A desperate search

[Fermire]

After Fermire had managed to make his way onto the island's beach, he soon became rather hungery. takiingone of his MRE's he made his way a little ways into the island's woods and found a stream. Using the stream's water, Fermire ate his MRE and his hunger was satisfied for that moment.
He had no idea how far the woods went and he prefered to stay in common territory. Making his way back to the beach, Fermire kept his eye out for anyone that may have survived the shipwrech as well. Walking along the beach, he searched desperately for any sign of life that the ocean might hold. None presented itself.
Fermire began to loose hope of finding anyone alive. He wasn't about to go into the woods on the edge of the beach. He had no idea what he might be lurking within the woods.
Thoroughly exhausted from his ordeal and his futile search for survivors, Fermire plopped down onto the beach. His theory was that, hopefully, someone or something would show up. Until then, however, he would try to rest on the beach and regain some of his strength that he had lost.

[seekeroftales]

OOC: TO Fermire: The quality of your own work will serve as a standard for those who wish to contribute to your RP. I have no clue where you wish to take your character, but I leave you to direct me where you want to and I will work with whatever you limit me and my own characters to. Also, you might edit your old posts as needed in relation to mine, and mine to yours, as the need may arise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Morn was intent on getting into the water as he usually was at this time of the day. To such an extent, in fact, that he almost missed noticing a figure laying in the sand farther down the beach. He actually didn't see him at first. It was his dolphin friends who had made mention of the "castashore" teasingly, surprised that he had not noticed.

The young man cast his eyes about for a moment then caught sight of the human the dolphins had alerted him to. They wear such odd clothes, he thought amusedly. His first reaction to worry if the outsider was well, subsided as he listened to the dolphins report thoughtfully that he - it was a young man about Morn's age - had made it to shore fine and was almost certainly uninjured.

[He may not be physically fit,] Dygiu said with a 'clickity' laugh. He was a male and one of the more inconsiderately talkative dolphins. [It was a short swim and yet he hasn't moved from that spot in many minutes. Barely even moved.]

"He wears clothes which are not meant for swimming in," Morn pointed out quickly. "He can surely run on land faster than you can!"

[Yes, surely,] seconded Suloah, an older female who was often exasperated by Dygiu's foolishness. [Go to him and greet him, Morn. Will you come down in the evening?]

Morn shook his head regretfully and stepped out of the higher surf. "I think perhaps not. It may be a few days or I may bring him back down tomorrow if there is now way he may go along to Waterfall City. Be well, seek peace." The young man waved in parting to his dolphin friends and hiked up the beach to where the cast ashore figure lay.

He smiled as he got closer and the fellow did not stir to see him. I musn't startle him, he told himself firmly. He paused near the prone figure's side and slowly knelt. He wondered just what to say but remembered that he had learned the exact words are not important. It is the tone of your voice.

"I welcome you to this land and inquire as to your health," he finally said pleasantly. He could not help but smile widely, knowing it could make all the difference.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OOC: To Fermire: You are the "director" of this RP. What do you want?

[Fermire]

OCC: I would like for my character to eventually make his way further onto the island and onto Waterfall City. But first he is going to try and find a way off of the island. and/or to try and find other survivors from the shipwreck.

Fermire awoke suddenly to see a human hovering over him. Fermire was quite surprised to see a fellow human on the island. He hadn't expected to find anyone friendly on the island. The human wasn't on the ship when it had crashed, so Fermire had to assume that the person, whoever he was, had to have been on the island before hand.
Fermire hadn't managed to catch what the man was saying, so he decided to ask a question of his own.
"Where am I, and who are you?"

[seekeroftales]

OOC: You can do better than that, I trust, Fermire. Ships don't "crash", for one thing. Sorry if I'm being too picky.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Morn assumed that the young man could not understand his speech, as he himself could not understand. He judged the tone of his voice was surprised and questioning, though, and the Dinotopian native recognized the important words; "Where", and "who".

Touching his mouth and then his ear, Morn shook his head slowly with a regretful expression gracing his features. "I do not understand you very well," he said in his own language. He realized that his motions might be misinterpreted and touched his ear again, tugging on its lobe. "Hear okay. Do not understand your speak," came english from his lips.

Morn knew he had said it right. Or nearly, anyway. " "Where?" " he repeated questioningly. He put the palm of his hand to the sand and carefully said, "Good place, safe place. You trust me. "Who"?" He patted his chest. "I, Morn. You stand? Come with me? Trust me?"

One could understand from stories that some Dolphinbacks were very cautious and could be distrustful. Then there were those who set their mind not to do anything but sit on the beach and watch the ocean's waves for another ship. Hunger and the gentle ways of Dinotopia's natives inevitably won out, however. Morn hoped his own "find" would be calm and trusting. Things could be much easier that way.

~~~~~~~~~~

{OOC: Anything I'm missing?}

[Fermire]

Fermire was amused by the man's odd gestures. It wasn't that Fermire couldn't understand the man, it was simply that, he hadn't been fully awake the first time the man had tried to communicate with him.
"I can understand you," Fermire assured the man, "I just want to know where I am and what exactly this place is."
"I was stranded here after the ship I was traveling on, sunk. I'm searching for survivors and for a way off of this island perhaps. Have you seen anyone, or do you know a way off of this island," Fermire inquired to the odd dressed man.

[seekeroftales]

Skyler OOC: Ummm. Fermire can understand the local Dinotopian dialect?

~~~~~~~~~~

IC: It seemed to Morn that the young man's manner was one of comfortable amusement as he responded. His calm words and gestures lent the impression that he was explaining about himself, perhaps of his coming to the Island.

Morn caught the word "Where" again and sighed. So much for trust. He was puzzled as to the "What", however. Its place in the castashore's speech was uncertain. He could make a guess.

" "What", " he repeated. "I, native of Isolice. Will you come?" He gestured up the beach, toward the treeline. "Food, shelter."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fermire OCC: I assumed that the humans on Dinotopia spoke english. If they don't, let me know and I'll change al necessary posts so that it makes more sense.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IC: Fermire couldn't quite understand why the man was looking so strangely at him. It seemed as though the man couldn't understand what Fermire was saying.
Fermire desperately wanted to search for other survivors of the shipwreck, but if he couldn't communicate with the natives, he'd be out of luck.

Deciding to take a different approach, Fermire found a piece of driftwood that had washed up onto the shore. Using the stick, Fermire drew a sketch of his journey to the island and his subsequent state he was currently in.
Hoping the man could understand him so far, Fermire drew another sketch in the sand. This one consisted of an attempt to describe, without using words, what he woanted to do. Fermire had to trust that the odd dressed man would understand what he had drawn.

With nothing left to draw himself, Fermire extended the piece of driftwood to the man so that he could draw an appropriate response. Fermire could only hope that the man would understand what his drawing meant and that he'd be able to help Fermire out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

{Skyler OCC: A few english words are used, though they may not be common. Morn is actually using some english he learned so as to answer Fermire's questions. Morn is a "nearbeach dweller", thoughtful of Dolphinbacks in that he had learned some english.

I wish you would have Fermire acknowledge Morn's english, please, Fermire.}

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IC: Morn patiently watched the castashore draw pictures in the sand. A boat, a voyage, shipwreck, he followed. He wants to search for surviviors!

Morn took the stick and "sketched" a quick dolphin. Then he stood and motioned for the castashore to follow him. The Dinotopian native knew that there were no other survivors, or the dolphins would have told him. He nevertheless realized that it was important to this young man that they look.

At the shoreline Morn smacked his cupped hand, palm down, into a breaker. This was how he sometimes summoned his dolphin friends when they might be close by.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


{Skyler OOC: Paste from the above and add yours to it, then send it back to me via PM. Then I add to it, and perhaps post it. Or I may send it back to you.

I'm just short on time, right now. My original post is way too short for my liking.}

[Fermire]

Fermire watched in amazement as nearly a dozen dolphins materialized out of the water. Poking their heads through the waves the dolphins watched both men as Morn signaled them to search the shore for other survivors.

Fermire missed his parents immensely. He wanted to find them, if there was any chance of recovering them alive.

With Morn and the dolphins help, Fermire scoured the shore in search of any sign of other survivors.

While they were busy scurrying along the beach, Fermire recalled something very odd. When Fermire and Morn had been talking on the beach, he had managed to communicate his situation to Morn and was able to understand Morn's speech. He credited this to his father. His Dad had taught him all about understanding people who spoke different languages.

What didn't make sense was how Morn had managed to understand Fermire's speech. It appeared to Fermire that Morn, whoever he was, had lived on that island for a fairly long time.

But, however Morn had managed to understand Fermire's speech, that was a side matter for him. He was much more concerned about finding his parents than learning a minute detail.

Morn and Fermire continued their search of the beach.

For the longest time they found nothing. But then Fermire's worst suspicions were confirmed. One of the dolphins made its way toward the beach. In its mouth it held a hair piece.

Fermire took ir from the dolphin's mouth. The hair piece was mangled badly and blood was present all over it. Fermire began to cry openly as he accepted the fact that it was his mother's.

Fermire knelt down on the beach and wept tears of pain. His mother was dead and if she was dead, there was no hope of finding his father alive either.

Collapsing on to the beach and laying on his back, Fermire was thoroughly exhausted from the events of the day.

Closing his eyes, Fermire continued to weep for his lost parents. He wished everything was a dream, an unpleasent dream that would eventually all go away.

[seekeroftales]

OOC: Thank you for your reference to Morn's speech through Fermire's thoughts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The castashore collapsed finally, too tired and torn by his silent mourning to continue on. Or perhaps he felt the search was over? Wondering privately about the bloody hair, Morn was uncertain what to do. He was hesitant to bother the castashore unless there was some very important matter to be addressed. There were things, but Morn was unsure that any of them could not wait. At least for a while. Hopefully long enough.

Respectfully leaving the castashore to his mourning, Morn stepped out into the surf and stroked several of the dolphins, both to comfort them and himself. Most of them were silent, especially so Aworinasuu, the young female who had retrieved the object which the castashore was now holding clutched to his chest in his grief.

When Dygiu approached, however, he seemed prepared to make some comment. That air about the younger male stilled as Suloah pressed by him and received her grateful touch from their human friend. Morn guessed that Dygiu dared not speak his mind for fear of a sharp rebuttal from the older female. She likely had something to say. Her wisdom was of an obscure sort, but death was something that was not to be considered lightly. On the other side, Dygiu viewed very little seriously. An unenviable youthful failing, thought Morn.

The young man held Suloah's flipper tightly for a moment. "Do you have anything to impart to me?" he inquired of her quietly. He glanced back at the castashore uncertainly. "His power has fled, his will to go on is no more. I expect our search is over. He is saddened, but I think he is satisfied to know."

Suloah bobbed her head, a sad dullness in her eyes. [For some of them, a sandy feeling in their stomach makes them feel it is better they not know. Others feel the determined tide of the unknown, especially in symbiosis to those they love. I hope it is better he knows.]

"I believe he does," Morn responded. "Now he must accept many things. I know how he heals is up to his willingness." His hand stayed upon Suloah until she had slipped slowly away. He reached out to touch a few more of his eager aquarian friends. Dygiu did not choose to accept this gesture, rather departed before the others. Letting him go without a castigating word, Morn smiled wanely at the rest of the pod members. "I must leave you now," he said apologetically. "He may need comfort, regardless of how I am hesitant at the thought."

Morn heard the parting clicks of the dolphin's goodbyes as he turned and made his way through the surf to rejoin the fallen castashore. He decided as he realized the castashore was quavering that he would reassure him. Morn had never felt alone, but he thought he could imagine what such a mental terror might be like. Even if the castashore had only lost friends in the sinking of his vessel, the world he had left behind held all the other loved ones he treasured. Morn supposed loneliness was a hollow feeling like hunger, only the troubles of the mind were known to be much worse that physical concerns.

The native of Dinotopia knelt again. He realized that he once more risked startling the castashore. It seemed to Morn that it would be cruel and uncaring not to make some gesture of sympathy and comfort, though. So he reached out to touch the castashore's shoulder, his cream flecked hazel eyes soft. He could feel them misting over. He had not tried to wet them. He was glad he felt moved by the castashore's loss, even though he did not know of the young man's companions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OOC: I doubt the 'wig' would be bloody. It would have been strained as the dolphin brought it in. Right?

Morn will want to take Fermire inland, but if the day has mostly worn away, then he will also be willing to stay right there. Morn will check the skies and make sure it will not rain, in the latter case.

[Fermire]

OCC: The hair piece is not a whig. I'm sorry if you misunderstood. It's more like a hair pin, something to keep hair out of your face with.

------------

Fermire's lamenting would not bring back his mother or his father. As much as he missed them, he couldn't bring them back, as much as he wanted to.

Slowly, Fermire opened his eye's after feeling Morn's gentle touch on his shoulder. Fermire was thankful for Morn's compassion and kindness. If Morn hadn't found Fermire, it was likely Fermire might not have survived.

Sitting up, Fermire breathed in a deep breath of fresh air. He had been in tears for what seemed like hours. The sun had not completely set however and there was still daylight left to see by.

Getting to his feet, Fermire tried to stand up, but fell to the ground again in exhaustion. He was still tired out from the day's many events.

Standing up once more, Fermire managed to stay up with out falling over again. He had to get away from the area. There were to many memories on that coast. Memories, Fermire wanted desperately to forget. Clutching the hair piece to his chest, Fermire rushed away from the beach, not even considering what Morn had in mind. He had to get away from that beach as quickly as possible and by any means necessary.

[seekeroftales]

OOC: I thought a wig was a little strange, but you might have just wanted to do something very unique. I wondered if you meant a hair comb ornament or intricate barrette.

I realize too that Fermire's thoughts are from his own viewpoint. However, I must say OOC that you wrote about his thankfulness toward Morn in a rather overdone fashion. In fact, it is doubtful that Fermire would have gone undiscovered for long, and there is actually little chance that he would have come to some serious harm or starved. You wrote that bit as a statement from a narrative point of view. I respectfully suggest that you specify it as Fermire's supposition. Though too, if you feel Fermire was in relative trouble/danger, leave it so. It may depend largely on which part of Dinotopia's coast Fermire is beached on.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While he wanted to help, Morn perceived the air of desperation about the castashore. He did not understand what was driving him in his exhausted state. He did get a sense of fleeing, however. And not out of fear.

Short, strong and tanned, Morn had risen to his feet with the castashore. Standing there, he had half expected his assistance would be needed. Not immediately, he thought with concern, now watching the grieved young man drive himself into the forest without any help, but obviously with costly effort. He will not do himself any good, not in his state of mind.

The beachdrifter took off after his charge, his own mind spinning. Will he let me calm him? Can I reason with him somehow? Is he too upset to allow himself to be prevailed upon to take rest in shelter and warmth, with a companion?

Morn was determined to find out. "Please, stop!" he called beseechingly. Another stock phrase he had learned. It was expected that one might have to use that with dolphinbacks. "I, Morn, safe friend!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

{OOC: Morn is a wreck diver and frequents the beach where Fermire had been cast ashore. He shares a shelter a mile inland with two others, one older man and an old dimorphodon. I can cut out both of them if you prefer. Depending on where this beach is, the nearest village/town might be at least five miles away. Where Waterfall City is located in relation to the beach is also up to your decision.}

[Fermire]

Fermire had continued to run further into the woods until he heard the faint shout of Morn coming from the direction of the beach.

Stopping to get his bearings, Fermire suddenly felt weak once more. He had managed to get a fair distance away from that dreaded shore. Never again would he go back. Not now and not ever.

Instead he concentrated on the shouts. It was clearly Morn's voice that he had heard. After traveling into the woods, however, he had lost his orientation. Dread began to sink in with the realization that if he didn't find Morn, he would be as lost as a goose.

Fermire shouted back,"I'm over here! Come to my voice!"

Fermire was desperate to find Morn. But whatever he did, he wasn't gong back to the beach.

Hearing Morn's voice once more, Fermire shouted back in reply. morn was using that same strange language and/or dialect of English. He seemed to only know short phrases of English, for that was all he would use at one time.

Morn's voice sounded closer than it had before. He was getting closer.

Suddenly, a large creature swooped overhead. Fermire caught a glimpse of the strange creature as it flew away. For the first time he remembered his mother's hair pin which he held in his hand. He opened his back pack and placed the priceless piece into the back pack before placing it back on his back.

Whatever that thing was, Fermire wasn't going to let it take his most treasured possession.

the creature swooped by once again. This time Fermire got a better glimpse at the flying animal. It made his eyes dizzy. he'd only seen a creature like that in his science textbooks. It looked exactly like a pterodactyl.

What is this place? Fermire asked himself. it seemed to get stranger by the second.

[seekeroftales]

Morn finally located the castashore. He was kneeling down and looking exhausted. And looking something else . . . up. The native had seen the flying dinosaur as well and thought it wise to address that particular issue first.

"Safe. We, you, safe here," Morn spoke to Fermire. He kept the quality of his eyes calm and sure. "No danger. Come. I help you."

He really had only one thought on his mind. This castashore needed rest and the sooner he was bedded down for the night, the better to Morn's mind. And he wanted to speak with his beach companions about the castashore, as well. He was sure of one thing. It would be an interesting day tomorrow. Assuming, of course, that the evening and night were going to be relatively normal. As normal as it could be with a fresh castashore.

Morn held out his hand, waiting for the castashore to take it. And should he choose not to, then the native would resign himself to staying close by him. Hopefully, Pepoh would search him out and return word of his present fate to Linder. Both the dimorphodon and the old man were somewhat inclined to worry and liked to know that those they kept company with were safe nights.

[Fermire]

Fermire took Morn's hand and stood up from his current position.

Fermire trusted the man despite the fact that he didn't know his name or who he was. Whoever he was, Fermire wanted to be in his company more than he wanted to be in that creature's company.

They walked back to the beach and the man signaled to Fermire that they were to spend the night there. Lying down onto the cool sand, Fermire realized for the first time that it was completely dark outside.

Taking his backpack off, he put it behind his head to use as a makeshift pillow.

Laying his head back, Fermire pulled his mother's golden hair pin up to his chin. He missed his mother greatly. The day's events were a blur to Fermire. It seemed like everything had happened so fast. The shipwreck, him being found by the mysterious man, and seeing the strange creature that seemed to resemble a pterodactyl.

Looking over to where the other man lay, Fermire's eyes suddenly grew heavy. He was extremely tired from the day's events. Laying his mother's hair pin on his chest entwined between his hands, Fermire slowly drifted off to sleep. If Fermire had any dreams, he forgot them before morning.

[seekeroftales]

The rising of the sun over the treetops behind them found Morn wide awake. He was an early riser by nature of habit. His name was even of the dawning. He had been born in Sky City seventeen years ago, as the sun rose in the east. As the day had begun, so had his life. Camista, his mother, had named him as only she could see to.

The castashore, on the other claw, was still asleep. Morn judged by his breathing that he would wake soon. The island's native found himself admiring the golden adornment held in the young man's hands. He wondered if the girl or woman who had worn it was comparatively beautiful. And he wondered also about what strange curiosities from the outside world might be within the pouch beneath his head.

The mixed pod of his dolphin friends found Morn shortly thereafter, when he finally rose to stretch. He spotted them before he heard then. They were hard to miss in the brilliant shine of the rolling breakers, most of their number being painted with bright colors. He considered signaling them to be quiet, but decided against the gesture. The castashore had slept for nearly ten hours. Such a sleep would certainly do him for the day, if he stayed quiet and did no heavy work or traveling.

Morn marched down into the breakers to say good morning. All returned his greeting and some whistled queries. Aworinasuu was the loudest and most persistent, being full of concerned questions about the castashore. She claimed the golden trinket she had retrieved for him held an air of love and kindness about it. Morn did not doubt her. He looked back at the castashore to find that he was stirring at the sound of the dolphins.

Uncharacteristically, Dygiu was silent after returning Morn's greeting. And quite like herself, Suloah held her wise eyes on her young human friend and her tongue still. She always waited for him to speak first.

Morn smiled fondly and tickled Suloah's blow hole with his fingertips. "The way he ran into the forest yesterday, I am surprised he returned with me to the shore," he told her. His voice held a puzzled tone. "And he also was frightened by a skybax. The beach is open. He must trust my word. I told him he was safe." The native stroked the female dolphin's snout and looked at her expectantly. "Any thoughts, you pouch of pearls?"

Suloah stroked forward and pressed her snout against Morn's side. Her flipper slid up his arm. [He ran inland out of grief, perhaps set on forgetting,] she responded. [And yet he returned to the beach with you. I must assume he dearly loved those he lost.] She then slapped the flat of her flipper upon the young man's lower arm, an emphatic gesture among the dolphins which signaled their firm decision and determination. [If you do not take him to the Shrine of the Mourning Dolphinbacks, then you must see his way there somehow. A visit there will help to heal him. It will help him find peace in this new, strange land.]

Morn worried his bottom lip between his teeth. "He is to be considered my responsibility," he admitted slowly. "However, I had certainly not planned on a journey north. I have heard of that shrine. I really have no wish to see it."

[The decision is yours to make, of course,] Suloah said carefully. [It is only good to see new things. Your spirit grows that way.] She trilled sharply once. It seemed to Morn to be a castigating sound. He imagined it was the sort of sound she used on Dygiu.

Morn was uncertain of Suloah's words and their exact meaning - half as usual - but he sighed and nodded. He knew she would not have him come to harm and meant only for him what she thought best. He reflected for a moment that both his mother and his father had wanted him to see something of the island before settling in one spot. Now Suloah had expressed to him that she felt the same way.

"I will think on it," he assured Suloah. "I wish you might come with me. I think not Pepoh and Linder will be willing to. They have seen, they have heard, they have felt all of this land, and here is where they have rooted. I feel the coast is my place, too."

[It is certainly mine!] Suloah barked with a twinkle in her eye.

Morn nodded again, looking around at all the tapered snouts grinning at him. Most eyes seemed to be encouraging him. There was one exception. He was curious as to the gleam in Dygiu's eye, but dared not set the "colorful driftwood" to chattering.

The native swept a hand back at the beach. "He awaits me or even requires me. You say I have much to offer him. I will go now and begin to find out." That he would return later he left unspoken as he shooed the dolphins away to go about their business. "Please direct Pepoh or Linder to me if you should see them. They will doubtless be worried."

The dolphins agreed to do so and Morn parted from the surf to rejoin the castashore.

[Fermire]

Fermire stirred from his current position. For a moment he forgot where he was in the fresh morning air. But then seeing the strange man further along on the beach assured Fermire that he still resided on the strange island.

His hands brushed over his mother's hair pin. Just feeling the golden pin comforted Fermire immensely.

Setting up, he realized for the first time that the other man seemed to be communicating with the dolphins in the water. That would be the first thing Fermire would ask the man, what is your name?

Carefully putting the pin back in his back pack, Fermire stood to feet and picked up the bundle with him. He had yet to eat that morning, but felt that it was time to leave. He had remained on the beach long enough. It held more memories than he cared to remember.

Fermire noticed the man was heading up the beach toward him. He pointed toward the woods as to where they should go.

Fermire was hesitant to venture into that vast wilderness again. That creature, whatever it was, had given him a serious shock. However, he trusted the strange man, considering the fact that the man was the only human being he had ever met in his time on the island.

Fermire followed the man into the woods careful to keep close by, in case the woods grew thicker, making it harder to see one another.

He figured now was as good as any other time, so Fermire decided to ask the man.

"What is your name? If you don't mind me asking."

[seekeroftales]

Morn understood the first question fine and figured out the second by the tone the castashore spoke in. "Is alright. I tell you. You ask before. I named Morn. We go to shelter, where my friends Linder, Pepoh be. You named?"

They were close to the shelter even then and Morn let out a hooting cry to his friends before the castashore could reply. "Sorry," he apologized, the word a little garbled as his vocal chords relaxed from giving the cry. "One friend like to know what is coming. Other friend not smell so good and get nervous. Small worrier. Can fly, why worry?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OOC: I can have Linder speak good english, or introduce a third human character who can. It would help clear things up quicker and move the story along. We could also skip scenes instead of writing our characters through every day. Let me know when you want to just skip ahead, or just do it. I would like to know if you would mind my doing so.

[Fermire]

OOC: You can skip ahead if you'd like. As long as we're headed in the general direction of Waterfall City. You can have Linder speak good English if you'd like. It would probably help the process to move along smoother.

---------------------

Despite his father's help in discerning other people's languages, Fermire was unable to understand everything that the man had said. However, he had managed to catch the man's name, as well as his question as to what Fermire's name was.

"My name is Fermire. I'm very happy to have met you Morn. Thank you for finding me on the beach that day. I very much appreciate it."

The two men continued along through the woods for a bit longer before Fermire began to hear movement.

Unsure as to what and where it was coming from, Fermire froze in his place. I hope it isn't another one of those flying creatures. Fermire said to himself.

Just then, the forest ahead of them shook and two men appeared in front of them. They were wearing the same strange garb as Morn. Fermire waited for Morn to make some sort of gesture to indicate that it was safe for the two of them to proceed.

[seekeroftales]

Both of them were older than Morn, one much moreso, probably in his late sixties to early seventies. The younger of the two - about fifty - was more richly dressed than the older fellow. Neither of the two men appeared to be surprised at the sight of Fermire, an obvious castashore by his clothing.

"I am Linder," said the old man to Fermire, raising his hand and parting his fingers equally. He was speaking in good english. "Welcome and hello. Or as we of this island greet one another, "Breath deep". Your reply - if you are amicably inclined - would be, "Seek Peace"."

Morn himself was a bit surprised to see the richly dressed man, but he chose to say nothing, as Fermire would not be able to understand, so it would hardly be a polite thing to do. He had words to speak concerning Fermire anyway, and he knew it would be best that the castashore could follow along with Linder's able help as a translator.

Fermire gave no little start as a sudden murmur of beating wings played against some branches above. Linder automatically lifted his arm, stiff and strong, its lower portion held leveled. A small flying creature - resembling something of a furred bat and a toucan - proceeded to alight upon the intended perch with practiced ease and an unmistakable air of grace. It also had about it something of the mythical looks of a dragon, perhaps suggested by its tail and teeth.

"And this is our good friend, Pepoh," explained Linder quickly, so as to set the castashore's mind at its ease. "A fine flier and dependable message carrier. Do you know what his kind is called in your world?"

[Fermire]

Fermire's mind raced. Whoever Linder was, he was apparently a friend of Morn's. Fermire's eyes widened at the sight of Pepoh. it looked like some strange bird. that was the closest he could come to anything he'd ever seen.

It certainly wasn't the right size to be the creature he had seen the night before. it was far too small.

"Is it a bird?" Fermire inquired.

[seekeroftales]

"Not to say yes, no," Linder answered with a grin. "The knowledgeable ones of your world would categorize it as a "reptile", I believe. No, I meant, What kind of dinosaur is he?"

The man beside Linder smiled to himself, well aware the Pepoh was not considered a "dinosaur" by the highly categorical standards of the Outside's "scientific community". He bit his tongue, however, interested to know if Fermire would correct Linder, whether generally or in particular.

Morn caught the smile and wondered at it. He said nothing, instead making a hand gesture and raising his arm in the same fashion that Linder had.

Pepoh knew well he was called to his friend's arm, but he eyed the castashore calculatedly and gave a 'nothing doing' whistle which Morn knew well. The young man often challenged the dimorphodon to do risky things, but more often that not, the wise old reptile refused to humor Morn.