Issue 1 Downtime

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 5:09 pm**

Miranda's mind was pseudo-wandering as she slept. It was like she was projecting her dreamscape into a small part of the Astral and hanging out there. Currently she was sitting on the side of a grassy hill, watching the "clouds" go by.

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 5:15 pm**

A bird flies overhead. At first the silhouette is familiar, that of a crow. However as it wheels around and she can see more of it in the sunlight, it strikes her that crows aren't usually bright red.

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 5:17 pm**

Miranda focuses on the crow, "Mum?" Her avatar adjusts, the bow appearing on the ground next to her.

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 5:20 pm**

That seems to get the crow's attention, and it comes down to land on the ground a few feet away.

"...hmm?" It says, its voice identifiably male, and with a noticeable Irish accent. "You think I'm her? How curious."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 5:31 pm**

"Well, her crows are not typically red, so it was more of a guess than an actual thought." Her hand rested on the bow.

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 5:33 pm**

"I suppose one could say I come from her," it says, tilting its head at her curiously.

"It's been a long time since I strayed from her flock, though."

Around the crow, the grass seems to be wilting slightly, as if from heat.

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 5:40 pm**

"So you're one of her ravens or you used to be?" She frowned at the wilting grass, giving it some mental reinforcement. This was her dream after all.

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 5:43 pm**

"I am Spurned-by-the-Sea, Son-of-the-Day."

Reinforcing the grass gives her a sense of intense heat radiating from the crow.

"You are the daughter of the Battle-Crow, aye?"

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 5:49 pm**

"So they say. I'm still learning what that means. Why are you damaging my world?"

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 5:52 pm**

"I cannot help what I am. I'm meant to burn, so I do."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 5:53 pm**

"How did you become meant to burn?" She tilted her head and regarded the crow.

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 5:54 pm**

"When the gods say burn, see if you don't."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:01 pm**

"Which of the gods told you to burn?" She leaned her chin on one hand, but her other hand hadn't left her bow.

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:03 pm**

"Well aren't you the curious one? I've already got feathers, by-the-by, there's no need to make me sprout a few more."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:05 pm**

"You're talking to me, but that doesn't mean you aren't a threat."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:06 pm**

"Well, loose one at me if you must..."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:11 pm**

"You've not given me reason to... yet. Keep talking."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:12 pm**

"Oh, there is a bit of your mum in you, isn't there?"

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:22 pm**

"There's some of both my mothers in me."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:24 pm**

"Aye, but the only one I know is the one that won't back down."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:35 pm**

"That could be either one of them. But only one of them uses the crow."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:59 pm**

"It's like the humans say, aye?"

"We made a promise we swore we'd always remember, no retreat, no surrender."

Admittedly it might be a bit surreal to hear a crow singing Bruce Springsteen.

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 7:01 pm**

"And what promise was that?" Apparently the reference was lost on her.

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 7:14 pm**

"Mmm, and here I thought you were clever."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 7:30 pm**

"You'll have to forgive me. I'm not as widely experienced as Mum."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 7:33 pm**

"No retreat, no surrender, no matter the cost."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 7:35 pm**

"Not a very wise promise then. Some costs are always too high."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 7:37 pm**

"Oh, aye. Some though... aren't willing to let that go."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 7:46 pm**

"Are you saying Mum separated you out herself?"

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 7:52 pm**

"I'm saying that when she says burn, you burn."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:15 pm**

The speed of thought is blindingly fast and the bird would find an arrow quivering in the 'ground' in front of him. It was close enough that it was threatening to thump him in the face as it quivered. She was in the process of drawing another shaft back. "You will speak plainly or the next one will give you a brand new set of head feathers."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:18 pm**

"Already said you could shoot me if you like," the crow says, reaching out with its beak to touch the shaft. It smokes, then flames, then collapses into ash rapidly.

"But let's remember which of us has been going on friendly-like here, aye?"

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:27 pm**

"And I said you'd not given me reason to, but I assess all threats both overt and implied." If the bird had any sort of telepathic assessment, he'd be able to sense that the nature of both her mind and avatar had changed.

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:27 pm**

"I'm not the one you need to worry about."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:30 pm**

"For someone who is following directions, you're not very good at following directions. Speak plainly."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:37 pm**

"Told you what you need to know," it says, flapping its wings as it takes flight again. "I'm sure you can put the pieces together."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:48 pm**

The bow tracked him into the air all the same. The ground of the dreamscape cracked and the cracks hissed with venting steam. All the same, she let him go.

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:49 pm**

"We'll talk again perhaps, when you're ready." It says as it flies away.

"...little sister."

Posted: **Mon Jun 09, 2014 9:05 pm**

In the dream, Miranda's avatar split into three distinct figures and her conscious mind receded back into sleep.

"Patience, sister, you must watch your anger," said the Archivist.

"The damnable little bastard should have given me an answer. I'm her daughter!" The Seer was still seething.

"Your anger makes you hasty and being hasty wastes arrows. You must make shots count," said the Huntress. "As always I counsel patience. There is much we do not know about this yet and we must be cautious hunters if we're to survive."

"Listen to her, sister, she knows what she speaks of, that's why you trust her to do the job she does."

The Seer threw up her hands in frustration and vanished, leaving the Archivist shaking her head sadly and the Huntress with her usual stoic expression. Shortly afterward, they vanished as well, leaving Miranda to dream about a pleasant field.

Issue 1 Downtime

I13DT - Field in Dreams

I13DT - Field in Dreams

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