10-07-2021, 11:27 AM
He isn’t certain what he might have expected from this strange interlude, but whatever it was, it certainly isn’t getting transformed into an ungainly two-legged creature. At first he’s not sure what is happening. He knows only that his bones crack and shrink, pulling painfully into an upright position. His vision shifts, blurring until he can see only what is in front of him. He stumbles, whipping unsteadily around as he tries to figure out why he can’t see his wings or sides.
Saffron nearly falls over as he tries to balance on two appendages rather than four, only managing to catch himself by grabbing a tree. He blinks as his front appendages snag on the rough bark, bending at all the wrong angles. Jerking back with a gasp, he stares at them in dawning horror.
Which, of course, makes him topple over.
With an audible oomph, he lands on his back, blinking up at the creaking, knobby branches overhead. As he lays there staring uncomprehendingly, the whispered prose begins the filter through the trees once more. He only half-listens as he tries to come to terms with what had just happened to him.
It’s only when the branches begin to flex overhead and a cackle echoes through the trees that Saffron jerks into reality. A shudder races down his spine as he realizes that he would not be allowed to lay here forever.
Clamoring clumsily to his feet, Saffron grips a nearby tree for support, testing his wobbly legs. He’s not sure how anything manages on two legs, but somehow he would have to figure it out. When a skeletal branch plucks at the perfectly coifed hair on his head, he flinches. It seems he would have to figure it out fast.
Another creeping branch tugs sharply on his cloak, and with a yelp, Saffron blunders forward in a sudden blur. He doesn’t even realize how fast he’s going until he trips over a root and tumbles head over heel, limbs flailing and dirt spraying around him until he collapses into an ungainly heap against the trunk of a tree.
The creaking around him sounds suspiciously like laughter as the offending root sinks slowly back into the earth.
For a moment, he stares up, stunned. When the tree he’d collided with starts groaning ominously however, Saffron quickly scrambles to his feet. He ducks as a branch hurdles towards face, almost sprawling back across the earth before catching himself with a wince. He knows now he can go fast in this form, but experience makes him hesitate to do it again.
Taking a few unsteady steps forward, he stays clear of the grumbling trees as best he can while taking in his surroundings. He’s well and truly ensconced in this creepy forest now. He had only run for about thirty seconds, but it seems his speed had carried him deep into the woods. As he makes another slow circle, he notices a faint glimmer through the trees. Narrowing his eyes, he takes a few cautious steps forward as he tries to work out what it is.
Eventually he creeps close enough that he realizes it’s water. Sucking in a breath, Saffron tries to recall what the ghostly voice had said. Something about a river, he’s certain.
He doesn’t make the mistake of racing towards it this time. Instead, he moves carefully, avoiding grasping branches and toe-stubbing roots. When he finally reaches the water, he frowns at it. It’s choppy and swift, the current unpleasantly strong. Despite that, pumpkins bob in a leisurely manner on the surface.
How the heck is he supposed to cross this?
Saffron is so distracted by the conundrum the river poses that he doesn’t notice the creature dipping swiftly overhead. He only glances up, startled, when it releases a loud cackle and swoops toward him. He ducks, the creature brushing over him with gleeful giggles. He jerks quickly around to find it had somehow pivoted in midair and is now banking directly towards him again. It’s face is terrifying, green skin covered in lumps, hair in tangled clumps beneath a ratty, pointed hat, two ungainly limbs clenched around a wooden stick with branches bristling from the back.
With an alarmed shout, Saffron stumbles back, forgetting the river behind him. At least, until his foot slips on the steep bank and starts to fall, arms pinwheeling in a desperate and hopeless attempt to stop himself. The moment he splashes into the water, the vicious current drags him under.
He doesn’t know how to swim in this form.
Saffron thrashes helplessly, briefly surfacing only to be sucked immediately back under. When he surfaces again, he makes a desperate grab for a floating pumpkin. It bucks and bobs under his weight, but panic makes him hold tight. It’s only when the orange gourd settles that Saffron is finally able to start thinking again.
Mentally, he kicks himself for forgetting his speed.
Kicking his legs, he and the pumpkin zoom across the water. They crash against the bank, and Saffron quickly lets go of the vegetable in order to grab the reeds and heave himself onto the muddy bank. Dirt streaks his already filthy and torn costume, but he doesn’t notice.
He is given no time to catch his breath however. Moments later, the witch is back, a menacing cackle echoing over the rushing water. Groaning, Saffron hobbles to his feet and takes off running with all the swiftness he can muster. Just as his speed is beginning to decline and his breath to come in pants however, he finds himself facing a sharp incline. There is a stitch in his side when he slows to a halt, breath heaving as he stares at the looming mountain. His eyes dart desperately sideways, and he notices a path leading up into the mountainous terrain. Then he notices a cave. He considers them both with a frown, but a quick glance in the direction he’d come from makes his decision for him.
With those dastardly flying creatures patrolling the sky, he would much rather take his chances in the cave. Straightening resolutely, he starts towards the yawning maw.
Saffron nearly falls over as he tries to balance on two appendages rather than four, only managing to catch himself by grabbing a tree. He blinks as his front appendages snag on the rough bark, bending at all the wrong angles. Jerking back with a gasp, he stares at them in dawning horror.
Which, of course, makes him topple over.
With an audible oomph, he lands on his back, blinking up at the creaking, knobby branches overhead. As he lays there staring uncomprehendingly, the whispered prose begins the filter through the trees once more. He only half-listens as he tries to come to terms with what had just happened to him.
It’s only when the branches begin to flex overhead and a cackle echoes through the trees that Saffron jerks into reality. A shudder races down his spine as he realizes that he would not be allowed to lay here forever.
Clamoring clumsily to his feet, Saffron grips a nearby tree for support, testing his wobbly legs. He’s not sure how anything manages on two legs, but somehow he would have to figure it out. When a skeletal branch plucks at the perfectly coifed hair on his head, he flinches. It seems he would have to figure it out fast.
Another creeping branch tugs sharply on his cloak, and with a yelp, Saffron blunders forward in a sudden blur. He doesn’t even realize how fast he’s going until he trips over a root and tumbles head over heel, limbs flailing and dirt spraying around him until he collapses into an ungainly heap against the trunk of a tree.
The creaking around him sounds suspiciously like laughter as the offending root sinks slowly back into the earth.
For a moment, he stares up, stunned. When the tree he’d collided with starts groaning ominously however, Saffron quickly scrambles to his feet. He ducks as a branch hurdles towards face, almost sprawling back across the earth before catching himself with a wince. He knows now he can go fast in this form, but experience makes him hesitate to do it again.
Taking a few unsteady steps forward, he stays clear of the grumbling trees as best he can while taking in his surroundings. He’s well and truly ensconced in this creepy forest now. He had only run for about thirty seconds, but it seems his speed had carried him deep into the woods. As he makes another slow circle, he notices a faint glimmer through the trees. Narrowing his eyes, he takes a few cautious steps forward as he tries to work out what it is.
Eventually he creeps close enough that he realizes it’s water. Sucking in a breath, Saffron tries to recall what the ghostly voice had said. Something about a river, he’s certain.
He doesn’t make the mistake of racing towards it this time. Instead, he moves carefully, avoiding grasping branches and toe-stubbing roots. When he finally reaches the water, he frowns at it. It’s choppy and swift, the current unpleasantly strong. Despite that, pumpkins bob in a leisurely manner on the surface.
How the heck is he supposed to cross this?
Saffron is so distracted by the conundrum the river poses that he doesn’t notice the creature dipping swiftly overhead. He only glances up, startled, when it releases a loud cackle and swoops toward him. He ducks, the creature brushing over him with gleeful giggles. He jerks quickly around to find it had somehow pivoted in midair and is now banking directly towards him again. It’s face is terrifying, green skin covered in lumps, hair in tangled clumps beneath a ratty, pointed hat, two ungainly limbs clenched around a wooden stick with branches bristling from the back.
With an alarmed shout, Saffron stumbles back, forgetting the river behind him. At least, until his foot slips on the steep bank and starts to fall, arms pinwheeling in a desperate and hopeless attempt to stop himself. The moment he splashes into the water, the vicious current drags him under.
He doesn’t know how to swim in this form.
Saffron thrashes helplessly, briefly surfacing only to be sucked immediately back under. When he surfaces again, he makes a desperate grab for a floating pumpkin. It bucks and bobs under his weight, but panic makes him hold tight. It’s only when the orange gourd settles that Saffron is finally able to start thinking again.
Mentally, he kicks himself for forgetting his speed.
Kicking his legs, he and the pumpkin zoom across the water. They crash against the bank, and Saffron quickly lets go of the vegetable in order to grab the reeds and heave himself onto the muddy bank. Dirt streaks his already filthy and torn costume, but he doesn’t notice.
He is given no time to catch his breath however. Moments later, the witch is back, a menacing cackle echoing over the rushing water. Groaning, Saffron hobbles to his feet and takes off running with all the swiftness he can muster. Just as his speed is beginning to decline and his breath to come in pants however, he finds himself facing a sharp incline. There is a stitch in his side when he slows to a halt, breath heaving as he stares at the looming mountain. His eyes dart desperately sideways, and he notices a path leading up into the mountainous terrain. Then he notices a cave. He considers them both with a frown, but a quick glance in the direction he’d come from makes his decision for him.
With those dastardly flying creatures patrolling the sky, he would much rather take his chances in the cave. Straightening resolutely, he starts towards the yawning maw.
Saffron