Song Lin Tiao [Forest]

Lin had finally gotten some free time to herself. Escaping from her various handlers in the bustle that was the festival, mostly because her parents had them on multiple tasks, she headed into the darkening woods. Since she couldn't tell the difference between night and day, she took the time that she had without thinking too much about it. In some ways, that was a blessing. She enjoyed the warm glow of a sunlit day, feeling the light caress her skin.... But, then there was the night. The night was crisp and sharp and there ware many unique things that could be sensed. She much preferred the night, also because there were fewer people about. Too many people, like those coming for the festival, were a problem for her. They overloaded her senses quickly and she was no longer able to get around as easily.

People were typically oblivious to her presence, her noble training giving her a meek personality within the confines of the city and her parents. With so many people bustling about, few moving to allow her to walk around, she typically stayed in the manor during the festival. With the light beginning to die down, she was able to move more freely.

With her walking stick in hand, she headed into the forest. While she knew that there were Natrelmon there and that they could potentially be dangerous, Song Lin was confident that she would be fine. She had received a message from Eien saying that he was hunting somewhere in the woods. She had a special watch that had 5 preset numbers into it that would be dialed with the press of a button. Eien was one of them and she knew if she got into trouble, she would have his help quickly. But she was also confident that she would be fine. The Lifan Forests had never caused her trouble. Of course, this time she was looking for trouble though.

Instead of just walking like she usually did, she had finally plucked up the courage to go against her parents. Using the money she had saved up over the years in secret, she purchased some relics from a store on the edge of Lifan. With her temporary disguise, borrowing a jacket, cap, and sunglasses from a female trainer, she was able to get the items without any questions ask. People in the city knew her family, but thankfully not her quite as well. The shop keeper was also incredibly busy with all of the trainers going in and out during the day, which probably made him a bit lax in his inspection of her.

It wasn't long before she heard rustling about 12.24 feet to her right at a 12.5 clock position with the hour hand.

(( Song Lin's roll ))

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Listening closely to the sound of the creature, she could hear it climb up a tree rapidly, coiling around the trunk like a serpent. Based on the sounds, it was a Xiao. She doubted it was a Xiart since it would have a much thicker sounding impact when it hit against the tree. It was too soft for it to be much else. Testing, she made a clicking noise, pushing her tongue's tip between her teeth and then slapping it against the top of her mouth. With her teeth spaced from her tongue, it was a fairly accurate Xiao sound. The squirrel type responded with a similar sound, pausing and looking for the source. It didn't expect a girl to be able to make such similar noises.

It quickly left the area once it got to the top of the tree, running along to branches that were close to each other. Song Lin didn't pursue the creature, since it wasn't one that she was after. While many trainers liked creatures like Xiao, it was too energetic for her. She needed something calmer and more reserved. A Xiao was just far too energetic and wouldn't lend itself well to her very patient style. The creature would probably get bored with her very quickly, since it wouldn't really understand that she couldn't be like most trainers. Xiao were not noted for their intelligence.

Making wide arcs with her walking stick, she moved further into the forest at a very leisurely pace. She was not rushed. She spent most of the walk listening for sounds that might be something worthwhile. Her keen ears allowed her to pick up nearby Natrelmon that other trainers would probably be oblivious too, but since she couldn't quickly run to approach them, they were typically gone before she could get there. Thus, she didn't even bother going after them. She made a game of it though, trying to identify the source of each sound. It was something she had played for years and had gotten fairly good at. Natrelmon, though, weren't her specialties for sounds. She didn't get enough time around them.

About a half hour in, Song Lin reached the brook that Eien had passed awhile ago. She smiled at the sound of the water. It was soothing to her and she couldn't help but stand and listen. While it was far from a rushing river, it wasn't hard to imagine when the water fell over the few rocks that were along the brook's path. It made the area incredibly cool, causing Song Lin to shiver slightly. She pulled her arms close to herself and moved off to the right, the opposite way Eien had gone. She typically avoided crossing any form of water, just for safety purposes. While she could definitely do something like that with a brook like this, it wasn't something she wanted to get into herself as a habit. She knew that once she accomplished something that she would continue to build upon it. While that would normally be a good thing, some of the bridges in Nerta weren't the most safe for someone like Song Lin. She would wait to cross water like this until she had someone with her. That way, there were no safety risks. It was one of the few things she understood her parent's worry for. Even with her walking stick and keen senses, there was just no way to tell exactly where the rocks were, how deep the water was, if there was soft earth on the other side, so on and so forth. All of those details were something Song Lin needed to know to do something like that safely.

She did sigh a bit, disappointed that the brook was impeding her path. But, the feeling passed with a couple shakes of her head. She was on a mission to find a Natrelmon. It was dangerous enough as it was, not because of the Natrelmon, but because of the wrath of her parents if they found out she had done this.

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This time, in the opposite direction that Song Lin had heard the Xiao, she hear another sound. It was a softer noise and one that sounded distressed. Listening closely, she picked it up as an Ocalia kitten mewling. She didn't know what was wrong with it but she felt she had to help it. She only knew one way to do that.

Raising up her F ranked relic, Song Lin let the beam of light shoot out at the small Ocalia. If she didn't capture it, she would be in a bit of trouble. The cat wasn't something she could fight.

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The first relic failed. Quickly, she pulled out another before the creature could get too aggressive.

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Song Lin's face was beaming as she felt the Ocalia submit to her request to join with her. The relic seemed to glow with a warm heat. Pulling it against her chest, she closed her eyes and thanked Suzaku. The cat type was now hers. It wasn't a creature she was used to, but she felts she was capable enough that she could adapt. Pulling out a silver chain from a pouch, she strung Ocalia's relic on it and put it around her neck. It was in the shape of a lotus flower.

Hoping her luck would continue, Song Lin pressed onwards (the Ocalia was yesterday nights, since I didn't get a chance to with something that happened - this is today's). She was thrilled to have a creature like an Ocalia. Not only was it a decent battler, it would make a very nice pet to keep around the manor when her parents were away and people weren't paying attention to her. She loved the cat like creatures like Ocalia and Meu, since they were warm and friendly. They also helped keep rodents out of the house.

Moving with a small bit more haste than before, from sheer cheer, Song Lin began a loop back to Lifan. She figured that she should head home soon. If she found another Natrelmon on her way, great! If she didn't, well, she would be fine. She had already gotten an Ocalia. The Ocalia probably would never know how much it meant to her, since the cat creature was her first Natrelmon and her first act of defiance against her parents wishes. Now that she had it, there was no turning back for her.

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Many of the creatures seemed to be going to sleep, the night getting stiller than before. She heard far fewer noises around her. She wasn't worried for her safety, but she knew it was getting late. She would have to continue home or it would be come significantly harder to get back into the manner. She had developed the 'habit' of sleepwalking. She didn't actually sleepwalk, but because her eyes were like they were, no one could tell the difference. She just stiffened her body a bit and walked slowly. It typically worked when she returned back, to just say she was sleep walking. This allowed her to walk about when she wanted to at night, without worries about being a burden on people.

But, if it got too close to daybreak, then she would have a much harder time saying it was sleepwalking. And with her new Ocalia at risk, she didn't want to gamble. If her parents found out she had gotten a Natrelmon, they would be furious and possibly take her Ocalia away. They just didn't understand that she wanted to show people that she could still do things like everyone else. She just had to do them slightly differently or compensate her sight with her cleverness. She had tried explained to dad that his use of money was a compensation for his lack of stamina, but it hadn't gone over well. It was 'different' for him because it was a choice. In Song Lin's mind, he didn't do half of the things he hired people for because he couldn't. She dropped the issue and just started thinking of ways around her parent's harsh rules.

This time, she did not play her sound games. She was far to energetic to focus enough. She had her Ocalia now. Most of the time was spent talking to the new cat creature, even though it couldn't hear her inside of the relic. Her hand was frequently clutching the lotus flower shaped relic and there was a persistent smile on her face. She knew she hadn't been this happy in years. Once she got back to the manor, she would be able to go to sleep with her Ocalia curled up on her. If she told people she didn't feel well and wanted to rest, they would respect the request. She just couldn't play that card more than once a week or she would be blasted with doctors visits, her parents worrying that she was getting sick again. She had learned that lesson the first time.

Plus, the lock on her door prevented anyone from getting in quickly enough that she couldn't hide whatever she was doing. Being security freaks, there were 2 doors to her room. Each one was locked with a separate key that only she, her parents, and a number of the staff had. They were very secure doors and Song Lin's keen ears would pick up any swing of the outer doors and, on many occasions, the sound of the key into the keyhole. She would be able to recall her Ocalia without worries about being found out before anyone came to check on her, if they even tried to. She did have an emergency exit though, it just couldn't be opened from the outside. It helped give Song Lin a bit more of a sense of independence. On many days, she would just leave the door wide open and spend the day in her room. It was large and spacious and from compliments, well decorated. Her bedroom was about the size of the average house in Lifan. It spread out across the second floor of the east wing of the house. The main chamber was easily larger than the Suzaku Festival's tournament grounds. She probably could stage a Natrelmon battle within her room, even with flying types. This then had 3 doors that expanded into other rooms, which were just as large. Her closet was the size of the average bedroom in Lifan. She'd probably care more if she actually could see what she was wearing....

Her thoughts had drifted to her new life with the Ocalia... but, they were quickly snapped back by the sound to Song Lin's right again.

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Song Lin had froze at the rustle. But, it was gone. If it had been a Natrelmon, it would have been an incredibly fast one. She suspected, however, it was the wind moving something along the ground. She just hadn't gotten enough information to identify it. She was about 20 minutes to the edge of the forest, which would make any Natrelmon encounters more sparse. She knew this, but she still kept her ears alert for the sounds of a real Natrelmon.

She was nearing the place where she had encounter the Xiao. She listened for it, pausing in the area and opening her senses up further, but she did not hear it. She figured it must have just been gathering food to take to a its home in another part of the forest. It isn't like she wanted the Xiao, but it gave her something to do. Since she couldn't see what was around her, she sometimes got bored when she traveled. Many sounds just rushed by her. She assumed it was the same for a lot of people that saw things, in which they let what they could see rush by them, but it was a lot harder for someone who couldn't see. She had to be constantly alert to sounds to protect herself, as well as just travel. People who saw just needed to get key bits of information and didn't quite have to process it as much. It sometimes bothered her how easily some people had it. But, much of her disability was resolved with her patterned behavior. She put things in the same place, which allowed her to find them without searching. Plus, having a large staff at her beck and call, she didn't even really have to do that.

While the staff liked Song Lin, she rarely asked them for anything. Most of them understood that she wanted to do most of the things on her own. If she asked for help though, they would drop whatever they were doing and help her. They knew that she would only ask if she truly needed help, which made them feel a bit more special when they completed a request for her. They also knew that often, Song Lin would try to accomplish all of her tasks herself before asking for help. They also respected that a great deal. On a typical day, she would only make 2 requests to the staff, at most. Many days she would be able to go the whole day on her own. While they thought it was just her wanting to be independent, she knew it was training. She just didn't need to train Natrelmon, but herself as well. She had to be able to accomplish many of the simpler things for herself when she traveled. She knew Eien would let her go with him, but she still wanted to feel she was doing these things herself.

She knew her Ocalia would help her. Natrelmon within the handles if a skilled trainer could get very intelligent. With her patience from years of having to be patient, she would be able to train her Ocalia to help her handle some of the things she would typically have to ask other people to help her with. That had always been one of her arguments to her parents about why she should be able to get one. Many Natrelmon were very useful. They occasionally let her interact with some of the Natrelmon the family owned, but she was never allowed to raise one.

Now though, with her Ocalia, that had all changed. She would be able to raise a Natrelmon of her own. From the early stages to its peak power. It was something she had always longed to do.... She thought about summoning her Ocalia, but it might attract unwanted attention and be hard to explain if someone that knew her, or was looking for her, were to intrude.

Song Lin slowed her walk back, although not intentionally. She just didn't want to go home. Her subconscious was slowing her down, making her steps shorter so she could stay out of the house for just that much longer. Of course, Song Lin had no issue with this. She just continued to enjoy the night. It was peaceful.... She still heard a few scurries around her, but was unable to distinguish any of them from another. She thought it could be that Xiao back with a group of Xiao, but she wasn't sure. She didn't focus too much on what it was. As long as it wasn't causing her problems, it could go on its merry way.

The soft breeze that she hadn't felt in awhile began to move around her. She knew that she was getting near the edge of the forest and back to Lifan. She sighed inwardly at this, going even slower than before. She just wanted a little more time to be free of her house. She also still wanted to try to find one more Natrelmon, so Ocalia wouldn't get lonely. If she couldn't give the cat attention, she could at least find it a playmate. Then, she could keep them in the other room so they could interact free from her staff. The room to the left side of her bed was perfect for it, since the only way to get into that room was that door. There, her two Natrelmon would be able to do basically whatever they wanted without causing any problems.

"Do you like that idea?" she whispered to her Ocalia's relic, smiling at it. "You'd have someone to play with. Hopefully we get someone that you like though..." She was worried that she might not encounter anything, or encounter a creature that she didn't really want. She was slightly picky about what Natrelmon she would collect. There were very few commons that she would actually want to train. She was thrilled about the Ocalia though, even if it wasn't the rarest of all Natrelmon. She was also excited since Eien had caught an Atrix. The bird sounded beautiful and she knew it wasn't something Eien would train... she couldn't help but think that he might give it to her....

From her right once again, at about 2 o'clock for her, she heard another rustling noise. She stopped and stood still, so she could listen in closely to what was making the noise....

(( Forgot to Rolleth.... ))

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A Reacat! A perfect creature for Song Lin's new Ocalia. She could tell it was similar from the sounds it made, but the mewling was more confident. It was clearly stronger than her Ocalia. Pointing one of her relics at the creature, she tried to capture it like she had with her Ocalia.

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