The Song of the Siren (Accepting :: OPEN)

[Lucky_Tiger]

The tiger that shouldn't be....is....

Joshua glanced from the other path to Tianara. He smiled, reaching up to cover her hand on his shoulder with one of her own. "If you say so." He said trustingly, giving her hand a lightly squeeze. If she was so sure about this path being safe, then he had to believe that it was. He'd never had a reason not to trust her. "Lead on then. Let's see if we can find the connection route we need." He said, dropping his hand from hers and starting walking again.

The tiger that should be....isn't....

 

[SilentShadowDreamer]

Tianara felt the colour rise in her face again when he took her hand for a brief moment. She turned her head a little bit to hide her blush from him - it was rather embarrassing, how often she seemed to get shy around him. There was no reason for it; it just was.

Sternly, she dismissed her thoughts. She had to focus on finding her path. Without thinking, she walked forward until there was a split in the path. There was a small downward tug to her mouth - not quite a frown - as she examined the entrances of the two pathways.

"It's the one on the right," she said at last. "We go right, but it's not as safe as the one on the left. I might be able to find another way if we go left. What do you think?"

It was more than that the left route was 'safer', though - if it had only been a slight difference, Tianara would have taken the right road without a second thought. It was the fact that her danger sense was shrieking like a siren in her head that made her hesitate.

She wanted Joshua to make his own decision about whether or not to follow her, but she was likely going to take the right road, dangerous or not. It would be a lot faster.  

[Lucky_Tiger]

The tiger that shouldn't be....is....

Joshua followed her easily, confident in her ability to find the way. When they reached the split, he was silent, letting Tianara decide. When she spoke, he considered it for all of a second. "We go right then. If your sure that's the path, then we go right." He said firmly. While the left path may have been safer, the way she spoke he felt there was no guarantee they would find the path they needed. The right may have been more dangerous but they needed that path. "Besides, if there's any danger in these caves, I would rather find it now. Better us than some child that wandered off from it's parent."

The tiger that should be....isn't....

 

[SilentShadowDreamer]

Tianara gave a mute nod, and turned into the right path without another word. It wasn't necessary. To try and talk him into going left or going back would take time they didn't really have - and though it shamed her to admit it, she didn't want to face whatever it was alone.

She could feel the ground beginning to drop away from underneath her. This path went down, but she was sure that it would lead back up after a short way, and from there to the storeroom they had used earlier.

If they got that far, anyway.

Every step seemed to stress her out a little bit more, but she kept moving with silent stubbornness, not even looking back. This was the faster path, and Joshua was right. Better they find the problem than some child that had escaped its mother's watchful eyes.

She didn't glance back to see if Joshua was still following. It was imperative to keep her eyes forward.  

[Lucky_Tiger]

The tiger that shouldn't be....is....

Joshua followed behind Tianara silently. Feeling the ground slope down, he wondered if this was actually the right path. Then he shook his head, clearing away the doubts. Tianara said this was the way so he was sure it would be. Watching her though, he could see the tenseness in her body. She didn't like whatever loomed ahead anymore than he did. He bit his lip, torn between comforting her and distracting the girl - Something that could be deadly to the both of them. For now though, he settled on following her. They had to find that path. He was silent, something making him fear speaking aloud, as if there was something watching.

The tiger that should be....isn't....

 

[SilentShadowDreamer]

Just as they reached the deepest part of the pathway, and the slope back up was beginning to become more pronounced, Tianara looked up sharply at a rumble of rock.

Without saying a word, she spun around and grabbed Joshua's hand, pulling him back against the far wall and sheltering in the slight protection a small indent afforded them as rocks began tumbling down.

Rising to her tiptoes to speak into his ear - the rumbles were so loud that she had to in order to be heard without screaming - she said in his ear, "Rock gnomes. They don't want us in here. They don't like it." She stood between him and the rockfall, but didn't look too worried. "They'll accept me faster than you," she explained quietly. Then she turned and faced the rockfall, her eyes steady on the darkness near the roof of the tunnel.

"Hello?" she called. Then she added the sound that Joshua might recognize as the polite, formal hello in merfolk tongue, never taking her eyes off the tunnel roof.  

[Lucky_Tiger]

The tiger that shouldn't be....is....

Joshua winced at the rumble of rock. He was already starting to move back when Tianara yanked him against the back wall, so he didn't complain. He looked confused at her words. Rock gnomes? What in the world were those?

Carefully, he moved from against the wall to stand behind her. His eyes scanned the darkness, wondering what he was looking for. His night vision wasn't nearly as good as hers. Hearing the greetings Tianara gave, he blinked in surprise. "Would they speak the merfolk tongue?" He asked in a low voice, confused. How would a rock gnome know the merfolk tongue?

The tiger that should be....isn't....

 

[SilentShadowDreamer]

"They don't," Tianara whispered back, her voice extraordinarily soft. "I mean, they can't speak it. But they know what it sounds like - rock gnomes live close to the pools under the caverns in some places. They won't dismiss me as just another human tourist if I use the merfolk tongue. Hopefully--"

And the rumbling slowed a little. If Joshua looked up at the right time, he might spot a number of tiny shadows that looked like little heads peeking over the edge of one of the large boulders.

Tianara, sensing her advantage, called, "Please come out. I would speak with you. I mean no harm." She added several more words in the bubbly merfolk tongue - words that were just a translation of what she had just said, but which would sound very impressive to anyone who didn't actually understand the language.  

[Lucky_Tiger]

The tiger that shouldn't be....is....

He nodded slightly in response to her words. Joshua, never taking his eyes off the darkness, blinked suddenly. Was that.....? He thought so. That was the rock gnomes he was seeing right? He waited, holding his breath. He cocked his head, listening to Tianara's words, trying to memorize them. He was fairly certain she was just repeating herself in the other tongue. Hopefully, he waited, watching the gnomes. Would they accept the pair? What would they do if they didn't?

The tiger that should be....isn't....

 

[SilentShadowDreamer]

There was a little susurration that seemed to sweep through the hall - a whisper of seemingly hundreds of tiny voices all speaking at once. As Tianara waited, the little shadows seemed to confer among themselves. After a few minutes, a small shadow detached itself from the others and came into the dull light.

The rock gnome was exceptionally ugly, looking like a small, grey, misshapen dwarf. It looked Joshua over out of cold eyes that were entirely black and seemingly covered with rock dust - it didn't appear that the creature had eyelids. When it spoke, its voice was raw and raspy, sounding like he was speaking through a mouthful of rocks - some of which it was swallowing, if its occasional pauses were any indication.

"Ocean child," it grated, "you have no place among the rocks with a human. The treaty is fragile enough."

"I understand," Tianara replied. "But there is a...situation. The humans are attacking, and the ocean children need space among your tunnels. Will you grant us an area?"

If they said no, Tianara didn't know what she would do. She watched the hideous little creature with a seemingly calm face, but the nerves were just below the surface.  

[Lucky_Tiger]

The tiger that shouldn't be....is....

Joshua fought not to wince, both at the sight of the rock gnome and at the sound of it's voice. The sound was rough on his ears and he fought the urge to clap his hands over his ears. Instead, he moved to stand beside Tianara rather than behind her. "Please. We need help to shelter the ocean children here. We need a spot that's safe for them." He added quietly, not wanting to leave everything to Tianara. He made a mental note to ask her later about the treaty thing the rock gnome was talking about. What treaty?

The tiger that should be....isn't....

 

[SilentShadowDreamer]

Tianara looked worriedly at Joshua, briefly. Then she returned her gaze to the rock gnome, looking calm once more.

The gnome turned its dusty eyes to Joshua for a second as well. Then it looked back to Tianara. "What concern of ours is the plight of your kind?" it asked.

It was giving her a chance, Tianara thought. She had one chance to sell it to them. From her limited knowledge of rock gnomes, she knew that they respected absolute honesty without overdramatization. She had to be clear, be strong, and be quick - it was asking her for a summary, not a speech.

"Because it is the lesser of two threats," she said firmly, making her voice steady when it threatened to waver. "If the merfolk are wiped out - the attacks on the ocean children are just the beginning - how long will it be until the humans turn their eyes here? They'll want to purge everything. We want to find a way to coexist. Please help us."

They looked at each other in silence for a very long time. Then it rasped, "A moment, child." And then it turned away and vanished among the shadows again.

Tianara took a slow breath. She could not afford to panic until after it was decided, one way or another.  

[Lucky_Tiger]

The tiger that shouldn't be....is....

Joshua chewed his bottom lip lightly, watching and waiting. Everything was so tense. He knew nothing about the rock gnomes or what they would want. He glanced at Tianara as the gnome left. He put an arm around her shoulders. "Good explanation." He murmured softly. He just hoped the rock gnomes would agree. He didn't want to think of what would happen if they decided no. Then what would the ocean children do? Where could they hide?

The tiger that should be....isn't....

 

[SilentShadowDreamer]

Tianara eased into his hold, turning her head until her cheek rested against his shoulder. "I hope so," she breathed, taking comfort in his presence. "I really do." What if they said no? God, what if they said no? Would there be anywhere else they could hide?

She was more glad than she would admit of having someone to lean on right now, even though she would have to stand on her own when the rock gnome came back with his kin's answer.

They waited in silence for a bit. Tianara remained quiet, staring at where the tiny shadows held a whispered conference. Why didn't we know that there were rock gnomes here? she wondered miserably. Why did no one tell us? Part of the treaty is that we know where the remaining families are - at least I thought it was. Why didn't Sorry or the others say something?

Maybe they hadn't known. The treaty had not been spoken of or looked at in many centuries. It was possible.

But not likely.

Why hadn't anyone said anything?  

[Lucky_Tiger]

The tiger that shouldn't be....is....

Joshua rubbed her shoulder reassuringly. He crossed the fingers on his free hand, muttering a prayer under his breath that the rock gnomes said yes. He didn't want to think of the results of a 'no'. He didn't know anywhere else they could shelter the ocean children. He tapped a foot uneasily. "I hate waiting. it makes me nervous." He muttered in a low voice. And with everything that was at stake here, he had good reason to be nervous about the answer.

The tiger that should be....isn't....