First Bear Encounter: Two Days Before Samhain

16:56 Garras
*settles down against an oak amongst the pines, reclining and looking up at the moon*

17:00 Garras
*a scent drifts past his snout*

17:00 Asher Ouellet
Approaches to oak from behind, and lean against the tree, watching the new beast that has arrived from his behind with a smile on my face.

17:02 Garras
The bears paws slide to his head and then down again, his shoulders undulating by both the breeze and by articulation.. Looking down as he begins to make a winding motion.*

17:06 Asher Ouellet
My smile broadens as I watch the big bear's movements, can't help but think how innocent looking he is at the moment while he is all alone by himself, despite his size. I tilt my head to the side as I start mumbling one of the secret lullabies of mine.

17:07 Garras
A flicker of his ear, a stop to his motions.

17:10 minotaur21560
*bows @Asher_Ouellet

17:11 Asher Ouellet
A chuckle escapes from my mouth as I see bear stops moving, but quickly return back to singing the lullaby "Anar'alah... Anar'alah... Belore..." Realizing @minotaur21560 arrives, and just greet him with a head bow while continue singing.

17:15 minotaur21560
*looks at @Asher_Ouellet carefully, then also begins to sing: "Iacchus, venerated god, hasten at our call. Iacchus, oh! Iacchus! Come into this meadow, thy favorite resting-place; come to direct the sacred choirs of the initiate; may a thick crown of fruit-laden myrtle branches rest on thy head and may thy bold foot step this free and joyful dance, taught us by the Graces – this pure, religious measure, that our sacred choirs rehearse.

17:16 Garras
The bear's mouth is a stoic line, his fingers idly twitching at his paw, and then shifts, the scrabble of claw ticketing in the ever encroaching darkness, music enveloped and deepened amidst the relative silence of the forest.. The trees swaying and whispering as winds belabor their boughs.

17:17 minotaur21560
*looks at the bear, careful not to make any sudden movements.

17:46 minotaur21560
*to @Asher_Ouellet * "You haven't met this beast before?"

17:53 Asher Ouellet
I grin at @minotaur21560 as I hear his silent question, and shake my head silently to suggest that I have never seen him. Can't deny the fact that I am also impressed by his singing voice as well, I lean towards him and whisper into his ear. "Nope... who is he?" Having stopped singing due to asking the question, my eyes still on the big bear, watching his hand movements carefully.

17:53 minotaur21560
*Whispers back* "He is Absurdity, the Face of Unreason."

17:54 Asher Ouellet
Looks quizzical as I hear this answer. "Everybody has their own reasons..."

17:56 minotaur21560
"Beware, Tread Softly, for the sake of thy soul!"

17:57 Asher Ouellet
Chuckles silently "Oh I am always careful... Don't you worry..."

17:58 minotaur21560
Luckily the Bear vanishes

17:58 Asher Ouellet
"For now..."

18:02 Garras
But while the men talk, their eyes gazing upon the shadows of that oak, there is a rustling in the branches and a bear head pokes out of the canopy, looking down at the creatures that inhabit this eve. "It would seem I have company tonight." The bear's grizzled mug intones, his lips parting to reveal a crescent of moon yet missing from the waning moon.

18:03 minotaur21560
*looks up* "You see, the bear has stolen the crescent moon as his smile!"

18:06 Asher Ouellet
Suddenly, as I notice a figure appearing there near me and mino, my eyes suddenly dart in that direction, and unconsciously I take a step back, looking at the big bear while my ears catching mino's words, can't help but put a smile on my face. "I am not surprised... All these magical creatures never ceases to amaze humanity..." I mumble as I continue to stare at Big Bear.

18:06 minotaur21560
*looks up, reading a sign: Scarebear...FuckTrophy?

18:09 Garras
"It's a funny thing. Magic." The bear's Cheshire fanged smile is interrupted by a subtle flicker of his tongue across his lips. "When something is unexplained, it falls to many.. The reasoning that it must be so." The bear's baritone drawl is slow and winding, gossamer and graceful as moonlight, winding and wending in subtle swagger. "But a black bear is known for its ability to climb trees. A hunter would know this."

18:10 minotaur21560
"The reasoning that the bear unravels deftly with its claws..."

18:17 Asher Ouellet
As I finish examining the big bear's body, he finishes his words, and my eyes meet his. My blue eyes glows brighter, just like diamonds for a couple of seconds before returning back to normal. My smile widens, teasingly. "It's pretty ironic that we, humans, are always regarded as "ignorant" beings. And no other creature out there questions themselves..." voice is soft as tender, just like the big bear's. "Asher... Asher Quellet..." I can feel the compound bow behind me can be examined more clearly as i bow slightly after introducing myself.

18:22 Garras
The bear's body is shrouded by the trees.. But with his head exposed and his heart enshrouded, there are noticeable features. Stormy white brows. A dark oak of a right eye. An obsidian sphere for his left, polished to reflection with his saline.. A tuft of white on his chin. "It is the nature of humanity to think all words are for them. But language is a liquid we all swim in Asher. The wilds often provide many questions for those who know how to hear them." The bear slowly extends a stocky black arm, his massive right bear paw wrapped in a brown leather thing with a patch resting over the back of his hand. "Welcome to the Forest. And to you too Minot. Though we have met elsewhere."

18:23 minotaur21560
*whispers to the adventurer* "This one-eyed Bear has an Odin vibe."

18:24 minotaur21560
*and to the Bear* "And I greet you here most warmly, Lord Bear, for you will be more at home in these woods than in some places."

18:25 Garras
The bear chuckles softly, fingers still extended. "I am a wanderer Minot. I take home with me wherever I go."

18:32 Asher Ouellet
Can't help but laugh silently as I hear mino's comment, and looking at the strong, firm paw of the bear. Grabbing it gently, shaking it in a friendly way, I continue to look at Bear's remaining eye. My own eyes start to glow and sparkle again, a bright turquoise blue making other living beings feel that this cannot belong to a human. "Thanks for the welcome, Bear... I hope you liked the song we sang..."

18:38 Garras
The bear's palm is rounded and calloused, the pebbled pad warm to the touch as his ebon fur starkly contrasts your flesh, his blunted claws still yet catching their tips at the base of your forearm. He notices the gleam of those eyes and a flicker of emotion flits through his oak like an owl darting through the trees, the smell reaching his snout confirming his suspicions. "I could not listen to it. Though it was heard. Perhaps I did, but I could not be for certain." He says, relinquishing his grasp.

18:48 Asher Ouellet
I pull my own hand back as I feel the Bear releases my hand, almost feeling his touch on my skin still. The emotions in Bear's eyes can be read easily because of the "unusual" stance I am in at the moment. The sparkle of my blue eyes never fading away, almost as if some stars shine inside them. My face turns slightly serious, but there is still a sincere and weak smile on my face. "well... That's unfortunate... Or maybe not... Regardless, I am sure you are going to hear my voice more often, so at some point, you will ascertain what you listen to..."

18:55 Garras
When the look resolves on the bear's face, it reads as knowing melancholy and yet still the crescent moon emerges once more. "I see." The bear says simply enough before lying across the branch.. His left arm swaying as his clawtips idly crook and poke as if playing notes. "Well Asher. When I learn how to listen to you, perhaps I shall. I am elusive. Patience in all things, isn't that right?"

19:03 Asher Ouellet
My gaze softens a little bit as I sense the melancholy in your soul, and take a deep breath. Seeing you lie on the branch, I take out my bow and arrows, place it at a far removed position, and sit down next to big bear, my back facing him. My hands start to wander around on the grass as if I am playing like a child, I mumble quietly. "Yes... You seem to be right. Patience is key to "many" things..." My head turns back to see your face before continuing to play with grass, while I sit cross-legged. "But maybe if you tell me your name... I can may sing you one of my songs this moment..." I smile to myself, feeling the glowing effect of my eyes decreasing because eye contact has been broken.

19:09 Garras
The bear's hand continues to sway, feeling the pulse of his own blood well up into his fingertips.. His head tilting ever so slightly as he watches before and after that over the shoulder gaze. "I am a bear with no name." The bear murmurs as he idly curls a forefinger claw to his thumb to dig at some speck before flicking it away. "But to you, I am Garr."

19:15 Asher Ouellet
I chuckle to myself as I finally hear a name from your mouth as if I have accomplished something, even though you said you have no name. "Everybody has a name... Even though they may not know it yet... Nice to meet you Garr..." I reply back as I look at you and your swaying hand. "Thanks for telling me a name." Then I slowly lie down on my back, slightly seeing your dangling hand and the branch you are lying on as I stare into the sky. "Sin'dorei... Shindu fallah na... Sin'dorei... Anar'alah...". I close my eyes to focus on my song as I move n.

19:20 minotaur21560
*Listens, notices bell-like sounds in the leaves, and sparkles, in the trees, almost too dim to be noticed. Looks back at the hunter and suspects he is of Elvish stock.

19:21 Garras
"That is a very optimistic thing to say." The bear intones as he listens to the rustle of the grass beneath your back, the chill of not quite dew cushioning your spine, hearing the tweeze of your tendons.. The silent percussion of your lidded eyes and the subtle flickers beneath your lids. He cannot hear the words, but he lays his head down and watches with idle attentiveness. "It sounds beautiful" he half-lied, his statement balancing on the tip of a well intentioned halftruth.

19:24 minotaur21560
These woods are well known for their distaste for bivalent morality. And if nature is not always cruel, it is more often than not full of drama. Minot looks at the bear and remembers many episodes in which the bear figured and which have nothing to do with being either cute or cuddly.

19:29 Asher Ouellet
As I hear Bear's statement, I open my eyes happily to reply back, but as I turn my head to see Garr's eyes again, my eyes immediately glow and sparkle once again, just for a one and a half second. It suddenly feels as if you are not being honest with me, but I can't tell for sure. I just give the big bear another smile as I straighten up on my buttocks, and look at Mino. "That is why... People like you and I always need to be alerted, right?" I grin mischievously as I give him a wink.

19:30 minotaur21560
You are right, hunter. We must be on guard.

19:31 minotaur21560
But tell us what brings you to these woods?

19:33 Garras
The bear's melancholy gaze is the same in his right, his obsidian glass left sightless as ever, your blue light held in its mirror reflecting back unto yourself. "But you are no people are you?" The bear drawls with a lazy yawn before cementing the moon behind his subtly smiling lips.

19:36 Asher Ouellet
Ignoring the big bear's comment behind me while rolling my eyes with silent grunt, I make eye contact with Mino, though my eyes are not glowing at the moment. "Let's just say... I am required to be here because of someone specific..."

19:37 minotaur21560
Don't worry, the bear will not hold it against you if you are not exactly human. He's not very fond of humanity as far as I know.

19:40 Garras
"Us and them, us and them, us and them." The bear's gravelled baritone swaying along with his head.. A sinuous roll from side to side that loops up and to the left before dipping down to loop up and to the right and back down again to loop up and to the left. "So the fingers of destiny crook their wizened fingers to point the path..." The bear muses with a soft quiet chuckle. "I am sure you will find what you are looking for." He lied.

19:41 Garras
....at least... He hoped so. The thought flickering through his skull.

19:44 minotaur21560
*Aware that bears tend to be obscure at times, Minot attempts to impart some information to the hunter. "There have been some odd things happening here recently. Tremors, incursions of evil beings. And I can't help but feel an impending sense of doom, despite the obvious beauty of this place.

19:46 minotaur21560
And to the bear, Minot tries an incantation: "Only do not write your verses on the leaves, lest they fly, disordered playthings of the rushing winds: chant them from your own mouth."

19:47 Garras
The bear chuckles throatily. "What is a boy to do, if not chase the name of the wind?"

19:47 Asher Ouellet
Sensing the sarcasm in the Garr's words, I look at him once again, in a more serious way this time, but my voice comes out teasingly. "I am going to find what I am looking for... I know I will..." I grunt, and get up to my feet fully. "I'm human... Even though some others try to claim the otherwise... And thanks for the background info, Mino. It means a lot." I put my hand on Mino's shoulder, and give him a gentle squeeze before i return to grab my bow and arrows.

19:52 Garras
The bear meets that look of determination and there is a tacit warning in his gaze before feeling the need to speak. "Be careful what you seek manling. I don't doubt that you will find it. Only that what you see will not be what you are looking for." But it seems as if the hunter has made up his mind. He offers one last piece of wisdom. "Whatever they name you, it is never so damning as what we name ourselves."

19:53 Garras
He rolls onto his back then, hands folded on his chest.. The bear with no name stoically staring at the stars.

20:00 Asher Ouellet
Listening the Bear's words as I grab my weapons, and put them in place again, I look at him, and slowly approach him while he looks at the stars. I squint as I examine his features once again before talking in a more serious tone. "when humans are try to give advice, they are called arrogant and ignorant. But when you, the loyal sons of the nature itself, give a piece of advise, it's called wisdom... Tell me... Are we the ones who are discriminating?" But before waiting for him to reply, I continue "The thing I am looking for and what I am going to find may not be the same, but that's a risk I'm willing to take..." Then I lean closer to Bear's face, and let out a silent mumble. "And I... am human... I know who I am..."

20:05 Garras
The bear turns and looks the manling in the eye so wholly and completely it feels like the back of the humans head might explode from the sheer intensity of that gaze. An arrogant vitality only a mortal could bring forth with the utmost conviction slipping into the tone of his voice, "Wisdom belongs to those who have made the mistakes that they dispense their advice from Asher. See what you want to see manling, you should see it all." His glass eye sightlessly catching the gleam of the moon, your features reflected once more. "Take what you want from me. You deserve it all."

20:10 minotaur21560
The air of the woods full of scents - damp, leafy foliage, flowers, animals, mud...

20:17 Asher Ouellet
As Bear starts to make an eye contact, a disturbing feeling surrounds me, like a tickling in my guts. In reaction, my eyes start to glow again, more brighter than ever, almost like a shining blue lamp that illuminates the forest. And the way The Big Bear acts makes for another uncomfortable feeling in me. "You are not the "thing" I am looking for..." I whisper silently, in a manner both calm and tense. "And I am glad we agree on something about wisdom, Garr..."

20:20 Garras
The bear is blinded by that glowing blaze of light, leaving a black spot in his vision.. Effectively blinding him but the eye stays open, unflinching. "So am I ,Asher." The bear lied, the breeze rustling his fur.

20:23 Asher Ouellet
Inhaling and exhaling deep, I continue to stare into Garr's eyes for a couple of seconds. It seems like effecting this Bear with my "magical" power that I was hiding for a very long time will be hard. I put my right hand on his furry chest, and give it a gentle rub with my palm. "well then... I guess i will see you later, Garr..." I mumble before i take a step back.

20:26 Garras
The subtle half truth lingering beneath his lie tails along as he turns his head to look back up blindly at the stars that he can still yet feel, the echo of that palm on the white blaze of fur at the center of his chest. "You just might." The bear folding his hands once more as a leg slips to dangle off the branch.

20:30 Asher Ouellet
"Yes... probably might..." I say silently as my eyes, once again, return to their normal condition. I take my time to relax for a moment, listening to nature and surrounding my body with clean air. Then looking at the Big Bear's body one more time, I turn around, and wave to Mino before I enter the depths of the forest.

20:31 Garras
"Do you think he understood the scars he felt under my fur Minot?" The bear whispers.

20:32 Garras
His fingertips gently tracing the hardened knots beneath his pelt.. Tracing their lines.. The tapestry they create in living breathing braille.

20:33 minotaur21560
Yes, of course bear. This one is not stupid. I think you will see more of him.

20:33 Garras
"Mmmh."

And Later

— ↑ 2021-10-24 ↑ —
08:24 Bjarg the Demigod
Who let the Bull,aka Dark General, out of the Cave while I was gone?

08:55 minotaur21560
(I think it was only a ghost - or an illusion...)

Second Bear Encounter the Day Before Samhain

15:08 minotaur21560
Archer, as I said earlier, my caverns and the sulphurous springs of fulfillment and magic are this way.... *pointing to the stand of silver eucalyptus trees

15:10 Asher Ouellet
I look in the direction you point, then return my face to you, watching and staring at your face, my eyes sparkle again, and mumble "You are not a monster... Now come on, you lead the way"

15:10 minotaur21560
Come, Archer, the caves will not disappoint. There is a carpet of steaming black sand... ceilings like a cathedral or the blue mosque, multifaceted, studded with crystal, but it is dark in the caves, though I know the way. If you would like, I can put this rope leash around your neck to lead you in the right direction.

15:14 Asher Ouellet
My eyes narrow as I hear your comment about wrapping a rope round my neck, and my pressure on your wrist increases a little bit, but it's still gentle. Trying to hide my feelings, I lean a little bit closer, my nose is inches away from yours. I whisper "Is it necessary? I wouldn't leave you regardless even if I don't have a rope on my neck..."

15:15 minotaur21560
Of course not, if you are uncomfortable my friend. We can discuss again if you find that it becomes.... too dark.

15:15 minotaur21560
*We proceed towards the trees, the archer with his fancy compound bow on his back and his air of great competence as woodsman

15:17 minotaur21560
*And the minotaur behaving in his most mannerly and proper fashion since he is fond of this hunter. And so they walk away until they turn the corner in the direction of the secret entrance to the Caverns

15:19 Asher Ouellet
I relax and exhale deeply as you say it's not necessary. Then I nod, and start following you until we reach to the caves. And there it is, the entrance of that "magnificent" place. "So... This is it, huh?" I mumble as I look at you again, can't help but feel excited.

15:20 minotaur21560
This is only the entrance here in the woods. Bjarg doesn't trust it, and so he mentioned something about a forcefield. But no matter. I can quickly shortcircuit that

15:21 minotaur21560
*Intense frown, eyes closed, hands in an obscure Hindu meditation pose.... Sparks fly from all corners of the cave entrance. The minotaur and the beautiful Archer then walk through it, into the dark.

15:24 Asher Ouellet
I watch you as you put your hands on Hindu pose, and some magical sparkles flow in the air and I can't help but smile, then follow the minotaur into the cave. Normally I should be at high alert, ready to take out my bow and arrow, but for some reason, I don't feel like it here.

Almost five hours later

20:19 Asher Ouellet
wrapping my arms around @minotaur21560 's waist, and pull him into a hug from behind.

20:19 minotaur21560
*looks up, surprised

20:20 Asher Ouellet
Seeing you surprised, I chuckle "Surprised to see me?" gives you a wink

20:20 minotaur21560
I turn around and smile. "Indeed, what brings you here?"

20:21 Asher Ouellet
"Came back from the mysterious place, and just wanted to check up on you..." I let you turn around between my arms to face you, and my eyes start to glow once again as I meet with your own gaze.

20:22 minotaur21560
"You were worried I may have gotten myself into trouble?

20:23 Asher Ouellet
I tilt my head to the side, my smile widens "Maybe..." I mumble

20:24 minotaur21560
"Those gods of the woods are usually not here at this time of day..."

20:25 Asher Ouellet
"I know... But you may still cannot know when they are going to appear..." leans to your ear, my hands still around your waist. "Is big bear Garr also here?"

20:25 minotaur21560
He has not spoken - but i think he is in that tree.

20:26 Asher Ouellet
"I see... He probably does not hear us then... Are you sure about what you said... Back in the cave?"

20:28 minotaur21560
"I stand by what i said, yes. But I know you likely will think further."

20:29 Asher Ouellet
I sigh deep, rubbing your back before I release you. "we shall see, Minot... we shall see..."

20:30 minotaur21560
I look up, as if smelling the air. "Strange things are afoot."

20:30 Asher Ouellet
I continue to stare into your face, nodding at your comment. "Probably..."
— ↑ 2021-10-28 ↑ —

02:56 Bjarg the Demigod
The Hunter is mistaken, misled. This will not end well.

03:13 Bjarg the Demigod
The five hours, missing from the timeline, hidden by the Bull, secret spells, perhaps transformations taking place on the black sands beside the pool in the Cavern.

Published: 2021-11-03, viewed 28 times.