Down in the Swamp;; open

[kyo]

Azura hovered over Septum Swamp, covering her nose and mouth to shield them from the smell. She just couldn't believe that this place was once a lake. Her wings flapped hard, keeping her in the air and blowing its wind on the swamp below. She spotted a small patch of land and flew to it, lowering herself down until her feet touched that bit of land. The minute she made her landing, her wings folded and faded away out of sight.

She looked around; there was really nothing to look at in a swamp. A frown found its way on her face as her brain registered the colors as dull and boring. She disliked colors that were dark or dull, unlike her half-sister who adored dulled colors and made these boring colors a part of her life. Her name even meant the color "black". Her sister was strange sometimes, but Azura was related to her by her father's Angel blood.

Her lavender brows furrowed as she tried to come up with a possible reason why she was standing where she was. She disliked the dark colors she was seeing, yet she was still here in the swamp. She thought to summon her wings again and fly away, but something inside told her to stay and explore for a little bit.

Azura put her palms together and folded her fingers, bowing her head. Her eyes were sealed for a few minutes before opening again. The only difference was a pair of large wings that matched her hair and eyes. Those wings carried her across the swamp as she studied it from above. She carefully maneuvered herself in and out of dead trees and hanging vines. The water was so dirty and murky that you couldn't tell if anything was still alive in there. She didn't want to know if anything was crawling in around in the water.

'Oh, no wonder why I wanted to leave. And I still can't believe that this was once a lake!', She thought to herself as she flew above the trees.

[Takai]

Sloshing through deep, damp, and murky swamp wetting his paws. Takai growled with annoyance as to his paws getting wet and dirty from this dreadful swamp. If it wasn't in the path of his destination he would have never entered this place. He looks around the dull and bland patches of water and woods. He thinks I can not see any sign this used to be a lovely lake. And this swamp is just annoying.

Takai would love to listen to his music right now but he is afraid of dropping it in the water so he decides to stay in his wolf form to get through the area. He kept picking up on a variety of scents coming from every directions. He growled I really hate having such a sensitive nose sometimes but if I did not have this then I would not be able to find prey or enemies. But why is it that there is a sweet scent coming from such a damp place. No it can't be anything important. He shrugged it off and just kept focusing on getting out of this blasted place. His red eyes shimmered in the shadows of the swamp and started to take a drink of the water because he is parched but spit it back out with a disgusted looked on his face. He yelled What kind of swamp is this!!!!

[kyo]

Azura heard a voice from down below and looked down. She couldn't tell where it was coming from, so she flew back down into the trees and on a patch of earth, closing her wings. She looked in front of her and there stood a wolf. Its fur reminded her of her half-sibling. She sighed and approached the wolf, walking up beside it and looking down at the four-legged creature.

The voice from before sounded as if it came from this animal, but it was highly doubtful--to her. She decided to test this by staring at it, anticipating what it would do or say. She and words never got along, so she refrained from using them. It was common in her family to be silent.

"..."

She blinked as she continued to stare at the creature before her.

[Takai]

Takai stood there staring at the being that appeared from the sky before him. Wondering what or who she is;although, seeing the wings he was assuming she is an angelic being. He let out a brief snarl then snickered and backed away still staring at her.

Engulfing himself in an aura of pure darkness, Takai emerged in a human form before girl in front of him. With his blood red eyes piercing from the darkness. He just put the headphones of his mp3 player around his neck and bowed. Then simply said How do you do? What brings you here to this dark, murky swamp? He silently waited for the reply.

[kyo]

Azura heard the snarls coming from the animal, but didn't respond to it. She stood there and watched him as he transformed from a wolf into a human boy with red eyes, which seemed to stick out in the darkness. She assumed that he was a demon, but it wasn't the red eyes that gave her the assumption.

"I am well," she began with a soft voice, returning the bow, "and I was just exploring for a bit. What about you, sir?" She sounded polite for a young angel of 17 years, but most girls in her family acted the same way: quiet and polite. It was that or be silent and cruel like the boys in her family.

[Takai]

The wolf just blinked a few times surprised at the kindness he was being shown. He could not remember the last time anyone was so polite to him when he himself was not a particularly nice person so to speak. Takai thought to himself for the moment wondering to say next.

Takai gently said with a deep tone I'm heading towards any villages, towns, or settlements that are on the other-side of this damp place. But I couldn't help smell something that was out of place here and I was unsure of what it was until you came out from the atop the trees. Now this place can't be safe for someone as young as yourself. You didn't come here all by yourself did you?

Takai knew he was right of course but wanted to be sure. Someone so young can't be allowed to wonder this place alone without protection. But hopefully he was wrong this once. Yet there was no sign anyone was with her or had been with her. He just wanted to make sure no one innocent would get hurt so long as he can help it. He thought I hate my kind nature towards young people especially girls. But I would hate myself if any harm came to her and I could have prevented it.

[kyo]

Azura gave a nod; she was alone to begin with. She didn't have a problem with being alone. Sometimes she preferred the absence of company, but not this time.

"Yes.. I came here alone... I was supposed to be meeting someone, actually."

It was more like searching for someone rather than meeting up with them. She knew that this someone would not be lurking around in a swamp like these two were. Azura just wanted to explore for a little bit before continuing her search. Since they were on the subject, Azura figured that he too ventured to the swamp by himself, but she chose not to ask and kept her lips sealed.

[Takai]

Takai's instincts were right once again. Yet to be meeting someone here is just strange if not suspicious. Why would anyone want to arrange a meeting place such as this? Something isn't right. He thought to himself with a stern look upon his face.

The demon looked all directions that he could see but couldn't see or smell anyone or anything out of the ordinary aside from the disgusting smell that is already here. Well if you would like I can keep you company until your friend arrives. I don't think it would be smart to leave you alone in such a place and I would regret leaving you behind in this place alone as well. But if don't want me here I can kindly leave if you so wish. said Takai so politely.

Though something just didn't feel right about all this. She seems innocent enough so nothing ominous was coming from her but to meet in this place just doesn't add up to him. Takai hopes she would take him up on his offer. Oh yes how rude of me, forgive this old wolf for not giving his name. I am Takai Kuragari but you can just call me Takai. And what is your name I may ask. He softly added.

[kyo]

"I don't mind if you stay..." She told him quietly.

Words weren't her favorite things to use when communicating with others. She took the offer out of appreciation for his concern for a stranger he just met in a disgusting place like this. Not many people did this, but then again, she didn't talk to a lot of people to start with. Azura didn't like conversation all that much but she always found herself engaging in one. She and her sister both...

"Azura... Azura Hayashi." She told him her name in the same soft voice she had used with him.

[Falile]

Falile stretched from the top of the water to the deep bottom of the pool she was currently immersed in. Only her eyes, nostrils and the long ridge of spines along her curved spine were above the surface. this place was an ideal camoflague for her oddly colored body, seeing as she was surrounded by the long stalks of the loosestrife flowers that flourished upon the bank of this water filled pit.

Hunger had not played a large role in the last week of her exploration of this bountiful swamp. She was a hunter at heart, and the denizens of this swamp were not hard to catch. Especally those large ridge backed reptiles that were at the top of the food chain here. They were not cautious in the very least. A few of their young had passed right by her snout but minutes before, but she maintained her stillness. She was waiting a larger morsel, something she could truly fill up on.

It was then that she felt a change. The swamp instantly quited. She scented something she had never smelled before. She had smelled humans before, but these, they were quite different. One, a male, almost smelled like an animal, maybe one with rabies, but shared many hominid scents at the same time. leather oil, old cloth, and most cloying of all... Metal. The second was a fresher, cleaner, female scent. Also, not quite human.

She continued to be motionless, blending in best she could with the purple backdrop of the flowers behind her. The male scent stopped getting nearer, then she heard voices. One deeper, the second more melodic. She had absolutely no idea what they were saying. They were hominids after all, and she hadn't gotten a chance to learn any of their languages yet. She listened for a while anyway, thinking that hearing more of their language would help her, even if it were just a tiny bit. She then caught motion to her flank. A brown green monster of a ridge backed reptile. It was nearly half her total length, and was headed toward the voices with nary a sound, and just a bare ripple of the water above it to betray it's movement.

There was one problem with the reptile's approach though. It would have to take it past a hungry dragon. That was it's fatal mistake. A ridgeback of that magnitude had great jaw pressure, nearly five or six thousand pounds of pressure for every square inch of it's long maw. They have nothing on dragons. Nor the metallic teeth meant for rending armored flesh. With a surge of motion, she got her jaws around the long creature's midsection and clamped her massively muscled mouth down upon it.

It was a simple matter to clamp her jaws down hard enough to pierce it's weaker scales and snap the thing's spine. She allowed her long teeth to sink deep into it's stomach and twisted her head sideways once. The two eight foot halves of the creature fell away , still twitching from her rising head. Even before the two halves splashed down around her, the immense mouthful she had taken dyed the amethyst scales of her lower jaw and neck crimson. She was cautious of the close by hominids though, keeping a single amber eye upon them as she raised her head to swallow that which was currently filling her mouth.

When that lump slid down her throat, she made quick work on the creature's front half, using a back claw to keep the other half submerged, then tuck it under a convienient rock shelf that was below her. She was willing to show herself in fron of these two hominids, but she didn't know if she was ready to share a meal with them yet. She would have to satisfy her curiosity about them first, and make sure they weren't the type to attack lone dragons.

When the creature was nothing but a cracked and cleaned skull, she slowly advanced on the pair, allowing the rivulets of water cascading down her metallic scales to catch and refract what little light that came through to the swamp floor. She then opened her mouth, and spoke "Si mi halkiva zahae wux jiil. Svabol dronilnric eschoup achthend hefoc doutani ekess vi mlasup goawy mishun lae nomeno?" Her voice both slithered like a snakes, whistling over her long fangs, and rumbled like deep earth, echoing from deep within her chest as she posed a question in her native tongue.

[Takai]

Taking in her name before they were surprised by the overly sized purple scaled creature. Takai could barely make out the question the beast had posed. He recognized it as being old Draconic tongue. This posed a problem for him and his newly acquainted friend as to he didn't know much about the language just little bits here and there. But hopefully what he thought he heard was correct and that she could understand his lupine words. I'm not sure if I heard right but did you ask why we are here? And one I'm not food at least not easy food. Second if that is what you said then I'm here accompany this young lady until her friend arrives. So I hope you mean us no ill will because I know it would not end well if we fought right here and now my large friend.

Not sure if Azura could understand him or her, Takai knew if she had no idea of his language then all she heard were snarls, grunts, roars, and howls. He knew this would not end well if a fight broke out but hopefully this creature was kind and not too hungry. He doesn't think he would make a good meal for such a huge behemoth.

Takai slowly turned towards Azura saying Whatever you do no sudden movements or actions. I'm not sure but I think she is only curious about us for the moment at least. He smiled and looked back at the dragon that is still before them. Hoping that nothing bad comes out of this. Thinking to himself I don't like provoking fights if no need be especially with such a huge creature and the fact I'm in human form right now with little power. But at least it's nice and dark here if anything should arise.

[kyo]

Her purple eyes fell upon the creature of the same color, widening slightly in size. Azura quickly assumed that the swamp was the creature’s home and that she and Takai were invading her privacy. The question addressed to them was in a foreign language that neither could speak. She watched as Takai responded to the dragon, in his own tongue. She knew neither language, so she decided to watch in silence. She seemed nonchalant, standing and watching the dragon and the wolf speak with each other in their native communication.

She slipped into a world far away from the one she was currently in. Their voices faded, along with the sounds of the swamp around them. She snapped back to reality when Takai began to talk to her, instructing her to make no movements for it could possibly startle the dragon. She nodded, quietly heeding his words.

Azura assumed that he was going to continue speaking with the creature in front of them. She couldn’t help but think about the problems that could arise from their conversation. Since the dragon and the wolf spoke different languages, which sounded like grunts and snarls to her, one could get angry and attack them. She wanted to help, yet she didn’t speak their language and she figured that her words wouldn’t get through to them. But wait, it did get through to Takai. He understood her quite fine, so why should she worry?

She ran a sun-kissed hand through lavender locks of hair and let it rest on her neck, letting go of all stressful thoughts and replacing it with a single person—a fellow angel.

[Falile]

Falile lowered her head golden orb to eye level to the one who could speak an intelligible language , then tilted her head slightly. In a second she shifted mental gears to speak and think in the lupine tongue that she learned just after she left her parent's little island. This time there was quite a bit less hissing, and more yips and grunts accompanying the growling baritone of her voice. " Aye two legged, it would no go well, not now that i have gorged myself on your hunter that became my prey." Her speech was imperfect in this tongue, and heavily laden with the accent of the particular pack that she had learned from.

" know you, that I have hunted this place for near two moons, and I know this land well now. If the other little one knows where she goes, I could pack with you. Protection for price." With the terms set in her mind, she softly rattled the scales behind her neck in contentment. she knew what she wanted from this two legged animal. Something she wished for for the last five years of her life.

"Price for protection of snake, and bird, ridge back , and even dragon. It would be my learning of the two legged language" Her terms were simple, and even if these two didn't really need someone to guard them from the dangers of the swamp, it wouldn't hurt having a dragon along. Especially one that didn't require payment in metal or flesh.

[Takai]

Taken back by the request, Takai contemplated that having a dragon as an ally would prove helpful. He wondered why it was important to the creature to understand the human language but he thought back to his own experiences and realized it can be proved quite helpful. Though he would not mind learning the draconic tongue so they can communicate easier. The tone of the lupine tongue she was using though seemed a little rough as if it came from a more wilder group of wolves but not demon wolves.

Making out roughly what she said Takai replied back in clearer lupine speak I see no harm in teaching you the human tongue in exchange for the protection and it would be an added relief to say the least. But I would like to kindly ask would you mind teaching me and my young friend of there your language as well I'll teach her mine so we may connect better. Would do you say my new friend?[/b]

Shifting from the lupine tongue to human speech, Takai turned to Azura saying She would like to know the human tongue in exchange as being protection to us. Also would you like to learn my lupine tongue and her draconic tongue if she agrees to the latter?

Turning back towards the dragon trying figure out which language would be better. Takai spoke lupine If you accept my request simply reply...[/b] switching back to human tongue also making the mouth motions Y...E....S.....Yes[/b] Hoping he didn't make matters take a turn for worse he stood there waiting for the creature's reply.

[kyo]

Azura began fiddling with lavender hair; she seemed to be in her own world again—a world where it was only her and her half-sibling. There would be ever-lasting peace. There would be neither hate nor violence. She wouldn’t make very good company since she wasn’t much of a talker. She often spaced out when she was surrounded by others who were talking amongst themselves. It was a way to keep her busy when she wasn’t chatting with the others.

Yet, she had to leave her made-up world for the real world.

She gave Takai a nod and used very little words to reply verbally. She was interested in this lupine tongue he was using with the dragon, as well as the dragon’s draconic language. Learning new things was always interesting. She had the feeling that she had just arrived at the swamp, that she just met these two. She shrugged it off. Azura did space out and tune all the noises and sounds out so that she was hearing what was going on in her own head, not the environment around her.

Now that she was back on earth, Azura prayed that his attempt to teach the dragon how to speak the human language would be successful.