Nora's Quest 3 : Exploring the Graveyard

There were trees and bushes sparsely planted along the outskirts of the area, though one or two trees could be seen dotting certain areas. This place is old. There is a section in the far northern corner where mausoleums are and, of course, there are hundreds of tombstones. We are in a graveyard; it goes without a doubt that there are hundreds of tombstones here.

Tonight though, there are three other individuals creeping among the dead.

Myself and two odd creatures I have yet seen the likes of until now. Alright. Perhaps I am being daft. I have seen them before, crossed paths with them briefly—but I’ve never taken the time as I am now to hang with them.

It is an odd evening and they are odd company, I have long decided as I watch the scaly-faced male dodge the swift fist of the female with horns. What they speak of, I have no clue—but I keep my distance as I follow behind and sometimes on the side of them—I think the male has detected me on numerous occasions but owing to my amazing stalking skills he has yet to either catch me or call me out. I continue my following, stepping lightly even as I studiously watch the intruders.

“There it is again!” The male exclaims, spinning about and zeroing in less than a dozen paces from where I’m hiding behind a tombstone, “Did you hear it this time?”

“Shut up! You managed to scare me once, it is not going to happen again—lets finish this quest, you’re wasting time.”

The male grumbles to himself, reluctantly turning away from where I am posted and I wait until they’ve moved one once more before I continue following them. Why are they here?

Soon they are near an dug out grave awaiting usage.

“Ok. Let’s stop here.” The female with horns finally states, pulling out an odd object from the bag she is carrying. It is somewhat see-through and she uses some form of magic to light it. It draws my interested attention instantly and I must get closer!

I quickly hotfoot it towards their designated area as stealthily as I can.

“I was thinking one of the freshly buried ones woulda’ been better? Or maybe by one of the mausoleum? If I were a Meer chimera, I’d hang in one of those places…”

“If you were a Meer Chimera, you’d probably be in the forest—but the quest is to capture the young Meer that’s been sighted in this graveyard. Your places are probably as good as this one—but I’m done looking for it on foot—now it’s time to just get it to come to us.”

“Soo…we could hang the lantern by the mausoleum then? Cool!” With that, the scaly male grabbed the lantern she’d just lit and made his way towards the large stone structures in the distance.

“Wha-wait! Oh, fine.” She drew near the male with a defeated air, “It doesn’t really matter.”

 “Shhhhhhh I think it’s following us…” The male murmurs, not slowing his quick pace at all. “I know I hear something…”

They end up hanging the odd contraption on a peg on one of the monumental graves. I eye it enthralled as it sways gently on the cool breeze before silently circling around the building and leaping atop the stone home of the dead.

I quickly creep forward as the two below whisper heatedly.

“We would have seen it if it were following, Scale Face. I’ve read up on how to properly capture a—”

“Shut up! I think I hear it.”

She quickly shut her mouth, but I was sure the scent of her discontent meant she was probably glaring at the male at that moment. Not that it truly mattered to me though, my interests were on far more pleasant things.

I swatted at the odd contraption again, wondering if perhaps I could get the pretty glow inside and taste it….

“I hear something too…” The female said silently, shuffling a bit closer to her companion as the slight scent of fear reached my nose, “But I don’t think it’s a Meer…We’d surely have seen it by now. You know…I’ve read that it’s thought this graveyard is haunted…”

“Oh don’t start with that! Not when we’ve got the Meer so near! Even if there are ghosts, they aren’t attracted to Wisp Lanterns so we should be fine—if not, I’ve always got my sword!”

“….um. Scale Face…ghosts aren’t really able to be—”

The sound of metal sliding against something else equally hard made my ears flicker—but I continued to bat at the odd fluttering light within the lantern. The two humanoids were of none of my concern.

“Put that away before you scare the Meer!” The female hissed as the sound of the male’s grunt met my alert ears.

“Geeze…did you have to elbow me in the lung…”

I watched as the ligiht within the contraption zipped this way and that, as though it had a life of its own… Ok. This called for some serious business, now! I jumped suddenly over the ledge, and allowed my wings to expand quickly before beating them to stay adrift.

“…Scale Face. That’s not a Meer.”

“No, he is mine.” The voice of Iru drew my attention but I quickly righted back towards where the glowing entity resided within its cage.

Seti leave their lantern alone! Come here.” He stated in a tone I’d learned meant he expected instant obidence—I glanced his way. Before giving the ‘lanturn’ a paw-swipe before languidly turning about face and making my way towards his side.

The hoofed-beast ducked as I flew over her head, ruffling her head-fur. I greeted my favorite companion as though I hadn’t seen him in quite a while. Landing as best I could on his left shoulder and making sure to rub my scent into his cheek-fur. I knew he’d forgiven me when he returned the gesture by way of rubbing his scent onto my cheek with one of his fore-paws.

“I’ve been looking for this Lisser cat cub for most of the night—sorry if she’s been pestering you.”

“Have you seen a Meer, by any chance?” The horned-one spoke curiously at my companion. Once it was decided that the three were no longer interested in me, instead speaking words that made no sense to my brain—I reared up, ready to leap once more to the light still hanging on the stone-home. Iru grabbed me just as I was about to unfold my wings and brought me under his arm. I mewled my protest but he contented me by scratching me behind my ears. I liked him.

As I was carried around the grounds, I noticed out of the corner of my eye the glow and faint nicker of an odd beast slowly keeping pace with our group. Odd, but since this hoofed beast did not hold a pretty glowing light—I dismissed it to turn my attention back to my head scratches.