Kyara's Travels

OOC

2007-06-20T14:33:09Z

Out of Character Entry! This entry is written notin-character with this journal! Usually this is done when there's anupdate of some kind, or new art of Kyara to show off. :D

Spiritwolf77 finished with my commission. ;D

This is so close to perfect, character wise. My gosh, I'm so happy with this art! *does a happydance* Well worth the money I paid, that's for sure!

Date: June 16, 1737

2007-06-16T05:17:52Z

Ye gods, I never thought the ocean could look so beautiful. I think after a week stuck in the sleeping quarters, anything not in that damned cramped space would have looked heaven-sent. I thought I would go crazy if I didn't go outside today, so against the medic's wishes I went outside and breathed fresh air. It was, I think, the sweetest scent, the most lovely breeze, the brightest sunshine I have ever experienced.

I feel a lot better, obviously. I'm not coughing nearly as much, and I can walk around for a while before I begin to feel lightheaded and have to sit down. To anyone reading this: never get pneumonia. If pneumonia was a person I'd stab the bastard in the eye with a rusty dagger.

Not much new to report, otherwise. I've been told the wind is on our side and we may even make it to Santo Domingo ahead of schedule. I'm in no particular rush; the crew and other passengers are all relatively easy to get along with, and the Captain has been kind enough to pay me visits while I've been sick.

Something else interesting has been happening to me. I have been having recurring dreams. The strange part is that I can't really remember what happens. It just...feels the same, every night. Like seeing a familiar face and not remembering the person's name, or having a word on the tip of your tongue and being unable to recall how it's said. A bit frustrating when I think about it too hard.

Thinking back on everything that's happened to me in the last couple of weeks, it makes me feel like there's some purpose to all of this -- that my change into this vulpine being was not some random magic thrown at me. Who knows where my journey will take me? Not I, that's dead certain, but I think someone, or something, does. I have more thinking to do.

Until next time,

Date: June 14, 1737

2007-06-14T04:52:33Z

I must say, my luck has gone quite a bit downhill since the last time I wrote.

I suppose I'll start with the beginning. A few days ago we ran into a very nasty storm. Rain was sheeting down and everyone was doing his part to make sure everything was tied down. Sails were drawn so they would not be ripped by the wind's force, provisions were covered and the lower rooms closed off so everything would stay dry. I was one of those helping, and I was absolutely soaked to the skin. For hours the storm raged on, and finally cleared the next morning. Everyone was tired and irritable, and very cold. The storm had blown away, leaving very cold weather in its wake. Everyone was able to get warm...everyone with the exception of me, that is.

In this instance, my fur was my biggest weakness. Instead of getting out of my clothes and letting them and my fur beneath them dry, I stayed in them, shivering. Not the wisest decision I ever made, but I was so cold... I thought that keeping the clothes on would make me warmer! Seems that isn't the case.

Today is the first day that I've been able to hold quill to paper. I was extremely lucky -- Captain Roberts from what I've been told never leaves port without a medic on board. I've got pneumonia, says the doctor. I have a dreadful cough, chest pain, a high fever, and I can't stop shaking. So cold... But I will live, I'm sure of it. I don't ever give up.

The doctor has told me I need to rest, naked beneath many blankets, and keep warm. He gave me a disgusting concoction yesterday that he said would help with the cough, and indeed I do feel a little better today. I guess he will give me more of that. I cringe at the thought, but still...anything to get rid of this painful cough. Luckily by now my fur is dry, so I'll hopefully be feeling better quite soon.

Until next time,

OOC

2007-06-13T04:26:20Z

Out of Character Entry! This entry is written not in-character with this journal! Usually this is done when there's an update of some kind, or new art of Kyara to show off. :D

Gift art! Wow, my friends love me, I'm so lucky! :D

Firebringer drew this awesome picture of Kyara! She looks so cool and suave...Thank you so much, Fire! :D

OOC

2007-06-12T06:19:33Z

Out of Character Entry! This entry is written not in-character with this journal! Usually this is done when there's an update of some kind, or new art of Kyara to show off. :D

I just wanted to show off this new icon that harliquinnraver drew for me! I think it's awesome! :D Thank you so much, Harli! :D

Date: June 10, 1737

2007-06-10T05:51:04Z

Today has gone by faster than I thought it would. Out of boredom, a passenger on the Sea Wolf by the name of Mikael Vargasi asked me to spar with him. We did, on the ship's deck, with many people watching. It was actually rather close, but I managed to draw blood on his arm, and so I won the play-duel and the bet (a few coins). We were talking after, and he told me he was from New Spain, told me a bit of his history and why he was in England. His family lives in New Spain, and he's going back to live with them. An interesting man, and an interesting conversation.

But best of all, he translated my parchment for me! The problem is, I think I'm even more confused now than I was before.

"Palm with blue cross
Dash to the mountain, East,
Find the entrance, only yours
Walk to the tracks
There you will see the way.
Listen to your dreams."

What could that mean? Bah, these riddles! Why are these things never clear? Ah well, in due time, I'm sure.

Oh, I just remembered. The captain has said this voyage will take up to seven weeks. That's a long time to be stuck in one place with nothing but water in every direction, but I'm sure I'll be able to keep myself busy.

I should head down to the sleeping quarters and quit this straining of my eyes in lamplight as I write this.

Until then!

Date: June 9, 1737

2007-06-09T09:30:09Z

It has been a very strange series of events that has led me this far.

I suppose I should introduce myself, as I may not be the only reader of this journal. Who knows who may find it and wish to know my story?

I am Kyara Corvi, 25 years old. My last name makes sense more now than ever. It's a surname meaning "raven"... but I think I'm getting ahead of myself! Where should I start? Ah. I think I'll start with last week.

Last Friday I decided I would take a walk in the forest near my home. Lush and green, with so many animals! I did this often, sometimes bringing lunch with me, sitting under a tree and thinking, or practicing things from my sword fighting lesson. Well, that day seems to have been a turning point in my life. I still don't know what happened, exactly, other than the obvious. The "why" or "how" may come later, but for now it keeps me curious and frustrated.

I am no longer human.

I woke up in my bed Saturday morning. I may have napped under the tree, but I don't remember for certain. All I know is there was a span of time that I just have forgotten, and something happened to me in that time.

When I woke up that morning, I was fully clothed, but right away I felt different. I stood, looked in my mirror, and was amazed to find that I no longer looked like I did a day ago. I was human sized and human shaped, but my head looked like a fox's. My hands and feet were a strange mixture of hand or foot and paw. I had fur covering me from head to toe... black fur. And my tail! So fluffy and soft, with a white tip.

I rushed downstairs to show my parents. I thought it was marvelous and beautiful and a blessing! But they obviously did not. They threw things at me, yelled at me, called me "abomination" and "evil" and "cursed." They told me to take my things and leave right away, that this change was a sign that I was bad luck. Maybe I was.

I took my clothing, my sword, my boots and a small pouch of coins, and left.

While I was walking, I reached into my pocket in my pants and felt a piece of parchment. I pulled it out. It was nearly square, but looked like it was torn off of a corner of something. It had words written on it. They said:

"Palma con la cruz azul
Debes ir a la montaña, Este,
Encuentran la entrada, sólo los tuyos
Caminas a las pistas
Allí verás la manera.
Debes escuchar tus sueños."

I couldn't read Spanish, so I had no idea what it meant. I supposed I'd find a translator eventually...but reading it, I felt like it was very important that it was kept safe. I read it at least three or four times every day, as I traveled.

The rest of that week was spent traveling to the coast. I was able to steal a few fruits from orchards, and do work for food. I got strange looks, that's for sure. A few times I was chased away. I left those places with no more incident, but the thieves that attacked me on the road on Thursday found that they got more than they bargained for. Caught by surprise due to my appearance, they failed to notice that I had a sword. By the time they realized that I had more skills than the average bumbling traveler, they were dead at my feet. I have no sympathy for thieves without skills to back up their bullying. Luckily they had coin on them as well. I took it, of course. I needed it, didn't I?

My trip was made much shorter as I ran into a pig farmer heading to the coast to sell his stock. I gave him a few coins and rode up front on his cart with him. He asked few questions, and was otherwise pleasant. I took that time to change my clothing a bit. My pants were uncomfortable to wear under my tail, so I made a hole for it. That was an amazing moment of new comfort, I must say!

When we got to Plymouth on the coast, I went into a few shops. I bought a long coat and a tricorn hat, a better belt for my sword sheath, and a sash. I looked quite dashing if I do say so myself, and more importantly, it was harder to tell from my body shape whether I was male or female. This would create fewer incidents, I hoped, from men hoping to get a piece of a strange female. I also bought this journal, a pen, and a bottle of ink, as well as a bag to carry them in.

Having bought what I needed, I paid a captain of a seafaring ship to take me to its next port of call, which is far away in the Caribbean. That's where I am now, on that ship with my new journal. I'm hoping to be able to make it to the infamous Tortuga and find a job or two in the city. I know it's quite rough there, full of pirates and murderers and assassins around every corner. Despite my appearance, I am not a fluffy cuddly pet. I've trained for fifteen years with my rapier. I've beaten sober men, skilled in swordplay, in less than two minutes of fighting. I've killed men trying to have their way with me, and once, a pair of them trying to rape a poor woman in an alley.

I believe I can handle myself. I suppose we'll see! First stop is Santo Domingo, and it will take a while to get there. I'll write again when we arrive. Until then!

-Kyara Corvi