A Walk to Remember

by **Saraphina Skyglow** on July 15th, 2014, 1:02 am

Saraphina Skyglow

30th Day of Summer 514 AV

T he sun was incredibly bright and Saraphina found herself wishing that she had a hat or head covering to keep the heat off her skull. Her eyes were actually starting to hurt a bit from being dilated and she kept having to keep her eyelids partially closed and squinty looking to see past the glare. The rays from the burning ball in the sky reflected off the shifting waves of the ocean, creating a brillent diamond display of beauty that made Saraphina’s breath catch a bit. Standing on the worn pathway that lead to a long stretch of white, sandy beach, the Kelvic couldn’t help but marvel at the strange sight. An open patch of land by the sea that wasn’t covered in ice, that didn’t have the risk of one falling into artic temperature waters. Saraphina looked around in slight awe and felt the urge to walk along the cleared area. Picking her way through the somewhat rough pathway, she spread her arms wide and slide down the steep embankment leading down to the beach. Her balance wavered a bit on the loose dirt and gravel under her simple calf high boots, but she made in onto the beach without stumbling. The sand was much looser that she was expecting, her feet sank into the new material much further than she expected. Remembering that Captain Velarious had suggested walking the beach without her shoes on, Saraphina took a moment to find her center of gravity and pulled her boots off one at a time. Despite her normally pristine balance, the feline shifter had to hop once to stay standing as she maneuvered her footgear off. The sand was just so loose and slick that it took her a few moments to get used to it.’

W ith her boots successfully removed, Saraphina brushed her bare feet through the warm, soft grains of sand. The sensation was almost indescribable. To one who grew up surrounded by cold snow and hard ice, to touch something that moved and molded to her skin…..something that didn’t melt upon touching warm skin….it was comforting, almost massaging in the conforming shape. Saraphina closed her eyes briefly, before sitting down to let her fingers and toes create grooves in the sand. The sun beamed down and warmed her skin to a blushing glow, heating her both inside and out. The gentle sound of the ocean created a soothing melody that nearly coxed her to lay down and have a nap. But she still wanted to explore this new area she’d found. After relaxing in the sun for about 10 minutes, the red haired Kelvic opened her eyes. Deciding to try something, Saraphina laid down on her back and pushed her boots away so they won’t trip her up. Pulling her knees to her chest and bracing her hands palm down on either side of her head, Saraphina tensed the muscles in her back and legs. Arching her spine upwards and kicking her legs forward, her body bent into an upside down U shape. Pushing off with her hands and shifting her weight forward, Saraphina pulled her heels back and landed in a crouch stance, balanced precariously on the balls of her feet. The loose sand had made it harder, but she’d managed well enough. Saraphina smiled happily to herself, standing fully and brushing grains of sand of her clothes. Gathering up her boots in one hand, she started to walk down the stretch of the beach.

W alking slowly and taking in all the sights, Saraphina’s sharp vision couldn’t help but spot several of the ocean going creatures. Small crabs darted about the moist areas where the waves compacted the loose grains of sand. When she approached some of the larger water beasts, they would scurry away from her and disappear into holes borrowed into the sand. Pausing at one, Saraphina poked at one but no sideways walking shellfish came out. The water licked at her bare feet and she waded into the water a bit more, pulling up her pants to avoid getting them wet. Through the bright, sunlight waves she could see several colorful and odd looking fish. Some had long fins with very deadly looking spines, others were teardrop shaped and a distinct blue color. The Kelvic stood in the shallow waves for quite some time, watching the darting fish with fascination, wondering if any were good to eat. Large formations of rocks decorated the shallow seafloor. She could see spots of color on the rocks that didn’t move around like the fish did. She wondered briefly about it before shrugging and continuing on her walk. The sand stuck to her now wet feet, but Saraphina didn’t care. The sensation of peace and solitude was refreshing. Here on the beach she couldn’t hear the noises of the city, only the sounds of the sea and the calls of the birds above her. She twirled in a circle as she walked, kicking up her feet and twisting her hands in an elegant spin. Keeping the movement flowing, she sidestepped and tip toed down the beach further. Saraphina would have kept going with her little display…..but she stepped on something hard that caused a sharp pain to stab at her foot.

by **Saraphina Skyglow** on July 15th, 2014, 1:03 am

S tumbling and cursing loudly, Saraphina hopped awkwardly on one foot. After the pain stopped, she stood on two feet again and frowned at the sand. Bending down, she ran her hands through the grit till she found what she stepped on. Pulling out a finger length, white bone like material, Saraphina forgot her irritation and studied the strange object. Rolling it around in her palms, Saraphina catalogued the features. Porous, filled with holes almost like bone, but lighter…..rough and gritty….but when she stretched a nail along it, white powder came off. It had no smell, expect for that of the surrounding environment and was hard and non-flexible. It was a mineral she’d never come across before. Saraphina had worked with wood, rock, clay…..different materials used for carving and artwork. But this thing….it was unlike anything she’d ever seen before. It would make for an interesting project if she could get some basic tools. But she’d need a bigger piece. Standing up, Saraphina started scanning the beach for more of the white porous rock.

P eices of seaweed and dead driftwood decorated the furthest edges of the beach before the stretch ended at a cliff face that was far too sheer to climb. Saraphina ran her fingertips over the rock making up the barrier, pleased when she was able to recognize some of the minerals. Shale, flint, some deposits of granite and limestone. “I’m glad there are some things in this new region that I know about. I feel almost like a child with all these new sights around me.” She smiled to herself before stretching her arms above her head. Turning back around and looking down the beach, Saraphina got the urge to run the length of it….for no other reason than to feel the wind whistle in her ears and her feet pound the sand. Not caring if anyone was about or saw her, the Kelvic stripped off her clothing to stand bare skinned. Folding up her belongings into a pile and brushing a hand over her metal pedant in thought. The chain was thick and hung down to mid sternum. It won’t interfere with the shift and Saraphina was hesitant to remove something so important to her. Everything else could be replaced…..her heirloom could not be. Stepping away from her clothing, she closed her eyes and called to her other half.

B ones shifted and cracked, but no pain was felt as her joints bent backwards. Falling to all four, Saraphina’s face bulged outwards before reshaping. A large, powerful jaw filled with long, sharp serrated teeth replaced her weak human mouth. The end of her spine itched a bit as a long, twitching tail sprouted out. Muscles stretched and doubled as layers of sinew formed under her skin. The last touch was a rapid growth of orange, black and white fur that spread like an out of control fire all along her body. The entire transformation took less than a minute. Saraphina stood proud and strong on the beach head, a full grown mature tiger. 300 lbs of primal predator misplaced in an ocean setting. Arching her back, Saraphina stretched out. Her golden eyes looked to the far end of the beach and her tail lashed back and forth in preparation. Muscles tensed and fired in flawless motion as she barreled forward. She lengthened her stride as she sprinted down the beach, mouth open to pull in as much air as she could, lungs inhaling and exhaling rapidly. The warmth spread through her body and her heart pounded against her ribs hard. A stitch formed in her side but Saraphina ignored it. Her tiger body was meant for ambush attacks, it wasn’t an endurance racers. But the freedom of running was so needed after being cooped up on a ship for weeks on end.

F inally reaching the end of the beach, Saraphina slowed from her dashing run to a slower paced trot and finally to a walk. Panting hard but grinning in a way only a feline predator could, Saraphina inhaled and let loose a roar. The sound echoed across the waves and through the brush around the beach. If any heard it, they likely wouldn’t have known what to think. Shaking her body like a dog trying to shed water, Saraphina turned back and walked at a more sedate pace back to where she’d placed her clothes. Shifting back to her two legged form, she lifted her arms above her head, smiling to the sky, “I needed that so badly….next time I’ll go to the mountains for a hunt…that’d be nice…..” Looking back around at the serene setting, she gathered up her clothes and got dressed. Saraphina kept her shoes off, the sand was really quite pleasing against her feet. Continuing her search on the trip back towards Zeltiva, Saraphina couldn’t help but rub her fingers against the white stone she’d found. It was then that she noticed that one end was somewhat jagged, like the piece had been broken off of a larger structure. Humming softly in curiosity, Saraphina made a decision to find someone in town to tell her what the strange mineral was. Choice made, she slipped her shoes on and walked back up the path she’d come down, heading back to the city.

Secret :

by **Aoren** on July 26th, 2014, 12:51 am

Riddled with Rewards!

Saraphina

Observation	+2 XP
Acrobatics	+1 XP
Meditation	+1 XP
Running	+1 XP

Lores :

Just a note on the shift…

There are no rearranging of bones, no pain, and no switching around of tissue for Kelvics like there are for morphers.

For the shift from Human to Animal form there is just a swirling of light as then the form appears. The same goes for the shift from Animal to Human.

Completed A Walk to Remember