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Sanctuary  The Aviary The Forest The Valley The Lake The Kennels The Cattery The Reptiles The Hoard The Outside Feraldi Jag Lend a Hand The Orchard The Clouds Aethereality SnickerZville Arcadia |
To the Manor ~
Those with an interest in meeting the Lady of the Sanctuary are all sent this way... pointed towards that glistening castle at the center of the world that she's created for herself and her animal companions. It's a long walk indeed, the paths seeming to wander this way and that with no real direction. Habitat after habitat and quadrant after quadrant must be passed, and though the occasional cloud passes to relieve travellers with their shade... the sun's heat presses down like a weight upon the shoulders.
The wooded quadrant is little of an obstacle to pass through of course, the heavily laden branches that stretch over the path providing more than enough shade to be sufficient. Once the trees thin out though, the sun becomes far harder to ignore. It beats down from the sky... heating mercilessly the open path. Given that were one to relax it would be considered a comfortable day... but with the work of trotting all the way to the castle within a reasonable amount of time it's enough to send any creature into a good sweat. Now, the path leads at a decline for a short while, and the further you descend into the pleasant valley the more you find yourself in the path of soothing breezes. Ah, so this is how those in the surrounding habitats get along in the heat! With the breezes playing over your skin you're soon cool enough to speed once more your pace, the shining building looming ever nearer from it's perch at the base of what was likely the most prominant mountain in the small range that the sanctuary had been built around.
Past a great number of equine herds happily ranging over the open grasses... the present equines ranging from large to small, and from unicorns to pegasi. And now up the path cut into the lower roots of the mountain. It's not too much a strain really to head up that way, the path itself winding somewhat so that at no particular point was one presented with too steep a gradient to easily climb. All in all the walk is a long one, but well wrth it as you approach the great entrance area and look about for a guard to address.
Meeting ~
Rather than a guard, it's a smallish dragon-like creature that you find. A little pale fellow, and though compact he clearly shows signs of eastern ancestry. Happily he scampers towards you, and should you kneel to greet him will porp either forefoot upon your leg, levering himself higher up as though to examine you over. A bit of whuffling and one happy chirrup later, he falls childishly to his rump, looking towards the door.
Great large ears dish about, lengthy whiskers twitching before he makes something of an undignified scrabble for the door. Propping fore-feet upon the lowest of the panels the little creature gives another chirrup, pressing against the door by way of example. Clearly it not bothers the creature in the least that you're some odd stranger. He just wants inside. Should you prove grudging to comply, you'll find yourself on the recieving end of a chittered beration worthy of an earthen squirrel. Not until you concede to press open the door will his scoldings relent, and even then you'll find the little critter grasping after your clothing, snagging the fabric with his smallish pointed teeth. Now what?! He drags you inwards, apparently rather intent of guiding you inside himself.
"Maelthra! Be civil!" comes a call from not far down the hall, the light pattering sound of footsteps approaching. Glancing up, what should greet the eyes but a simple figure. Fairly lean, skinny even this femme is. First off she'll come across as normal, though a tad pale. Alright- a lot pale. That and something about her stride isn't quite human... and at closer examination, this would be due to the fact that she only walked on the balls of her pawfeet. And what greater hint is there- a felinic tail swaying behind.
"Many apologies..." the strangers says, bending down to scoop up the small dragon creature. "He can be very demanding. I am Feraldi. What can I do for you?"
That's it? This simple femme was the mistress of the sanctuary? She didn't look nearly old enough... perhaps in her early twenties. She wasn't big, or impressive, or stunningly beautiful. She was just another of the morph races... a feline. A white cat. She didn't look so special as she'd been made out to be by any means. As a matter of fact, with the small dragon scolding her from it's secure place in her arms, she looked a bit silly. "Well I'm sorry Maelthra, but this one's not here to play with you. Off you go." Leaning down she places the creature upon the floor. And after a chattered retort the outspoken Maelthra retreats down one of the many halls. Standing now, the femme displays for you a somewhat sheepish smile. "Well, there's not much to do at the manor I'm afraid... And pardon the mess..." What mess? There were papers shoved into all manner of pockets about her person. And the struggles of the contrary little dragon-kin had knocked several loose. "If you're willing, I could use some help going through these application papers and setting them all in order...."
Bondings ~
"The only other thing I know to offer you is a chance to see those creatures I have dedicated myself far more personally to, like little Maelthra." the feline says, once her papers are in order. She'll gesture with a hand for you to follow, pacing down along the hall. None of those side-hallways are approached, she taking you directly through to the back. "They reside out there, very near me. Would you like to visit one of them?"
Drift, the Derraka