looked around himself awkwardly for a moment before patting her on the back, "I'm sure everything will turn out okay" he said as comfortingly as he could.
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Post by Tiasalle on Apr 21, 2007 10:42:26 GMT -5
Tia snapped awake on a bench with a blanket wrapped around her, "Braveheart" she whispered, and ran back to the room she remembered him being in She knocked hurriedly, "Hello?" she asked in a worried voice, "Is anyone in there?" The door opened and the young man called Bandy smiled, "Did you have a good sleep?" he asked casually "Nevermind about me, how's Braveheart?" Tia asked urgently "Oh, he's fine, Doctor Collins and I took him to the hospital for some final checking up, but Collins says he'll live" Tia blew a sigh of relief, "Thank goodness" she said "Are you okay?" Bandy asked tentatively, "You looked exhausted yesterday" Tiasalle smiled, "I'm fine, but I think I could use a bath right about now" Bandy grinned, "If you'll clean up as much as you can here, I can give you directions to a bath house not far from here." Tia nodded, smiling, "I'd like that, as long as we go to visit Braveheart afterwards" "See you again in a bit, then" Bandy said, closing the door "Wait!" Tia said, holding it open for a moment, Bandy looked at her and could have sworn he had seen her eyes before..., "I never did get to thank you" she said softly, "So...Thank you, for everything" Bandele smiled, "You're welcome, Tiasalle, for everything" The door closed, Tia ran to the front desk to get a room while Bandy decided right then and there to reward this brave, grateful, familiar girl.
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Post by Tiasalle on Apr 23, 2007 13:57:03 GMT -5
Bandy gave Tia the directions to the bath house, then said he had some business to attend to before they went to visit Braveheart. Tia shrugged, then made her way in Sauroplois, obeying Bandy's directions to the smallest detail, finding it easily. While she was reluctantly about to put on her dirty clothes, a struthiomimus knocked on her door, "A package for Miss Tiasalle Tyler?" she said <A package?> Tia wondered, <Who knows I'm in Sauropolis?> Curious, she opened the door a crack and saw a white box with unfamiliar handwriting on it. She picked it up, closed the door once again, and opened it. Atop of what looked like a pile of tissue paper, a note lay in plain sight. "To one who deserves the medal of honor" <This must have been mistook> Tia thought, but saw the name on the opening of the letter, "Tiasalle Tyler" <Me? Deserve a medal? Who on earth sent this?> Tia read its contents:
Tiasalle Tyler, I could not help but feel impressed by your strength and courage in the task of bringing your sick friend one hundred miles to be cared for here in Sauropolis. This and the promise that I will do whatever I can to help you in your quest here, whether it be caring for your friend or in other matters, is much less than the greatest way admiration could be expressed. However, it is the best I am able to do at the moment. Please accept my apologies and my greatest regards, Sincerely, Bandele Grant
Tia shook her head in shock, now she had an admirer? Smiling, she put the card on the bench beside her and opened the box further. A dress the color of Braveheart's green and brown mottled scales and the texture of water poured out of the box and into Tia's hands. She excitedly put it on and twirled, this was much more than she could have ever expected! After cleaning up her things, Tia ran to the hostess of the bath house, thanked her sincerely, and went outside. Bandele was out there, sitting casually on the stone seperators betwixt the street and garden surrounding the building. Tia sat next to him and hugged him, "Thank you so much!" she said, "You've done more for me and Braveheart than so many others on our journey, I owe you so many times over it's not even funny anymore" Bandy was stunned for a while, but soon composed himself, "Don't worry about it. It was a way to get the taylor I give lessons to their children off my back in returning the favor." Tia stood back up, "Can we see Braveheart now?" she asked excitedly Bandy followed her example, "We can see Braveheart now"
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