Interlude--En Route to Fabion

Vioka flies incredibly fast, but that doesn't make the journey feel any shorter.

Alyssa gets soaked from the rain in Tempa, though for a while Vioka flies above the cloud line. It's very chilly up there, which makes Alyssa very, very cold. However, once out of Tempa, Vioka lowers her altitude, and Alyssa finally dries out and warms up.

((Special note: If Alyssa is susceptible to colds, she will start feeling a little sick. If she has a strong immune system, she will feel fine.))

As they fly, Vioka snatches a passing bird in her mouth and swallows it whole.

Soon, Alyssa sees the ocean, and land. Vioka churtles quietly, indicating the nearness of the destination. Vioka can continue to fly on her own, or Alyssa can take charge.

Luckily Alyssa had a strong immune system so although she was soaked and freezing cold for most of the flight she didn't catch a cold. When the ocean and land came into view Alyssa had a feeling they were getting close. Vioka chortled as if to confirm this. She had no idea where exactly she was supposed to go so she decided to let Vioka land on her own.

"Take us where we need to be, Vioka," Alyssa shouted over the wind, patting Vioka on the back.

Vioka yawns and flaps her wings, sailing over the blue sea. Surely, if Alyssa were to fall, she'd die.

They pass one island, then another. Alyssa is definitely saddle sore by this time.

Eventually, Vioka drops her altitude. Up ahead, Alyssa will see a ship sailling not too far from the islands.

Vioka flies in a large circle. She looks back to Alyssa, as though awaiting instruction.

Alyssa wasn't sure if this Fabion was anywhere near, but Alyssa was tired and needed to stretch her legs. Alyssa saw a stretch of islands and a ship.

Alyssa pointed to the island that the ship appeared to be heading towards, "How about we land there?"

The sun is starting to set. It's brilliant colors flood the sky. It looks different from sunsets back home--greens and browns mix in with the pinks, purples, and oranges.

Vioka looks toward the island Alyssa is pointing at, and makes a dejected noise. She glances back at Alyssa, then to the island. With a human-like sigh, Vioka flaps her wings and descends for the island's coast, near the docks. As she nears, her body grows smaller and smaller. Alyssa's feet touch down on land gently, and Vioka is back to her tiny self. She crawls up Alyssa's arm and nestles under the hair against her neck, falling asleep.

http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&global=1&q=beach#/djxs7c

The beach is darkening, but there's a small fishing village a little ways away, forming a semi-circle around the docks.

If Alyssa chooses to go to the village, these are the buildings open:

The Itchy Bone. The windows are bright with light. It looks like a pub, full of men (and some women) laughing. The Itchy Bone advertises cheap lodging.

Squareman's Inn. The windows are lit, but not as bright, and it's quiet inside. A vacancy is advertised in the window.

Matchkies. It looks like a diner. The sent of cooking fish wafts from its open door.

Alyssa can also choose to camp out, settle in a nice spot on the beach.

Or, Alyssa can do something else that Fate has not considered. It's her choice.

A wall of exhaustion hit Alyssa as soon as they landed. Vioka was now back to her normal size, or at least the size Alyssa was used to, and curled up around the back of Alyssa's neck. She probably looked like a mess and if she met Fabion now she doubted she would leave a good impression. Alyssa was tired enough that she was sure she would fall soundly asleep if she were to camp out here, but she wanted a bed more than anything right now.

Alyssa dragged her feet to the nearby village. It looked like most everything was closed for the night, but a few buildings still had their lights on. Alyssa passed The Itchy Boned. She saw that it advertised cheap lodging, but it was noisy and rowdy inside. She did not want to chance dealing with drunk men. Instead, Alyssa pushed open the door to the Squareman's Inn. It looked much more inviting.

Alyssa walked up to the person who looked to be the owner and said, "I would like a room for the night."

The owner was an old man with a bit of a hump, a full head of gray hair, and square-shaped spectacles that needed a good cleaning. He turned toward Alyssa and opened a record book. He didn't smile, but he spoke politely enough.

"I've only got singles, but looks like that's all you need. It's five igles for the night. Six if you'd like access to the wash basin and breakfast."

Alyssa counted out six igles and handed it to the man, "The wash basin and breakfast sound great."

Alyssa wrote:Alyssa counted out six igles and handed it to the man, "The wash basin and breakfast sound great."

The man suddenly realized he'd said "igles" instead of "griffs," but seeing the young woman alone (and obviously foreign), he didn't correct himself. He accepted the payment and offered a smile. Shuffling under his desk, he pulled out a ring with two keys.

"Room six, just up the stairs, second door to the right."

Alyssa's room is small, about the size of her bedroom back in Provo. It's bed is low to the floor with a thin but comfortable mattress. An oil lamp sits unlit on a simple night stand, and heavy curtains cover a single, large window opposite the door. There's no closet, but a short armoire sits in the corner.

The second key on the ring opens a narrow door by the armoire. Inside is a brass basin about four feet wide, situated under a water pump. There's a little stool beside it, but no room for anything else. The floor is tiled off-white. On the stool is a tiny brass tray with a palm-sized disk on it. It looks similar to a dishwasher pellet.

Alyssa thanked the man and climbed up the stairs, which was a challenge for her sore legs. Upon entering the room Alyssa dropped her backpack on the floor and coaxed Vioka to the bed (assuming Vioka didn't fly off). She kicked off her shoes that were still a little damp and went over to the wash basin.

She ignored the pellet that she assumed was some kind of soap for now and pumped water into the basin. Alyssa cleaned up the best she could with just the cold water before experimentally dropping the pellet into the water and taking a second go at it. It was almost like showering in Japan, except there was no hot bath afterward.

Feeling slightly better Alyssa took out the rest of her bento and ate the rest, leaving a little for Vioka on the night stand just in case she wanted some. Though, Alyssa wasn't entirely sure what Vioka liked to eat, except for birds. Alyssa washed out the now empty bento and put it back into her bag. Too tired to do anything else, Alyssa curled up on the bed and fell fast asleep.

Once Alyssa drops the pellet into the water, it becomes pleasantly warm. The warmth lasts for about fifteen minutes, until the pellet dissolves.

Vioka stirs a little as Alyssa prepares for bed, then burrows under the pillow and returns to sleep. The room is completely dark. If the purple crystal is exposed, however, it will shine brightly.

In the morning, the innkeeper's wife will serve large rolls of sweet bread and a butter-like substance for breakfast.

The smell of cooking food roused Alyssa from her sleep. I wonder if Jessica or Erika is making breakfast, was the first thought that came to her mind. Alyssa opened her eyes and was confused. She wasn't in her room. Then memories came flooding back from the previous day and she remembered she wasn't dreaming. Alyssa stretched, trying to dispel the soreness from riding Vioka yesterday.

Alyssa washed her face and tried to do something with her half curly, half tangled hair, and settled with something that passed for decent. Alyssa threw her shoes into her bag and put on the dry, waterproof boots. Making sure she had all her belongings, Alyssa scooped Vioka up and placed her on her shoulder.

Alyssa left her room and was welcomed with bread rolls for breakfast. Alyssa almost swallowed them whole she was so hungry, but slowed down so she could enjoy the taste of the last few bites. After she was finished eating she went up to the old man to return the keys.

"Thank you, I really enjoyed my stay," she placed the keys on the counter.

The old man smiles and takes the keys. "Glad to hear it. Spread the word."

Meanwhile, Vioka rouses from Alyssa's shoulder and flies forward, flapping her multiple wings, sniffing at the innkeeper's face. The old man, however, doesn't seem to notice... at all. There are only a few people eating breakfast, but no one seems to notice Vioka, even when she lands on the man's head. It's not until Vioka chomps down on a single hair and pulls that the man winces. He lifts his hand to his head, but Vioka flies away before he touches her.

Alyssa looked at Vioka curiously. Was she the only one who could her? Alyssa took comfort in the fact that at least the inn keeper seemed to feel when Vioka pulled on a strand of his hair. Perhaps it was magic. Alyssa knew she couldn't be seeing things because she had flown here on Vioka's back. Or had she?

Alyssa quickly pushed those thoughts aside and left the inn. Now that it was morning the streets were more lively. Alyssa wanted to find some clothes to buy so that she could have at least one change of clothes and maybe even blend in a little bit. Then she would proceed with trying to find Fabion. After looking around for a little bit Alyssa went into a store that appeared to sell clothing.

The store was small, but it had a decent array of women's clothing, all in fashions bizarre to her native American culture. Many of them were bright and touristy, and all were warm-weather outfits.



8 griffs



1 griff, three igles



4 griffs



3 griffs, 2 igles



6 griffs



6 griffs



Dress: 6 griffs, 2 igles
Pants: 4 griffs
Scarf: 2 griffs, 5 igles



3 griffs

Alyssa is decked out in her new dress, and looks much less out of place. She has two griffs and four igles left. However, Vioka is nowhere in sight.

The shopkeeper, no older than 18, gives Alyssa a peculiar look. "Um... no," she answers, then looks away awkwardly.

The sun is warm and bright outside, the the ocean air smells clean and fresh. A ways from the shop, Vioka flies up to Alyssa, a small hermit-crab half-chewed in her mouth. She lands on Alyssa's shoulder, swallows the crustacean, and then scurries into Alyssa's backpack.

Vioka summon alyssa's attention, pokes the violet crystal with her nose, and whines. She then climbs up on Alyssa's shoulder and gestures toward the ocean. A large ship is sailing in the distance.

"Thanks," Alyssa says, feeling equally awkward.

Alyssa noticed Vioka was nowhere in sight and panicked a little. She left the shop in search of her. To her relief Vioka finds her first. By the looks of it Alyssa guessed Vioka had been out finding breakfast. Vioka brought Alyssa's attention to a ship sailing in the distance.

"Is that where Fabion is?" Alyssa asked, though more rhetorically.

Alyssa left the town behind and went back to the beach where Vioka had landed them last night.

"Let's go find Fabion," Alyssa said to Vioka.

Vioka chitters with excitement and flies off Alyssa's shoulder, growing large again, though not quite the size she was before. Once Alyssa climbs aboard, Vioka shoots off for the ship.

However, nearing the ship, Vioka looks around, confused. The vessel appears mostly empty. Vioka flies around the outer walls of the ship and sniffs around, occasionally poking her nose on deck. (Alyssa will have a difficult time holding on during this.) Vioka perks up and zooms away from the ship at an incredible speed, back toward the island.

Vioka passes another fishing village and sails towards a large city, bustling with people. It looks a little like 1800s America, only with more color. If Alyssa leans over the side of Vioka to get a better looks, people will gasp, noticing her. So long as Vioka's body is between her and the village, no one can see her.

Vioka lands roughly on a shop that reads Day's Journey and sniffs around, much like a dog. Since Vioka isn't high up, people notice Alyssa and point. After a moment, Vioka jumps off the building and flies over a wall lined with doors. She flies a little slower, now.

For a brief moment, Vioka flashes a bright yellow light, and suddenly Alyssa is flying over green pastures and hills. There's a forest in the distance, and a small group of people walking towards it. Vioka flaps her wings excitedly. Diving into the forest, she shrinks to normal size, setting Alyssa down gently. They're only on the edge of the forest, so Alyssa can see out onto the hills.

Vioka climbs onto Alyssa's shoulder, then points her head toward the travelers and growls.

Thread moved to Jessica's Island Adventure!