[PRP] Hike Through Lava Beds (Tlallolini and Masoumeh)

[Geyser Eelborn]

On with the grand exploration of the world! Out of the mountains! Out of the woods of Earth Tribe! Out of the hills and scrubland, and into the territories where dwelled, according to his friend Mauhuiztic, the Fire Tribe. To be honest, Mau was the only fire tribe member Tlallolini had ever met. He seemed nice enough, very pleasant, very honorable, very wise. Tlallo wished that Mau weren't so set on being alone all the time. Tlallo sighed. It was harsh when a friend insisted that they travel alone unto dangerous and exciting situations. Tlallo would very much have liked to see the places Mau was traveling. As it was, he had to wander himself, and he had decided that, in absence of any other agenda, he would travel around the world, visiting each tribe in kind. Wind tribe would be tricky, but he could leave them until last. In the meantime, he could do a quick tour of Fire Tribe, swing up to Water Tribe, then hopefully be at Dark Tribe in time for the, what was it called? Something fancy. Supposed to be a big event, and he wanted to see it. He had until November, then. November was a safe bet.

But Fire Tribe today! Fire Tribe, all volcanic mountains that alternated between lush gardens of paradise and places like this--rocky, uneven, miles and miles of broken slabs of rope-like lava, long since cooled in place. Tlallo grinned, his tongue lolling out. The sun was beating down on the lava bed under his feet, making it uncomfortably hot. Especially for his pawpads. Not only was the rock hot, it was rough and uneven. Some of the rocks were like broken shards, knives to dig into his feet. But the lifeless, surreal beauty of the lava bed had him in awe. Here and there straggled grasses grew out between the boulders, but for the most part? Empty, dead, silent. Tlallo shivered. It was beautiful. But a bit hot. He ducked underneath an overhanging rock, not even noticing movement from elsewhere along the valley.

[X]Natty-Chan[X]

 

[[X]Natty-Chan[X]]

Masoumeh wandered over the dried lava idly, no real destination in mind. Well, she had one destination, anywhere that was away from any other balam. Not that she minded though. For as long as she remembered, she never had friends, or acquaintances. She figured it was because of her appearance, so if others wanted to avoid her, she would avoid them. That was logical, at least, that's what she felt.

The roughness of the ground was nothing to her and she just jumped over broken patches or where the areas crumbled. She just ventured further down the path, tail flicking. It was only until she caught the scent of something. Something different. Something that wasn't sulfur. There was something that wasn't a Fire Tribe member around. Ears flattening against her head, she slowly pressed on, looking for what the scent was coming from.

Geyser Eelborn

 

[Geyser Eelborn]

Out along the black rubble of long-forgotten eruptions, there was a flicker of silver and white movement. Tlallo paused. A deer? A rabbit? Wait, what would either of those animals even eat out here? It wasn't like there was a lot of vegetation to be had. It was all a bit...quiet. Not even much in the way of birdsong. So, the movement had to be--a B'alam? That seemed like the most likely bet. In all his travels, Tlallo had never met another animal that could be found in quite so many odd and seemingly inhospitable terrains as a B'alam. And considering the heat out here, he could probably eliminate a few suspects. Ice? Impossible. They'd die out here. Water? A bit dry for their tastes, as he understood it. Dark? Wrong time of day.

Of course, checking off each tribe as he remembered it was a pointless exercise, and really, he only engaged in it to remind himself that there were seven different possibilities. But in reality, this was a lava flow on the edge of Fire Tribe territory. It was practically guaranteed to be a member of Fire Tribe. A scent of the air brought the faintest whiff of sulfur, which clinched it. It seemed to Tlallo at least that Mau, who had lived on plains and in forests and in scrublands and on mountaintops, had always smelled faintly of sulfur. A tribal scent, perhaps--did every tribe have their own scent? He didn't know, but he was just curious enough to find out. So he headed out in the direction of the grey and white spot, getting closer and closer until he could confirm the scent of another B'alam--a nantlil, he thought.

[X]Natty-Chan[X]

Sorry about how long it's taken!