Nauticus

Home: Stargale (TorisLaurinaitis)
Nauticus - "Of Ships", relating to dawn
“If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.”
― Émile Zola

Nauticus was always the more tired one of the four. He loved looking beyond the horizon but was satisfied staying where he was. He shared his mother's love for the arts, drawing his environment and documenting events. That being said, he loved spending time with his sister, Minuit, hearing her stories and drawing them to life! She begged him to go on an expedition with her, and he complied with a sigh. He carried his book everywhere, finding time to draw whenever they rest. What was beyond the horizon was for him to see this time, and perhaps it will make for some lively paintings...


The brightly colored, poorly written signs scrawled along the magical forest led them to a large cave offering an assortment of items. A pair of fierce looking mirrors stopped them at the door but allowed them in after a brief run through of the rules.
There they met many dragons but the 2 most memorable were a slick spiral with a brilliant psyworm named Scratch and a very dopey Slime covered bogsneak appropriately named GooeyGirl.
Goo followed Nauticus around like a hatchling would follow it's mother and Nauticus took this time to sketch the slime covered dragon. The bogsneak was endearing in a derpy way but quickly became frustrating when she began licking Nauticus and his art book, coating everything she touched in the same thick, sticky slime that covered her. Even the spiral that lived with Goo seemed unwilling to touch her!
Nauticus went back to his companion, poked her and silently pleaded to leave this slippery place.
So it was time to depart to find a new clan and new stories!
Minuit and Nauticus waved goodbye to their new friends and set off on another adventure!
The pair traveled into a creepy looking part of a forest, and were, although they did not want to admit it, quite lost. Suddenly, a small Imperial hatchling bounded out of the shadows, and stopped in front of them. them that his clan was nearby, and asked if they wanted to spend the night. The twins agreed, and followed him into the fog. After a few minutes, the two noticed lanterns lighting the path. Finally, they entered a clearing. Many hatchlings ran about, shouting incoherently to one another. The adults were all sitting in the corner, watching with amusement. One of them, a male Coatl in rogue gear, noticed the new arrivals, and walked over to join them. They talked for a bit, but Harlem seemed to really want to show Nauticus someone. Nauticus told his sister he would be right back, then followed the hatchling. Harlem ran over to another hatchling, also an imperial. audience other than the dragons that he knew. "HIS NAME IS FRANCISCO!!" Francisco, waved, but seemed to be to shy to talk. Nauticus was excited though, because his colors were so interesting. He asked Francisco if he could draw him, to which Francisco hesitantly said yes. The hatchlings all gathered around him as he drew, all curious to see what this newcomer was doing. As he finished Francisco, Harlem jumped up and asked if Nauticus could draw him as well. Pretty soon, all the hatchlings were climbing on him, asking for him to draw them too. Nauticus smiled.
After a good meal and a quick rest, Nauticus said bye to the hatchlings, and the two were on their way again, this time with reliable instructions.

---

Nauticus woke earlier than he expected. His mouth felt dry and his eyes heavy. He shook his head to ruffle out his feathers. His breathe crystallised in the icy morning air as he let out a soft sigh from reminiscing about the stars. The night sky was so alluring, Nauticus couldn't help but sketch the patterns in the constellations that shone so brightly. It was late when he had decided to sleep and had hoped to rest until at least late afternoon.

Minuit lay next to Nauticus, cocooning herself in the covers. He let out a small chuckle at the sight of his sister drooling on her wing. She mumbled something about being quiet before dozing off again. Nauticus waited until he was sure that she was fully asleep before moving. Satisfied that Minuit would not follow him, Nauticus grabbed his sketchpad and snuck out of the makeshift campsite.

After wandering along the ridge of the cliffs on the eastern seaboards for what seemed to be an eternity, Nauticus was content on finally sitting down to sketch the vast horizon, speckled with redwood forests. He remembered that he loved looking beyond the horizon when he was in his clan, but also satisfied staying where he was. Nauticus never could have imagined that he would be here of all places and after travelling with his sister, he managed to gain an appetite for adventure.

The horizon beckoned him to discover its secrets, the array of its colours reached across the rolling hills, like an artist's hand that paints the landscape with light. The enchanting scene of sky, sea and all in-between was something Nauticus would have never witnessed back at home. What was beyond the horizon was for him to see, so maybe one day his talons can reach across the rolling hills and waves to paint his own journey.


“It doesn’t matter where you start, nor where you finish. The journey is all.” ~~The Stormcatcher

“You do not choose your destination; your destination chooses you.” ~~ The Stormcatcher

Minuit gasped at the sight of the banners, pine needle embroidery on white cloth -- capital letters illuminated with emerald and amethyst. She had never read any words she could relate to on such a visceral level.

Nauticus bumped into her, “What wrong?”

“Nothing,” she breathily whispered, “Nothing at all. I’ve been waiting to read those words all my life. Like something I’ve always known, but couldn’t articulate.”

“You O.K., Sis?” He was usually the one affected by words and scenes.

She shook off his soothing wing, “Never better. The clan who put these here must be further along this path. Let’s go! I have to meet them. Move it!”

They sped along to the outskirts of the Compound, where they were greeted by a stately lady Ridgeback. “I am Themisto. Clan Improbable welcomes all travelers. Food and shelter await you.”

Nauticus cleared his throat, “I could eat, if you twisted my arm.”

“Shut up, brother! You can always eat.” Minuit turned to Themisto, “The banners -- the words -- where did they come from?”

The Ridgeback smiled, “Our clan founder, jewel, made them herself after their great Return from The Stormcatcher.”

Minuit’s jaw dropped. Traveling to see a Deity and returning was the greatest of journeys.

Nauticus shifted uneasily, “My sister seems to have lost her tongue. You said something about food?”

---

Themisto led him to a large flat rock heaped with all manner of foodstuff. The Ridgeback continued with his sister, but he hardly noticed, as he was busily filling his plate. His appetite sated, he looked about for a place to sleep it off. An unusual scene caught his eye.

Dozens young hatchlings of all varieties were stomping merrily in a pit. Nauticus moved closer. The pit held a sticky looking liquid. A very, very bright blue Skydancer walked over and gave the liquid a stir. “That’s just right, kiddos, thanks. Go get cleaned up”. The blue fellow noticed Nauticus watching. “Hello, I’m Picasso. You must be a traveler.”

The hatchlings giggles and smeared the sticky stuff over one another while they headed to a small pool.

“I’m Nauticus, what is that stuff and who are all those kids?”

Picasso dipped his head, “Happy to meet you. That stuff is clay and sand and gravel mixed with water. A good hatchie romp mixes it to the right consistency and lets them blow off steam. They think it’s playing. The kids are from lots of different clans. We give them a safe place to decide if they want to serve a Deity or look for a home.”

“What do you do with that . . . stuff? Mud?” Nauticus noted that Picasso had a good deal of it splattered on himself.

“Come, I’ll show you.” Nauticus led the way to a cave formed by two boulders leaning against each other.

Inside the area was a replica of the structure atop the Tempest Spire formed of clay.

“That’s very good,” Nauticus wandered around the replica, peering from all angles.

“The slurry in the pit is to coat the whole thing. Then it can be heated with a bone fire to harden it into a surface suitable for painting. Gainsborough will take care of that. Metalwork lightning bolts will be attached to the top It will make a nice touch for the clearing where the banners are hung.”

Nauticus was glad that his sister was otherwise occupied; he could only hope that whatever she was doing was as fascinating as this.


Nightkeeper Sanctum (Darkesty)

The two siblings found themselves inside the Tangled Wood. While there were many glowing mushrooms, they also spotted a few glowing sprites. Curiously, they followed the sprites through an ancient gate.

It was as if the air itself shifted when they passed through the rusty gate. As if it was a part of a magical barrier. Maybe someone was tricking them? They did not know. Soon they spotted a lair, which was covered in roses and violets. They felt as if all of their tiredness melted away. They talked to many of the lair's occupants, spending the night with them.

When morning came, it was time for their departure. While they had enjoyed their stay, they wanted to see more of the world.

Oceanreach (ChihoriAnigma)

Nauticus shivered. Summer was definitely over. The wind blew up a spray of cold seawater to match the freezing rain already pouring down his sides.

"We need to find somewhere to shelter in," he said to his sister.

"Yeah," she agreed, for once not arguing for one more league.

"Do you need somewhere to stay?" A red tundra flew in front of them-the heavy rain must have hidden her until now. "I'm sorry for eavesdropping but I overheard you and our lair is always open to travelers."

"Thanks," Minuit agreed and Nauticus quickly added after her, "Thank you."

They flew for much longer than Nauticus had expected to but once they entered the shelter of the Crystalspines the wind calmed and they were no longer buffeted by sprays of water from the sea. The rain lessened too, to his relief.

Once inside the cozy lair belonging to the red dragon and her mate, a blue and grey tundra Minuit eagerly accepted food but Nauticus quickly emptied out his art bag.

A half-finished painting and a few drawings which had been closest to the top had been ruined, as had a few of his charcoal pencils but everything else had been protected by the waterproof bag.

He let himself mourn them for a minute before packing everything else up, hopefully safer, and joining Minuit at the table.