05-11-2020, 11:53 AM
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Some claimed that an owl could hear the skittering of rodent paws across fallen wheat stalks from miles away. An exaggeration of reality; since his unfortunate summoning, he could only discern the faintest of sounds and lowest of whispers from an approximate twenty-three-meter radius, and that figure only included near-silent noise. An impressive sense indeed, yet in the grand scheme of constant activity, inadvertently eavesdropping on every conversation and more progressively became more and more of an irritation than a feat to boast about.
Especially when the owl perched less than twenty-three meters away from a ground-shaking explosion.
Having taken to somewhat of a more nocturnal rhythm, the blast greatly disturbed his accidental slumber -- so exhausted was he, that it was a surprise he had not toppled down to the earth below when self-inflicted insomnia caught up to him. If drifting off to unwilling sleep failed to knock him from the branch, then the pained jolt surely did. While talons scrabbled to catch the bark once more, reaction time proved to be stunned by the detonation and slowed by the deprivation.
The impact forced air from charred lungs in a miserable wheeze as searing white flooded his vision, dizzying pain piercing through his skull. Blinking in astonishment, all Isaac could do for a beat was lay there sprawled, dark wings spread over the moss. With a grimace, he pulled his wings back to his sides before rolling off his back. The pain lingered, pulsating in his ears -- and the world fell silent. Or at the very least, extremely muffled. A harsh sigh slipped from scowling beak upon the realization. Of course, his luck would deafen him. He could only hope it was temporarily, that sensitive cochlea remained undamaged in the long run.
Tossing his head from side-to-side in a vain attempt to dismiss the pain, the doctor shoved himself upright, glaring in the direction of distant movement. Smoke clouded aimlessly ever upward, plucking a cord in his rasping chest. But it was just smoke. And smoke didn't have a will or a brain.
Drawn to the scene nonetheless, he found himself unimpressed with the theatrics. Reading lips proved more difficult than in theory, especially when lips peeled back to snarl on top of forming words. From what he could gather through underwater voices and gnashing teeth, an argument sparked where the fire didn't -- he glanced over his shoulder to ensure flames hadn't escaped the basement window. Expression settled into a comfortable glower, the owl took his place by Alaric's side, only choosing him for the sake of familiarity. Caustic was familiar, too, yet exceedingly more aggravating when hysteric. And concussed. Studying the wolf's dilated pupils assured him of this. But Isaac didn't utter a word, cold eyes watching closely.
Especially when the owl perched less than twenty-three meters away from a ground-shaking explosion.
Having taken to somewhat of a more nocturnal rhythm, the blast greatly disturbed his accidental slumber -- so exhausted was he, that it was a surprise he had not toppled down to the earth below when self-inflicted insomnia caught up to him. If drifting off to unwilling sleep failed to knock him from the branch, then the pained jolt surely did. While talons scrabbled to catch the bark once more, reaction time proved to be stunned by the detonation and slowed by the deprivation.
The impact forced air from charred lungs in a miserable wheeze as searing white flooded his vision, dizzying pain piercing through his skull. Blinking in astonishment, all Isaac could do for a beat was lay there sprawled, dark wings spread over the moss. With a grimace, he pulled his wings back to his sides before rolling off his back. The pain lingered, pulsating in his ears -- and the world fell silent. Or at the very least, extremely muffled. A harsh sigh slipped from scowling beak upon the realization. Of course, his luck would deafen him. He could only hope it was temporarily, that sensitive cochlea remained undamaged in the long run.
Tossing his head from side-to-side in a vain attempt to dismiss the pain, the doctor shoved himself upright, glaring in the direction of distant movement. Smoke clouded aimlessly ever upward, plucking a cord in his rasping chest. But it was just smoke. And smoke didn't have a will or a brain.
Drawn to the scene nonetheless, he found himself unimpressed with the theatrics. Reading lips proved more difficult than in theory, especially when lips peeled back to snarl on top of forming words. From what he could gather through underwater voices and gnashing teeth, an argument sparked where the fire didn't -- he glanced over his shoulder to ensure flames hadn't escaped the basement window. Expression settled into a comfortable glower, the owl took his place by Alaric's side, only choosing him for the sake of familiarity. Caustic was familiar, too, yet exceedingly more aggravating when hysteric. And concussed. Studying the wolf's dilated pupils assured him of this. But Isaac didn't utter a word, cold eyes watching closely.