The Age of Rain

[LadyHarpy]

Eris twitched at the screm that filled the air. It was close and she'd rather not go near it since it sounded a little unhuman.

"Well isn't that a great thing to wake up to." She mumbled mostly to herself.

[eclecticprincess]

Below the house, at the base of the tree, Eclectica roared with rage.

"What do you mean you're tired...???" she screamed at her group.

Those who were brave enough rolled their eyes, the others remained silent.

Shainae piped up after a few moments silence. "They have been working all night, your majesty."

Eclectica turned a glowering gaze onto her friend. "I don't care if they've been working their entire lives. There are transformed in this tree, you said so yourself, you climbed high enough to discover a house with sleeping occupants and their smell was the same that you smelt in the clearing. Not to mention the fact that there is a HUMAN up there."

Eclectica scrunched up her nose at the word human.

"Weak being," she muttered, disgusted. "Not even enhancing its full potential. I show it."

The others all looked at each other warily. They were exhausted but this was their queen and if they didn't do what she asked of them...

"Now get back to work," Eclectica exclaimed.

Reluctantly the group began to climb the large tree, with their aching bones and muscles screaming.

Eclectica watched on from the base of the tree. Her spider like feet brushing over the roots, occasionally finding bugs which she would then eat.

"Hurry up about it," she yelled at her minions.

[laniparis]

Lanyia cringed at the thought of what had made that unhuman scream. It had been loud but not loud enough to know exactly what had been said.

"You're right," she replied to Eris. "Not a good sound to wake up to."

More shrieks and screams were carried by the air.

"Doesn't seem to happy," Lanyia announced. "I doubt it's the type to invite in for tea."

Lanyia giggled nervously at her horrible joke.

[LadyHarpy]

Eris peeked out of the house and looked down before pulling her head in quickly.

"We need to go, like now."

[laniparis]

Lanyia looked around trying to find Dania, when she spotted her snoozing in the corner she quickly rushed over to her and shook her awake.

[killerkitty]

Dania jumped up quickly. She groaned. 'I heard this strange scream in my dream, it sounded so real...'
When she saw the expression on her friend's faces she knew that it had been real. 'They're here, aren't they?'

[LadyHarpy]

"Unfortunately." Eris replied.

[killerkitty]

Dania would've frowned, if it weren't for her beak. 'So what do we do now?'

[LadyHarpy]

"Running would be good." Eris said.

[laniparis]

"How good are the two of you at climbing...???" Lanyia asked concerned looking out the nearest window at the thick tree branches that greeted her.

It would be a hard job, and considering that they had no idea what they were up against, it would require stopping, hiding, and checking from tree branches as they went. Although, it was still their only plan. Dania was able to fly carrying them both up to the tree but she wouldn't be able to hold both of them long enough to get everyone to safety.

[LadyHarpy]

"Better than you'd think." Eris said as she headed toward the window and hopped out onto a stable branch. She looked to the others and made a silent motion to follow her.

[laniparis]

Lanyia didn't need to hesitate, she and Dania quickly scuttled onto a stable branch themselves.

Slowly but surely the three of them managed to get three trees away when they heard a large angry moan from Dania's treetop palace.

"Not a moment too soon," Lanyia muttered. "But, where do we go now."

Although Lanyia wasn't that scared of heights the thought of falling was enough to grip her insides with dread.

[LadyHarpy]

"Down would be good, we can move faster that way." Eris said.

[laniparis]

((Narration))

Dania quickly scooped the two girls up and gently placed them on the ground only moments later.

"Thank you," the others chorused.

Another angry moan sounded from nearby and the girls didn't hesitate to run, of course, in the opposite direction.

[eclecticprincess]

Eclectica managed to let out another loud, earth shaking moan, the tiny hairs on her spider like arms stood on end as her minions returned from the massive tree trunk without any hostages.

"They cannot escape," She roared. "I will not have it."

Shainae looked at the ground guiltily. "I am sorry mistress but, they had evacuated before we managed to climb and - er scuttle, up there."

Eclectica angrilly scooped Shainae into her arms and held her so they were both face to face.

"I do not care for excuses," she said angrilly. "Even less for mistakes. I need you to all be faultless if I am to succeed further in my plans of total world domination. Now you of all should know this. Do I make myself clear...???"

Shainae and the others announced their loyal agreement, even if they didn't technically agree with their queen, they had no choice, and no-one was going to stand up and speak their mind, especially when Eclectica wasn't in a good mood.

"Now, find their scent again," Eclectica announced. "Find their scent and then bring them to me."

She then made her way back to the clearing, although she suddenly stopped halfway.

"Shainae, you are to follow me, the others shall go alone," Eclectica said. "I want you all to do your up most in excellence. Not everyone is lucky enough to be my minion."

Then, she and Shainae set off back to the clearing and the others, reluctant and weary as they were, headed in the direction of the scent.