Meet the Landers: Kirin

Returning to the scene of the crime, where those strange Terraformer units attempted to steal the Divine Beast's energy, means for Mikage to take a boat. A most dreaded situation, no doubt, for someone who gets travel sick so easily.

Yet, it is said that Kirin was last seen on that very same isle that Mikage last saw it. And as such, here she is, on the beach, seeking out the owner of that electric power. It's sunny, the warm star beaming down upon Mikage and Rama. Off in the distance, she can see a little localized series of darker clouds floating close to the ground, suggesting the presence of the Divine Beast. Though it's hard to tell what it is doing from this far away.

Still, it's in the midst of treelands this time, not out in the middle of all of those craters!

Any time that Mikage has to travel by boat, it is an 'adventure', and not exactly the most pleasant kind. Luckily, there had been some time for Cyrus to re-stock herbs and potion ingredients before this particular trip. So, while she still looks a bit pale, it isn't quite the same as the flat-out exhaustion that had come with the return journey from the Palace Lands.

The young woman had done what she could since then, to eliminate the problem that threatened the Divine Beasts. So, seeing the localized storm clouds, she motions to Rama and begins to head in that direction. "Come on."

Things were remarkably quiet on the island, all things considered. Enough to offer some ease of her mind that maybe the machina would remain hidden from the Palace Landers. If they were to discover the real truth of this island, it could be... a very big problem.

Trying not to think of that, Mikage continues through the trees, making her way towards the pull of storm energy.

Stepping towards the trees along the hills, it takes a bit for Mikage to reach the forest's edge. There's a few animals and low level monsters on the island, but rarely anything troublesome. She might spot Rama jumping after a low level slime and easily popping it with a single lazy swipe. They're just not very dangerous on this island. A few Cluck-Clucks can be heard stepping through the forest a ways in. No doubt from generations of agriculture and husbandry from when this island had actual people living on it.

As she gets further in, she can hear the blowing of leaves in the direction of the dark clouds. And it would not be long before she finds the Kirin eating what looks like a berry bush's berries. Compared to all of her previous encounters... it almost seems normal. Like there's just a horse there enjoying its time grazing.

Except, she can tell that its ears are long aware of her presence.

The fact that things seem much more calm than their previous encounters is enough to, at least somewhat, put Mikage's mind at ease. She is not fool enough to think that the creature hasn't noticed her, however. "Things seem... quieter here, now." She speaks, despite knowing that the beast has never truly spoken back to her. It has always bee feelings and interpretation.

"We found the source of the Terraformers." She explains, Rama coming close to her side, not wanting to be too far away, incase the beast decides to get upset over something. "I don't know if we can ever stop them completely, but we've reduced their numbers by a bit, and I've sent out the call to others to search the ruins for more of them."

The Were Fang stands in a slightly anxious posture, "They were trying to get off the island, so we were able to stop that, at least. But... as I'm sure you're aware, there are more dangers coming. More threats to us, and to you."

Coming closer, the beast tugs a last few berries off of the bush, and starts just munching on them. Grinding chomping motions while it watches her. Tilting its head as she finally halts and speaks to it. It doesn't respond in regards to things being quieter. But when she speaks of the source of the Terraformers, it stops chomping away for a bit.

She has its attention.

Explaining having reduced its numbers, it bows its head to her in a long motion. Thanking her, it would almost seem, before rising back up and continueing to munch away on its food. Then eventually swallowing it all away as she explains they managed to stop them from reaching further.

A nod. Then as she mentions the coming dangers, it turns its head to the north-west for a moment, pausing, and then calmly looking back to her...

And begins to approach her, aiming to bump its massive head against her chest and under her chin, like a horse connecting to its rider. The electic energy of the creature sparking at bit at her, but any damage it does is healed by her innate health regeneration.

Though there is no specific language shared between these two, there is a certain amount of understanding that Mikage has from simple gestures. It isn't a result of the strange translation that the game does, but likely her innate connection with animals and beasts.

So, when the Kirin begins to approach, she doesn't draw back. Rama, however, looks a little wary, tucking himself back behind her. "It's okay, Rama." She offers, her voice soft.

"You understand the danger that's coming, don't you?" Miki asks, her expression troubled. "You and the others, you need to stay safe. Only the goddesses would know what sort of trouble could happen if they were able to capture or harm you." She doesn't want to think about it.

As the creature bumps its head into her chest, she initially expects pain to follow, having come too close once already. However, it seems as if it has lessened this time, kept at bay by her natural regeneration at this level.

The creature huffs for a moment as Mikage speaks of the Goddesses knowing what kind of trouble will happen, before it draws back a bit and then bumps its horn down against her shoulder. For a moment, she hears the subtle sound of something akin to a chime.

Hanging there, with filigree between a few rings, is a set of earrings. It looks like they are a little bit electrified, though it's nothing she can't handle if she's quick to remove it from its horn...

Which SEEMS to be what it desires from her.

It isn't the first time that Mikage has heard strange sounds recently. So there is only a faint tilt of her head at this one. Rama's head tilts in the same exact motion, the two acting as one.

Then, she looks up to see the strange set of jewelry that is hanging from the Kirin's horn. Her hand hesitates, but only briefly. This seems to be what the creature wishes from her, and she had followed its will so far.

Her hand reaches up to grasp the earrings from the horn, trusting that the past would not repeat itself in a painful way.

It is certainly not as painful as the last time. But there's still some shocks that bite into her fingers as she retrieves it. The Divine Beast is one of lightning and power, and it cannot halt its lightning from being free in the same way that she couldn't stop breathing and live. Still, soon it lays within her hands.

As she takes it into her hand, there's a momentary blue shine around her... and suddenly, she sees a vision. It's Cyrus, on the boat, preparing what looks like a bouquette of flowers... out of finely crafted metal. "I hope she'll like this..." As he perfumes the top of the fake petals with a conconction he's made.

And then that vision disappears. A sentence at the edge of her mind.

Mikage's eyes seem to go unfocused in that moment, even as the electric sparks run over her form. The discomfort seems to be distant, as distant as her senses as she seems to be looking into something, somewhere else. "... Cyrus?"

She doesn't quite fathom exactly what she's seeing in that moment, but perhaps after talking to the Snow Leopard in question, she might get a better idea of what exactly is going on. "... huh." The sound is a soft exclaimation.

When she comes back to herself, the girl blinks, looking down at the earrings in her hand. "Thank you, for this. I'll try to use it well. In the dangerous times to come." As she seems sure, in that moment, that they will need such powers, all too soon.