A desperate search

[Fermire]

Fermire was still quite bewildered. Why in the world would they think that it was a dinosaur? it made absolutely no sense.

"It certainly isn't a dinosaur. They're extinct. It's more likely some kind of exotic bird. My father is a scientist, so I know a bit about dinosaurs and that certainly isn't one." Fermire replied.

Whatever the creature called 'Pepoh' was, it certainly was extremely strange. The entire island was getting stranger by the minute. Whoever these people were, they had obviously lived on the island for many years and were quite attuned to island living.

[seekeroftales]

Linder's expression in response was a confused one and the man beside him chuckled amusedly. Morn himself was silent, giving the man a curious look, as he had not understood Fermire's reply, indeed, had not really caught the gist of Linder's question.

"He speaks with authority," said Linder to the man, in English so that Fermire could follow. Then he immediately translated his words into Dinotopian, heavily laced with French for the benefit of his companions' understanding. "And you are openly amused, Ernholm, my friend, assumeably at the expense of my ignorance. You must explain to me how I spoke wrong."

[It was a simple mistake,] Ernholm responded with a smile, [which can wait if you will. There is much we must tell "Fermire" here about this land, before he has a serious shock. Shall we not take him to shelter?] The man pointed skyward, indicating the heavy grey clouds which were rolling in from out to sea.

Nodding his agreement with Ernholm's suggestion, Linder honestly translated the man's words for Fermire's benefit, though he felt hesitant to do so, considering his indiscreet choice of words. He hoped that the castashore would not press him with demanding questions right away.

Pepoh had actually felt the storm growing and approaching. He had remained silent - as was his habit - concerning the weather, preferring to let his human companions keep their own instincts sharp by predicting the weather for themselves.

Being more intuned to the water, Morn too had sensed the storm. Even an hour earlier, he had felt that "damp, encompassing feeling" which he got when rain was near to fall. "Bad weather, take shelter. Sit, talk about this place. You learn," the young man suggested to Fermire gently, waving one hand skyward and the other back in the direction his companions had appeared from.

Ernholm and Linder also gestured behind them and smiled invitingly. In the spirit of the moment, even Pepoh squeaked discreetly and pointed in the same direction with a wingtip.

[Fermire]

As much as Fermire wished to know about the island and the strange people that seemed to reside on it, he also didn't want to be out in the open if it were to start raining.

He had caught small snippets of the natives' language. Afterward they had translated for him. It seemed so strange what the people were saying. Whatever the 'serious shock' was, he wanted to know about it.

His father had instilled upon him the need for more information, while his mother had passed down the trait of finding out about whatever it was he wanted to know as quickly as possible.

The distant sound of thunder could be heard over the ocean. A storm was coming.

"Let's go to the shelter that you spoke of, I'd rather talk in a dry environment."

Without another word, the four humans and the one strange bird, departed for whatever shelter was available from the storm.

[seekeroftales]

Ten minutes later, all were settled under cover within a two story, dug-out shelter set inside a tight and sturdy copse of trees. Set into the sandy floor at the far end from its open doorway was a medium-sized fire pit which still glowed with embers from a small fire earlier.

Located about the sandy floor and the driftwood rafters were woven-leaf mats and hummock blankets. Humans and smaller saurians altogether, the shelter which Morn had come to call home was well able to sleep a dozen.

Thanks to the close-about trees and the rolling clouds above choking out the sun's rays, it was quite dark inside the shelter, the thatch-woven roof of which was well suited to its purposes of shade and rain deterrence, being well-made and well sealed with tree sap and milk-rubber.

The rain had started just a minute before, and from some source unknown to Fermire - came a series of reedy, falling notes which seemed to have no discernable pattern. He eyed Pepoh discreetly for a bit, but quickly decided the "exotic bird" was not producing them. Instead, the deep wailing notes seemed to come from somewhere close-by and outside.

Except for Fermire, all were settled about the shelter. Linder was sitting on a carved driftwood stool nearer the firepit to warm himself, Pepoh perched upon the twisted rafter above the old man's head. The latter's eyes shown eerily in the emberlight and he did not shy away from the sparks which resulted as the former turned up the hot coals and blew upon them.

After having reappeared from a short jaunt out behind the shelter, Ernholm had made himself relatively comfortable in a hummock in one of the darker corners of the shelter; he was leaving his options open, half planning to take a nap if the inclination struck him soundly. He had done much diving the day before and had not slept well that night. Besides which facts, he had earned many scars from Halo Reef's coral in years past, and he found it best to elevate his legs when they bothered him in rainy weather.

Morn himself was sitting cross-legged upon one of the mats beyond the firepit, not close to it as he was quite warm already. Beside him was a large oval basket with intricate weaves. He retrieved something from inside it and tossed it to Fermire when he was sure he had the castashore's attention. "Dried fruit," he explained. "Pepoh likes."

Fermire held center stage where the islanders were concerned, and Linder was eager to begin educating him. "The answers to whatever you shall ask I shall give in all truth I can," he said grandly, feeling rather important. "Only, one question at a time, please. And also please understand that I do not joke with you."

[Fermire]

Fermire couldn't understand why Linder would seem so serious. It wasn't like Linder was likely to tell him anything he didn't know already. The main thing Fermire wanted to know was, where in the world were they? As far as 'dinosaurs' went, Fermire was fairly contented with his belief that they had been simply joking before.

"Well, I guess my first question would be, where in the world are we?"

[seekeroftales]

"The inhabitants of this island call it many things in keeping with their many native languages and own views," Linder said slowly.

He translated for Ernholm and Morn, and the latter said something solemnly which Linder made comment on to Fermire. "Morn says he understood that you asked where you are, and he told you "Isolice". I would translate that as "separate place". However, I believe that Morn prefers "secret place"."

The older man looked very unhappy as he asked the castashore gravely, "Do you understand what that means for your situation?"

[Fermire]

"Yes, I realize that I'll probably be stuck on this island for a while. Hopefully not too long, though. I...have other family besides my parents." Fermire managed to choke out. He couldn't believe they were dead.

He'd gone over it in his mind many times, but it had been a while before he had thought on the subject. Wherever they were, he'd be happy to get away from the "secret place."

"I have several other questions, the next one would be, what animals live on this island. It seems fairly big to only be inhabited by humans."

[seekeroftales]

OOC: This is my last post in this tread and likely on this site entirely. Sorry to leave you without a partner, Fermire, but I just don't have the time to keep doing this. If you are very disappointed, look at it this way; you lost nothing and had someone to work with for a while.

~~~~~~~~~

Linder was not sure Fermire really understood, but he knew the issue would come up again if he did not.

"Ahh," the older man sighed with an awkward smile. "Your question touches directly on another serious point. There are many species here which have appearantly become unique to this island. Most of them can be intimidating to a newcomer such as yourself. It so happens we have an example outside, in back of this abodhut. Shall I call him so that you may see him through the entryway? He is Ernholm's companion and I assure you that he will cause you no harm, though you may not be inclined to take my word."