Receiving no greeting, Whit chuckles, controlling his annoyance. "Guess I'll flush him out." Wiping snow off a rock, he sits down and pulls out his flute, testing a few notes before performing an eerie hum. Tapping his foot, he plays a tune similar to that of a sea shanty.
Ino raises a brow as he inspects the door. Scratching off a few layers of ice, he waddles off.
Whit continues, until he is suddenly interrupted by a loud clang. Levitating in the air for a moment, he falls back down, swallowing a bit of snow.
Ino had charged into the door, causing large chunks of packed snow to fall off and smother him.
Angry screams break the silence as an Ice Bear clothed in white rags limps into view. "Brave enough to disturb mine study?!"
Popping his head out of the snow, Ino turns his head in confusion. Whit merely grins. "Still deep in the ancients, Iceroar?"
Wielding a Tuskstaff, the Icebear gave him a stern look. "Better than to follow mine brothers and abandoned our great city."
Whit smirks. "Once great city."
Iceroar growls. "Why come then to the ruins of an airship? Do you not know of what happens to those who attempt to steal the artifacts left here?"
Shaking his head, Whit pulls out Ino from the snow pile while carelessly commenting, "If I needed treasure, I wouldn't have come to such a dump, now would I?" He gently pushes Ino forward. "You wish to continue the legacy of the Ice Storm? This strong brute is wholly ready to live a life worthy of yer banner, worthy of yer tribe's name! You would not turn down a worthy successor, would you?"
Iceroar throws his foot down. "The name of Ice Storm will live on in the paws of an Ice Bear, not a horned breed!"
"But the power to influence a tribe member such as this one, is it not the will of Ice Storm to conquer?"
Looking up at the airship and the large dent left by Ino, Iceroar scowls. "You may stay for the night."
Icerawr barks out another command. "Harder! Crush the ice beneath your palms as if it where mere hummingmoss beneath your feet. Be worthy of the name of IceStorm! Conquer the ice as he did!"
Ino pounds the ice without flinching. Roaring one final cry, he charges at the glacier standing in front of him. The stump where his horn had broken off years ago now bore one made of ice. The ground quakes upon impact.
Raising a brow, Whit slowly claps. "Well done." Wiping snowflakes off his fur, he winces while shifting his head sideways. "A tad to the left next time and he might have struck a bullseye."
Snow mixed with sharp particles of ice swirl around Icerawr as he steps out of the mist. Behind him, a large piece of the glacier he had formed for Rorik's training session slides downward. Throwing a stone upward, Rorik crushes it with his head. Grunting, he brushes past Icerawr ignoring him completely.
Icerawr extends his hand outward. "My Disciple, your might-"
As his hand falls on Rorik's shoulder, Rorik halts his footsteps and snaps back at him. Breath pours from his nostrils as he growls, allowing Icerawr a view of his teeth. Whit's ears perk up. He watches in silence as Icerawr quivers. Lowering his eyes, the proud IceBear shuffles back.
Striding forward with his head held high, Rorik draws his cloak around him and plucks a small spike of ice from his brow. He returns to the ruins of the throne room, leaving his teachers bewildered.
Returning to the ruins of what was once the throne room, Whit finds Rorik forming the head of a hammer out of stone and placing it on a handle chiseled from the piece of an iron beam. He chides the Rhino, referring to him by his pseudo name. "What made you upset enough to leave your friends like that Ino?"
The Rhino responds with a mild grunt, pausing momentarily to inspect the work of his craftmanship. Sharpening the small spike of ice, he continues to carve strange images onto the weapon. Markings appearing of ancient origin, telling of legendary feats carried out by noble Rhino warriors.
Whit remains silent, watching as the once childish creature now stares at the weapon as if recounting days long gone by. The Rhino quickly falls into a trance, twitching his right eye. His head turns away in sorrow. Pain is etched on his face.
Whit slinks forward, lowering to meet Rorik face to face. "Tell me of your dreams Ino. Nightmares?"
Icerawr barks out another command. "Harder! Crush the ice beneath your palms as if it where mere hummingmoss beneath your feet. Be worthy of the name of IceStorm! Conquer the ice as he did!"
Ino pounds the ice without flinching. Roaring one final cry, he charges at the glacier standing in front of him. The stump where his horn had broken off years ago now bore one made of ice. The ground quakes upon impact.
Raising a brow, Whit slowly claps. "Well done." Wiping snowflakes off his fur, he winces while shifting his head sideways. "A tad to the left next time and he might have struck a bullseye."
Snow mixed with sharp particles of ice swirl around Icerawr as he steps out of the mist. Behind him, a large piece of the glacier he had formed for Rorik's training session slides downward. Throwing a stone upward, Rorik crushes it with his head. Grunting, he brushes past Icerawr ignoring him completely.
Icerawr extends his hand outward. "My Disciple, your might-"
As his hand falls on Rorik's shoulder, Rorik halts his footsteps and snaps back at him. Breath pours from his nostrils as he growls, allowing Icerawr a view of his teeth. Whit's ears perk up. He watches in silence as Icerawr quivers. Lowering his eyes, the proud IceBear shuffles back.
Striding forward with his head held high, Rorik draws his cloak around him and plucks a small spike of ice from his brow. He returns to the ruins of the throne room, leaving his teachers bewildered.
Returning to the ruins of what was once the throne room, Whit finds Rorik forming the head of a hammer out of stone and placing it on a handle chiseled from the piece of an iron beam. He chides the Rhino, referring to him by his pseudo name. "What made you upset enough to leave your friends like that Ino?"
The Rhino responds with a mild grunt, pausing momentarily to inspect the work of his craftmanship. Sharpening the small spike of ice, he continues to carve strange images onto the weapon. Markings appearing of ancient origin, telling of legendary feats carried out by noble Rhino warriors.
Whit remains silent, watching as the once childish creature now stares at the weapon as if recounting days long gone by. The Rhino quickly falls into a trance, twitching his right eye. His head turns away in sorrow. Pain is etched on his face.
Whit slinks forward, lowering to meet Rorik face to face. "Tell me of your dreams Ino. Nightmares?"
Rorik hesitates.
Whit smiles, holding up his flute. "How about a song then? Cheer you up, eh?"
Sitting down across from him, Whit prepares his instrument. Opening with a hopeful ditty, he notices Rorik is mouthing words, quietly mimicking the sound of heavy rain. Whit softens the tune, slowing down to a solemn series of notes that sounded as if creatures were humming in the distance.
The Rhino begins to draw figures in the snow, figures that looked very much like himself...and another, sinister figure. . Whit pauses for a look and frowns before continuing his song.
Outside, Icerawr hurls his ice hammer, bringing it down on a mound of ice. Breaking a large chunk of ice off, he growls. "By IceStorm I-" He pauses, raising his brow as he turns his head to the sound. Hiding behind a column, Icerawr catches Whit's notes. Leaning in for a closer look, he sees the image written in the snow. Frightened, he rushes outside and clutches the sculpture of IceStorm he had been forming.
Back at the throne room, Rorik looks up from the image — a tear forming in his eye. Whit rises, exiting the room.
Finding Icerawr, the Wolf calls for him. "Still working on that pet project of yours?" Icerawr aims his weapon at Whit. "What did you tell him? What did you do?!"
Wiping snow from his snout, Whit merely shakes his head. "I'd lay off the training for about a day, perhaps even turn down the intensity just a tad when the time comes to pick up again."
Icerawr violently vibrates in anger, grabbing Whit by his cloak. "How dare you-"
His words falter as Rorik approaches them, letting go of Whit and picking up his hammer. Throwing a threatening glare at him, Icerawr wanders off to another section of the ruins.
Adjusting his cloak, Whit cautions Rorik. "I told you that Ice Bear has his own intentions. But, like all good folks...we must wait."
Returning to the ruins of what was once the throne room, Whit finds Rorik forming the head of a hammer out of stone and placing it on a handle chiseled from the piece of an iron beam. He chides the Rhino, referring to him by his pseudo name. "What made you upset enough to leave your friends like that Ino?"
The Rhino responds with a mild grunt, pausing momentarily to inspect the work of his craftmanship. Sharpening the small spike of ice, he continues to carve strange images onto the weapon. Markings appearing of ancient origin, telling of legendary feats carried out by noble Rhino warriors.
Whit remains silent, watching as the once childish creature now stares at the weapon as if recounting days long gone by. The Rhino quickly falls into a trance, twitching his right eye. His head turns away in sorrow. Pain is etched on his face.
Whit slinks forward, lowering to meet Rorik face to face. "Tell me of your dreams Ino. Nightmares?"
Rorik hesitates.
Whit smiles, holding up his flute. "How about a song then? Cheer you up, eh?"
Sitting down across from him, Whit prepares his instrument. Opening with a hopeful ditty, he notices Rorik is mouthing words, quietly mimicking the sound of heavy rain. Whit softens the tune, slowing down to a solemn series of notes that sounded as if creatures were humming in the distance.
The Rhino begins to draw figures in the snow, figures that looked very much like himself...and another, sinister figure. . Whit pauses for a look and frowns before continuing his song.
Outside, Icerawr hurls his ice hammer, bringing it down on a mound of ice. Breaking a large chunk of ice off, he growls. "By IceStorm I-" He pauses, raising his brow as he turns his head to the sound. Hiding behind a column, Icerawr catches Whit's notes. Leaning in for a closer look, he sees the image written in the snow. Frightened, he rushes outside and clutches the sculpture of IceStorm he had been forming.
Back at the throne room, Rorik looks up from the image — a tear forming in his eye. Whit rises, exiting the room.
Finding Icerawr, the Wolf calls for him. "Still working on that pet project of yours?" Icerawr aims his weapon at Whit. "What did you tell him? What did you do?!"
Wiping snow from his snout, Whit merely shakes his head. "I'd lay off the training for about a day, perhaps even turn down the intensity just a tad when the time comes to pick up again."
Icerawr violently vibrates in anger, grabbing Whit by his cloak. "How dare you-"
His words falter as Rorik approaches them, letting go of Whit and picking up his hammer. Throwing a threatening glare at him, Icerawr wanders off to another section of the ruins.
Adjusting his cloak, Whit cautions Rorik. "I told you that Ice Bear has his own intentions. But, like all good folks...we must wait."
Night passes, but Icerawr remains awake. Although an agent of ice, he shudders. Clutching his ears, the frighten Ice Bear's attempts to silence those haunting notes only strengthen its volume. Outside, Whit rattles spears and helmets while playing his flute, unable to help himself to a sly smile.
Inside the throne room, Rorik stares at pebbles on the ground while laying down on his cot. He sighs.
It was a circle of land shrouded in darkness except for where he and another creature stood. Their fists were locked as they wrestled. The enemy's hood blanketed his face in shadow. Rorik lets go, kicking the enemy back and retrieving his sword. The foe lunges forward, his face resembling Icerawr.
Escaping his thoughts, Rorik turns his head upward. A wail echoes throughout the ruins.
"IceStorm's fury will rise again! Do you hear me! I will have a thousand upon thousands! He will be the first! If he falls, he will fall alone and I will triumph regardless!"
Dawn of the next day, Rorik sat upon a stone encased in ice and ties the strings binding his gauntlets together. Whit emerges with a wooden plate full of fruit while humming a children's song.
An icicle upturns the plate, splashing the fruit onto Whit's face.
Whit smiles, holding up his flute. "How about a song then? Cheer you up, eh?"
Sitting down across from him, Whit prepares his instrument. Opening with a hopeful ditty, he notices Rorik is mouthing words, quietly mimicking the sound of heavy rain. Whit softens the tune, slowing down to a solemn series of notes that sounded as if creatures were humming in the distance.
The Rhino begins to draw figures in the snow, figures that looked very much like himself...and another, sinister figure. . Whit pauses for a look and frowns before continuing his song.
Outside, Icerawr hurls his ice hammer, bringing it down on a mound of ice. Breaking a large chunk of ice off, he growls. "By IceStorm I-" He pauses, raising his brow as he turns his head to the sound. Hiding behind a column, Icerawr catches Whit's notes. Leaning in for a closer look, he sees the image written in the snow. Frightened, he rushes outside and clutches the sculpture of IceStorm he had been forming.
Back at the throne room, Rorik looks up from the image — a tear forming in his eye. Whit rises, exiting the room.
Finding Icerawr, the Wolf calls for him. "Still working on that pet project of yours?" Icerawr aims his weapon at Whit. "What did you tell him? What did you do?!"
Wiping snow from his snout, Whit merely shakes his head. "I'd lay off the training for about a day, perhaps even turn down the intensity just a tad when the time comes to pick up again."
Icerawr violently vibrates in anger, grabbing Whit by his cloak. "How dare you-"
His words falter as Rorik approaches them, letting go of Whit and picking up his hammer. Throwing a threatening glare at him, Icerawr wanders off to another section of the ruins.
Adjusting his cloak, Whit cautions Rorik. "I told you that Ice Bear has his own intentions. But, like all good folks...we must wait."
Night passes, but Icerawr remains awake. Although an agent of ice, he shudders. Clutching his ears, the frighten Ice Bear's attempts to silence those haunting notes only strengthen its volume. Outside, Whit rattles spears and helmets while playing his flute, unable to help himself to a sly smile.
Inside the throne room, Rorik stares at pebbles on the ground while laying down on his cot. He sighs.
It was a circle of land shrouded in darkness except for where he and another creature stood. Their fists were locked as they wrestled. The enemy's hood blanketed his face in shadow. Rorik lets go, kicking the enemy back and retrieving his sword. The foe lunges forward, his face resembling Icerawr.
Escaping his thoughts, Rorik turns his head upward. A wail echoes throughout the ruins.
"IceStorm's fury will rise again! Do you hear me! I will have a thousand upon thousands! He will be the first! If he falls, he will fall alone and I will triumph regardless!"
Dawn of the next day, Rorik sat upon a stone encased in ice and ties the strings binding his gauntlets together. Whit emerges with a wooden plate full of fruit while humming a children's song.
An icicle upturns the plate, splashing the fruit onto Whit's face.
A second icicle speeds through the air, only to be caught by Rorik. Appearing confused, he looks to Whit as his face hardens in realization. Pulling an orb of chi from his satchel, Whit passes it to him.
Bolting at full speed surrounded by a cloud of frost, a distressed Icerawr howls out a battle cry as his fists encase in ice. Rorik plugs in the orb and stomps his foot, making for himself a shield of rock. Fueled by anger, Icerawr leaps into the air and throws his fists downward, attempting to crush the rock formation on top of the Rhino.
Hacking away at the rock from above, Icerawr continues to yell. "An Ice Disciple, a cowardly Ice Disciple! I asked for you to further IceStorm's teachings, and you dare betray me! Unfit, unworthy, you desecrate these ruins! CoMe FoRtH!"
Whit dodges as loose icicles nearly pin him to the wall. He calls to Rorik. "Offensive Ino, or he'll bring the ruins down on us! YEOWCH!" An second icicle grazes his cheek as he ducks behind a fallen pillar.
Icerawr falls back as Rorik bursts from the shield and leaps upward, grabbing the surprised Ice Bear by the collar before throwing him into a glacier. Running towards Whit, he notices the cut went deeper than expected. The elderly wolf waves him away. "Get back to that crazed Ice Bear!"
A thick wall of ice charges forward threatening to crush the pair. Turning around, Rorik digs his feet into the ground and catches it with his hands, pushing it back. Emerging from the glacier, Icerawr forms a hammer of ice and pounds the ground. Roaring, he swings the hammer at Rorik's head. The Rhino ducks, picking up the wall and bringing it down on Icerawr instead.
The Ice Bear moans as he falls to his knees. Picking up a broken piece of ice, Rorik points it at him with menace and growls. Scrambling up, Whit watches in silence.
Icerawr looks downward. "IceStorm shall be feared again. I will rebuild the glory of the Ice Bears."
Rorik's eyes soften. Seeing him nothing more than a wretched, purposeless shell of a creature he offers a hand to help him up. Icerawr grabs it roughly as frost forms on the Rhino's skin. "You will not forget IceStorm's rage!" The Rhino screams in pain, kicking Icerawr in the face and drawing back. The blow knocks the Ice Bear unconscious.
Whit immediately rubs hot tea to break the frost. "By Cavora, if you hadn't weaken him the ice might have consumed you by now. Enough of this, we must get to someone with Fire Chi." Wrapping his arm, the hot tea kept the wound warm. "Studying the maps that old loony kept here, there should be a Phoenix satellite around here somewheres. Leopards or Tigers...or something!" He lifts Rorik onto his back and carries him. "Find ourselves a speedorz and head off."
Entering Icerawr's quarters, Whit gives Rorik a second orb of chi and trails off to locate a speedorz. The exhausted Rhino drifts to sleep.
Post by TheFortuitousMysteryRider on May 26, 2022 10:57:23 GMT
Back outside, Icerawr moans as he is dragged by his neck fur through the snow. Entering the throne room, he is lifted off the ground and thrown into the remains of the kingly seat. "Now the king has his throne." Rumbling causes Icerawr to stir. He lifts his eyelids open a crack.
The statue of IceStorm was falling towards him!
***
"Back."
Rorik awakes with a start. Shifting his head in all directions, he looks down at the food in his hands. Whit's smiling face startles him.
"Found all of these goodies laying about and..."
He steps back to reveal a motorcyle. "Inscription on the back says Icepaw. *shrugs* Now let's get out of here!"
Revving the engine, it sputters. Rolling his eyes, Whit inserts an orb of chi while mumbling to himself. "I'll be out of chi by morning at this rate!"
Zooming out of the window, the motorcycle lands on the ground with a bump and races off to the nearest Fire Tribe. As Rorik takes in one last view of the ruins, a faint roar echoes through the air...