ninth.

[eaglet]

[Connor sounds slightly out of breath when he dictates into the journal, mostly because it's so cold outside but also because he's been working pretty hard out there.]

Before I came to this world, I had left my village for six months. I have now been in this place for nine. There are still things I do not understand about both this world and the world outside my village, but I am learning, I think. And there is much to learn.

I have been interested in exploring the Dead Zone again. The god of this place has the power to move us and to transform our surroundings, but I would like to explore on my own terms. There is much to learn here amongst each other, but I feel as though there is even more to learn out there.

[Connor can be found on the castle lawn, packing a long wall of snow about a foot tall, taking care to carve a furrow down the middle. He has acquired some gloves that don't really match the rest of his outfit -- they have a reflective strip down the side and are also neon pink.]

Comments

[hellofist]

[And here is Cass, watching his progress with a bit of a frown. She can see what he's doing, but it doesn't make much sense to her. Of course, this month has been her first real experience with snow so it's not like she has a whole lot to compare what he's making to.

Finally curious enough to speak up, she heads over to him and waves to greet him.]

Hi Connor. What are you, uh... making?

[eaglet]

[Connor looks up when he hears someone approaching, and responds with a small smile and a nod.]

Hello. It is a track for snow snake. [He gestures vaguely at the thing he's constructing -- the track.] Of course I will need to run something through the track to smooth it out.

[hellofist]

Snow snake?

[Once she's close enough, she reaches out to tap down some of the snow in the track with her fingers. Doing it that way will take forever, but she can at least help.]

[eaglet]

[He watches her fiddle with the snow, but then the question sinks in and he looks up again, mildly surprised.]

It is a game. There is a track, and then the thrower moves the snow snake along the track. Whoever has the snake that moves the farthest wins.

[secondchances]

You're a smart kid. You pick up things pretty freakin' fast. I can't imagine how much you've absorbed without even meaning to.

[That aside...]

I'm always down for random adventures. ]Ugh, nature, but she does enjoy getting away from the castle and the city.] Any direction you're interested in?

[eaglet]

[Modestly... or perhaps a little cheekily??? Who knows, Connor is mysterious.] It is only so when I am interested in the subject matter.

But as far as exploration, I do not know what has been explored already, though I suppose it does not hurt to go down the same paths again. I would like to see if there is a land here that is similar to my home; the two places I have visited were both very flat, with many grasses but few trees.

[secondchances]

You want mountains and trees? [This is Steph thinking about all the weird shit that could live in mountains. She wants to say she'd be surprised by some Hills Have Eyes sort of terror, but...]

[eaglet]

[Steph don't sully it for him!!!]

Yes. I will admit perhaps I am somewhat homesick.

[molotov]

[Molotov and Mishka appear some time later, with Molotov holding a big box of assorted snacks, many of them Christmas themed.]

Connor, I forgot to have the ghost take this for you as well. What are you doing?

[eaglet]

[He looks up, glancing briefly at the cub. He also spends most of his time away from his room, so he has no real clue what she's talking about...]

I am making a track for snow snake, which is a game my people play in winter. What do you mean 'as well'?

[molotov]

You did not get the present I sent you? I told the ghosts to deliver it to your room...

[eaglet]

Oh... when did you? I have not been there in some time.

action!!!

[dgaf]

[ Those gloves are enough to have Effy break into a grin when she approaches, dressed in an oversized parka and too many necklaces piled on top of each other. Because she can. She could ask him what he's trying to build, but where's the fun in that? Instead she doodles in the snow wall with her finger, trying to make swirly patterns that only end up ruffling up the surface. Hello will come later. ]

yes!!!!

[eaglet]

[Connor notices her immediately, of course, since the parka is kind of difficult to ignore. He's trying to be polite and ignore her, though.

It doesn't last long.]

Pardon me. May I help you?

booyaaaa

[dgaf]

[ Effy bends down to blow away the snow pushed out of the grooves by her finger carving before turning to smile his way, like a cat that just brought home a dead mouse. ]

No. Can I help you?

[eaglet]

[This girl tho... Connor just kind of stares at her, confused.]

I was building this.

Dictated

[princelyspirit]

Hey, it beats waiting around for the castle's next prank. But, what are you planning on, exactly? Just a quick scouting trip? Or another expedition, like the one we had a few months ago?

Dictated

[eaglet]

I am not sure. I would like an expedition, of course, but those often take very long to organise.

action;

[wishmadeinfire]

<sub>[ Despite the cold weather, Svitana did have to come out sometimes for exercise - Svitana being Ashura's rather massive reptilian steed, which he called a dragon-horse.

He kept near the grounds with the weather, and on one pass around he caught sight of Connor. He cocked his head, drawing Svitana up to a walk and slowly approaching the young man. ]</sub>

Quite an interesting bit of architecture there.

_{[ Beneath him, Svitana shook his frilled head, snorting, breath misting from both nostrils like smoke from a dragon's mouth. ]}

action;

[eaglet]

[Ordinarily, Connor would be very happy to talk about his snow snake track to anyone who bothered to ask. But when he looks up, any small talk he may have been entertaining dies on his lips.

Because that... is a really terrifying-looking creature.]

What...!

Re: action;

[wishmadeinfire]

_{[ Ashura cocked his head from atop Svitana, who was half covered in a working blanket to help keep him warm in the cool weather, legs wrapped too. Claws shifted in the snow, and frankly, the animal looked bored. ]}

Ah, my apologies, I did not mean to frighten you. Have no fear, Svitana is perfectly safe.

_{[ Unless Ashura ordered otherwise. He was a war-beast, but Ashura kept him well trained and well fed. ]}

action;

[eaglet]

[He's not very reassured by that, and moves around to the other side of the snow mound. Not that it'll do much in the way of protection, but it's better than nothing.]

What is it...?

dictated;

[peacockherald]

If you plan to go, you should be prepared for anything. We have run into things there before and beyond. Who knows what might within its borders?

dictated;

[eaglet]

Yes. I have been on several expeditions already, so I do know what to expect.

Re: dictated;

[peacockherald]

All right. I just felt you should be warned, all the same. Do you have an idea of what you plan to look for specifically?