A tall order....|Clan Aluvar

[Toyoll]

Faolan was trotting forward on all-fours, accompanied by two Guard captains. One was a jackal affinity the other was a ram.

The two young guards were chittering excitedly:
-Alauvar!
-I know!
-THE Alauvar!
-I know!
-I still can't believe it, I always thought it was just a story!
-Me too! What do you think the beasts there are like?

And so on and so forth...

The Clan Leader smiled to himself, laughing inwardly, to see his kinsman all excited like this was refreshing. He liked to make others happy, so seeing their starry eyes made Faolan feel light-hearted.

They were traveling along the riverside, working their way through the thicket of dead branches, stiff stalks of cat-tails and other such plants. They were going the secret way. Alauvar liked it's privacy and didn't want the public to know the exact location of their village. They often traded with Flumens, exchanging the best fish in Naruta for other goods using hidden docks to hide their trail. Faolan knew where one of these docks were and he has already made arrangements for transportation.

[Kender Bard]

Looking only half-awake, a young water type man stood with his eyes partly closed, swaying ever so lightly once a breeze picked up. Spotting the people coming though, he quickly blinked himself awake and stood at attention, bowing politely. "You wished to travel by boat or water-walking?" he asked Faolan.

[Toyoll]

"Water-walking, if you please. I want my guards to know new experiences." Faolan answered. At the mention of their name, his escort snapped sharply to attention, not wanting to give a bad impression.
The beast leader has used this method of travel before, a long time ago when he first came to Alauvar, but he still loved every minute of it.

"Shall we be off then?" asked the great wolf plesantly.

[Kender Bard]

"Sure thing," the man said, eyeing the group. "I think I can handle you all. The name is Ace, by the way." Reaching over to where he kept his trident, the man reaches back and secures it to his back and then walks into the water, deigning not to walk upon it himself. While he does so, he clenches his fists, activating his signs and says, "Just keep on walking, like you were on land."

[Toyoll]

Faolan walked forward, a little quicker than ordinary, but the guards were just a little hesitant, their affinities not very comfortable around water. The jackal whined softly to her leader. "Do not fear, it is as solid as stone, look." The massive wolf trotted onto the river's surface, but did not sink under, he walked in a circle then turned to the others, "See? Perfectly safe." he chuckled.

The two young escorts looked at each other with crazy wide eyes, then dashed to the river's edge. They instinctively braced to hit the water, but were met with a hard, flat surface. Delighted and more confident, they trotted to join up with Faolan, grinning from ear to ear. That's it, then, the Clan Leader said to himself, smiling, those two will be going on a Force Quest, I wager. He turned to their river guide, "Take us to Alauvar, master Ace, and do not dally, I have much to do..."

[Kender Bard]

"Right-o," Ace said cheerilly. "There's four more of us underneath you so don't be surprised to see one of us pop up for air. Uhh, we'll do our very best to avoid any problems along the way, but if we run into something nasty, just try not to get in the way, sir." With a little salute, the water type dove under the water to join his companions. The group caused a small current of water to tug the beast types in the right direction of their intended destination.

[Toyoll]

Faolan nodded to Ace, "Tefnet, Nyack," he addressed the jackal and the ram, "Hold still, they will carry us there, enjoy the ride."
-If I may, Pack Leader? asked the jackal.
-Yes, Tefnet?
-Do all other elementals walk on water?
-No, but they have equally interesting abilities.
-Can the beasts at Alauvar do it?
-Yes, they are of double elements.
-I know of a double signed beast at Seere, interjected Nyack, he is part Earth, he can grow stone flowers!

Tefnet crouched down, watching the waves skirt past them. She crouched even lower and peered through the solid water that she sat on. A small yelp of surprise escaped through her teeth at the sight of one of the water elementals. Nyack laughed at her.

Before long, Faolan could spy tiny specks on the horizon, At last....

[Kender Bard]

Ocassionally, one of the Water types would tease the Beasts they carried, popping up and making silly faces before diving back into the water, as playful as can be. But once Aluvar came into sight, they grew more serious and put some real speed into their swimming until they reached the shores.

[Toyoll]

Tefnet and Nyack were mezmorized by the show, they even shot some silly faces of their own when they got the chance. "Guards, Alauvar is within sight." Faolan nudged his companions and they snapped their eyes to the horizon.

A small isle stood out against the cold autum sky. As they came in closer, they noticed something odd about the buildings.
-Pack Leader?, asked Nyack sheepishly
-My, my, you do have lots of questions. What is it Nyack?
-Forgive me, Pack Leader, but what is wrong with their huts? They seem half built, look, you can see the woodwork underneith...

Indeed, to the ram, it seemed as if the beasts of Alauvar wanted to construct tall, skinny huts, but gave up half way down.

Faolan laughed, "Do not fear, Nyack of the Guard, their homes are fully built. Look more carefully, their huts are up on stilts. During the spring, the snow melts and swells the Great River. The Alauvar clanners would be washed away if they didn't stay above the water."

Nyack could only shake his head in mute awe.

"Look sharp now, my Guard, make Seer proud." Faolan said as they came into view of some of the reclusive beasts of Alauvar, all flooding out onto their decks to see who these strangers were.

Tefnet and Nyack Stood at attention.

[Kender Bard]

Carefully, the water escorts let the group 'drop' back into the water once it was at ankle length. Looking rather tired, and not wanting to stick around the Clan when they knew their presence would only be met with irritation or fear, the five Water types dived back into the water and swam off to somewhere nearby they could rest out of sight.

One of the Aluvar clanners, a little pond duck affinity, squawked in shock, "Wow! Who are you guys?"

[Toyoll]

((I'll start a new thread in Alauvar! See you there))