wot is Reality?

[sera]

A long, streaked form enters the Orchard with head up, pointed ears lying naturally back as he moves with an innate self-confidence that easily pervades his entire demeanour. He's really rather simply adorned and coloured compared even to his companion. A purple and white female follows him, curved fin ears laid back as well though she holds herself a bit more stiffly than the male.

An odd polka-dotted scarf dances in the breeze from it's place around the royal purple throat as green eyes cast about with their own uneasy confidence. "And so we arrive," comes the soft, vaguely deep voice. She tosses her head slightly, rearranging the gleaming white forelock. "Just wot sort of Reality have you brought us into now, Mozer?"

The male doesn't seem to hear the question, attention, instead on their immediate surroundings as he becomes acquainted with the place. Astafy, the female, gives an annoyed sigh, tossing her head again, and a deep emerald winks briefly in the sunlight from the middle of her forehead before it's covered by the white forelock again.

The brindle takes a few steps forward, and Astafy's ears set flatter in a distinctly annoyed stance. "You're not going to leave me here alone, Mozer," she says firmly. "We don't know wot sorts of things live here."

"That's wot I'm going to find out," Mozer answers in his own deep voice, amusement evident in the tone and the twinkle of a blue eye, then, suddenly, he's off; up into the air in a strange sort of dog-paddle wiggle that's still oddly graceful in its own way.

Astafy gives a low growl, watching him disappear in frustration and annoyance. Someday, she was going to find the Tactician, or any Tactician just so she could learn the secret of flight; she was tired of being left behind! With one more huff of displeasure, Astafy begins to inspect the small clearing Mozer had originally set down in. She might as well look around while she waited and, with this thought in mind, the purple gryvern begins to methodically and quietly explore.

[sera]

Astafy has only been searching a half hour or so when another dark portal flares into existence in the clearing she has only just left. The Light is unaware, however, as she curiously pokes her nose into a bush and awakens a displeased rodent. It squeaks at her and scurries off, leaving the gryvern with a swiftly tilting head. First one way, then another, green eyes intent as it moves so swiftly off and disappears, amazingly, among the green grass and leaves. Amazing that something so brown could hide in so much green.

A large, dark-coloured form steps into the clearing, curved horns glinting dully in the bright daylight. He slowly turns his head one direction then the next, purple eyes scanning swiftly yet steadily. He takes another step, and curved claws tighten into the grass before releasing, leaving hidden pinpoints of damage behind. His jewel flashes blue in the light then his stride rolls on, protecting it from another flash of golden sunshine. Nevertheless, he seems unconcerned that it might have given him away, instead continuing his steady contemplation of the surrounding countryside.

Astafy sniffs onward, finding a grasshopper that swiftly grasps her interest. It hops forward and she follows it carefully. She's seen some of these before, up on <i>Dor'shia</i>, but she's never been able to get close enough to really inspect it closely. The Light continues to move stealthily after the insect, but everytime she gets closer, it hops away! Her tail flicks in annoyance as she pounces after and it still gets away. She follows it onward, a left hop, a fake to the right. A purple and a white paw smack the ground in near unison as her purple head and white forelock met a dark and unforgiving wall.

"Uh. . . oh. . . . " bright green eyes rolled upwards with a distinct flare of fear in their depths.

[Thalron]

CRUNCH, was the sound that came not too far away from the duo that had just uh, collided with each other. She found this amusing, it was strange that such creatures could be so oblivious, very oblivious, did they fear not predators? if that was so maybe they were not made out of meat? no... They were meat, funny meat, careless meat... They looked delicate too...

The second crunch noise arose when she took a step forward and landed back down on all fours, She was pretty big, a fact that was even more emphasized by her large wings, her green markings would have afforded her some camouflage had there been any sort of object around that could actually hide her but as it was she had landed in the open with her red and black eyes staring down intently upon the newcomers, she wanted them to run, she liked the running and chasing and catching... She even liked it if they got away, but not as much.

"Prey prey, are you lonely? Are you tired... I hope you aren't tired...." her voice was almost soothing, but strange in a way that put your nerves on edge, somewhat like a creature that wished to lure you closer or put you at ease before attacking. And judging by her spiky, and scarred appearance it seemed like a rather likely possibility.

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[sera]

A brief flare of relief had spread lassitude through Astafy when she realized the wot she had run into was a who; a comrade in arms. The loud, unhappy CRUNCH, however, had jolted that away and now fear-fled adrenaline overcame her slim frame. With a strangled choke of a squeal, the purple and white gryvern leapt behind the large reddish brown male, tucking her long tail around her legs as she stared up, up, up at the giant ravenous monster who came down upon them.

Purple eyes skimmed upwards until they could meet the red eyes of their adversary. Casimir tilted his head slightly, a conscious movement that, somehow, tended to draw the eye to the large horns curling outward from his skull. Unlike his companion, the male was large-ish (( he seemed large compared to the female, but not necessarily the creature that now faced them )) and stocky. His tail curled around his legs, but the action had a purpose; bringing forth the long, blade-like spikes portruding from the long grey strands of a tail tuft. He seemed unconcerned about the potential violence that eased into the air between him and the large green creature. His voice came, low and gravelly, as though speaking was difficult and a waste of time, "Friend or foe?"

"Wot do you mean 'friend or foe?!'" Astafy hissed darkly, green eyes flashing in fear. She was a Healer, blastit! She wasn't a fighter and didn't want to be. "It's going to eat us!!!! Oh, I -knew- I shouldn't have come!!! Curse you, Mozer!"

[Thalron]

She flapped her wings idly a few times, They still stood. She wanted to run, why didn't they run? It seemed a much better idea... One hid behind the other but that did not conceal her, why did she hide there? These creatures made no sense even though they seemed somewhat familiar. Maybe she had hunted one before. She did like the horned one, it was a fighter and it was bigger, she wondered if it tasted good, it smelled good but she did not know... Maybe it would be her friend. No probably not, why would prey want to be her friend no one liked her and they ran, but she liked running........

"Friend, prey prey. I like to hunt, do you want to run, run?" she asked as she walked closer, letting her weight fall heavily as she did so to continue with the intimidating crunches, what was it that the other was hiding from? she couldn't hide here why did she try? and why did it speak so loudly... "Funny prey, why do you speak spoken words? friend is friend... You do not wish to be eaten? I am friend being eaten is not nice... I as friend would not be eating you." she said in her continuing soft, and freaky voice... Although she did seem sincere about.

Her eyes kept locked on them, only occasionally checking for others in the area, she was unmistakably in a predatory stance and the way her eyes darted around when they were not fixated upon the pair helped in that assumption very much.

[sera]

"I'M TOO CUTE TO DIE!" Astafy squealed desperately at the words 'I like to hunt. . . ', dropping down so she could cover her eyes with her fore feet. That frightening, 'comeheresoicaneatyou' voice!! She could just see her lithe body, broken and splattered grotesquely with crimson splashes of blood decorating her beautiful violet and white hide. "SAVE ME, CASIMIR!!!!!"

Casimir tilted his head slightly, tail twitching once, as though saddened that perhaps this wasn't a matter for the blades. This creature didn't seem to be. . . altogether up there. He'd known a gryvern like that once, before he fell off a cliff. Or maybe his ears were broken. He paused to think about that for a moment as the large green thing continued on in her strange voice. He was also uncertain on whether they had firmly established her, it as a friend. "We are not food to you?" he tried again, wishing that Astafy would stop quivering long enough to help him out. He hated talking to people who weren't Warriours or fighters like himself. He always had the vague feeling that they knew something he didn't and was chuckling about that ignorance behind his back.

[Thalron]

This prey was obnoxious, it spoke but did not listen and hid... Why did it continue to hide, she wanted it to run... But it did not appear that they would be running any time soon, oh well she could stand, maybe they would like to run later? That would be good because then she could hunt them... Hmm... Was that one too cute to die? She did not believe that was possible... But she was still open and maybe some day would see if that were true. It was cute prey, cute, obnoxious and oblivious prey.

"You are not food, prey prey? You look edible, but I am friend. You are friend of Jaradka, Friends are not food." she said and nodded, before stopping. She was close enough that she could almost reach out and touch them but instead sat down, flaring her wings as she did so to get rid of some loose dust or dirt that she might otherwise sit on. Of course she'd probably be pacing around in a minute or two but oh well...

Casimirs fears or annoyances were rather unfounded in this large green dragon, even if she had higher mental capacity than him she was not interested in making fun of peoples ignorance, and rarely laughed... And when she did it was not usually at a very funny situation... Very few things that are alive have heard her laugh.

[sera]

Astafy was still too busy imagining her horribly, tragic death, and just how it would pay Mozer back for leaving her here all alone with nary a protector in sight, but Casimir tilted his head slightly the other way to regard the larger dragon with a vague hint of curiousity. It was a relief for her to outright say that they weren't food, but some of her word choices were still questionable. He could only guess that her name was Jaradka and so began the conversation over from that point. "I am Casimir," he informed her quietly, easily, inclining his head ever so slightly to her. He turned slightly to glance at the female who was muttering under her breath about pyres and that heretics all deserved wot they got. He blinked slightly at her, confused. The only thing worse than Civilians were Female Civilians.

"Jaradka," he began quietly, glancing briefly up at the green dragon to ascertain that was correct as her name before turning back to the Light. "Is not going to eat either of us. Please rise."

It took a minute, and another repeat of nearly the same words before Astafy would rise haughtily to stare up at the larger being in anger. Her finned ears quivered in anger. "Then why did you frighten us so?! And why do you keep calling us prey?! That's wot you EAT, not your friends!"

[Thalron]

Jaradka tilted her head at astafy, who seemed to be having some sort of a seizure which worried her.... No, she was just cowering, cowering why was she cowering. Jaradka was friend wasn't she? why would you hide from your friend if not in a game? hmm... Obnoxious, oblivious, cute, and strange prey this was... And confusing, why was it so confusing! she didn't like that feeling, it made her angry and she didn't like being angry because when she got angry she usually hurt people... These thoughts disturbed her visibly as she tried to make sense of all of the confusing preys actions, one of her wings moved up and massaged a scare on the back of her neck to help in the thinking process but it still didn't make sense and was starting to infuriate her..

It was lucky that Casimir snapped her out of her thoughts by saying her name, she knew her name it was something she owned, the only thing she owned and she kept it close in her mind. "When you are scared you run faster, I like hunting... Why does prey try to confuse Jaradka, you act strange, prey prey." It seemed like when she said it twice she was talking about both of them... at least that was the feeling she gave off, but it was hard to tell with her eery voice.

She looked back at casimir, he told her his name, she liked his name, it was pretty, he was pretty and nice.... He was good prey. "Casimir prey, what is casimir? Jaradka not see Casimir prey type here before." she said as she leaned down closer to him, seeming much more interested than, uh hungry now... She still wondered if he tasted good though.

[sera]

Casimir tilted his head again as she drew nearer her. Specifically as her head drew nearer. It wasn't the only dangerous looking part of her but expereince taught heads were the ones you mostly wanted to avoid. His tail came around subconsciously in a near threatening manner before he recalled himself and apologetically lowered the bladed tip again. "Casimir is--" he caught himself and gave the tiniest shake of his head. "I," he began again. "Am a gryvern. Wot are you?"

Astafy pouted at being ignored; stamping her white paw. "Why do you keep calling us prey?!" she demanded again, staring up with upset, emerald eyes. At least being ignored was slowly shunting off her anger.

[Thalron]

Jaradka's eyes looked down at the blade as it moved to a near threatening manner, she didn't actually perceive it as such, but more like he wanted to show her it because she was obviously curious about him... That made sense to her. why wouldn't it? She liked the blades they were pretty too, like her own spikes but meant for attack more than defence... She wondered if he did fight alot, she didn't like the idea of him fighting, he was pretty and pretty things shouldn't fight... It makes them less pretty.

"Jaradka is hunter, Jaradka is chaos, Jaradka is Tsume." she says with a slight bow to them, her voice didn't seem like it was going to lose that entrapment quality any time soon, and in fact was almost getting worse since if you thought about it... Maybe it was working... And then she turned her attention to Astafy, the obnoxious one. the confusing one. "I am hunter, others are prey, prey." she says with a slight look of confusing, Didn't everyone know this? She wondered of The obnoxious and confusing one would be scared again by her rather close proximity... She didn't want to scare them right now, they weren't going to run.

Why were there two? Hmm... Were they separated from a group? these seem like pack creatures because they are shaped like them and lack wings, most good hunters have wings. were they scouts? No... Too scared for scouts. Mates? That thought made her angry, although she did not show it... She liked Casimir, and didn't want to think of him being with that obnoxious creature. Casimir prey... She would have to find out, perhaps Obnoxious one would be food prey.

[sera]

"Tsume?" Casimir echoed the strange word allowed softly, listening to Jaradka's explanation but not thinking to o hard about it just yet as the red eyes skimmed over them again. The dragon, no, tsume, tensed barely and Casimir's own subconscious alerts responded, bringing his senses up a notch more.

Astafy was unaware of the sudden rise in tension, instead backing further away from Jaradka. "I am not prey!" she retorted uneasily, her fear skyrocketing back up again. "We're omnivores; we're hunters too!"

Casimir glanced at the Light, telling her with his eyes to simmer down. As even a part-time carnivore she should be well-aware of the increase of emotions bringing the increase of adrenaline to hunt, to fight, to chase. The female, however, seemed unaware of her potential for escalating the situation.

[Thalron]

Jaradka nodded to Casimir when he echoed the word, she liked it when he said things that involved her, prey rarely said nice things... He wasn't saying nice things, but was not saying bad things and that made her happy. But The obnoxious one was still confusing, and considered herself a hunter? She did not believe this, a hunter would not cower and hide infront of friends, or foes. A hunter would stand and stare them back in the eyes. Not roll around plotting ones own death. "Prey, prey Jaradka is carnivore, jaradka is hunter. You fight with hunter to prove prey is not prey, you fight and win, Jaradka hunter, equal to Jaradka hunter too. You large prey, but friend prey." she explained while looking Astafy up and down.

There was no defence on that one, long clothing that was easy to grab, mane that was easy to grab, no spikes, thin skin thin bones, thin body... It was not a hunter it was not even a fighter. Why did it wish to be called something it was not? It did not give it's name and wanted to be called hunter? The obnoxious one was lucky to be called prey! Because she could call it flesh, and the only thing below that was Carrion. And she did not like carrion, only fresh meat.

Of course Jaradka had to stand up at this point, not being one to sit around for too long without some sort of physical activity. She flared her wings afew times just to stretch them out, when she exhaled tiny bits of blue-ish fire came out of her mouth, they were small and barely noticable however... She didn't seem to notice them herself which meant the real breath weapon was probably pretty potent.

[sera]

One dark ear twitched slightly on the Dark gryvern, the curled edge slipping easily along the curled horn before retaining its normal position. Jaradka, despite her quirks, was rather amusing.

"I'm not going to fight you!" Astafy fairly shrilled, backing up further as her tail curled around her and likely completely missing wotever point the tsume was attempting to make. "I'm not a Warriour, I'm a Healer!"

"We have Castes," came a new voice from the air above their heads, identified swiftly by a glad cry from Astafy. "Mozer!"

"Hallo, Astafy," the long, sinewy brindle didn't look at the Light as he 'flew' down to gently touch the ground. His flight was the odd twisting and occasional paddle of a foot of his kind, graceful in its own strange way, but certainly not normal flight. The female hurried to slip beside (behind) Mozer. One ear flicked briefly towards her, but his eyes were for friend and their new companion. "Casimir, good to see you. And who is our new friend?" He tilted his head slightly at Jaradka, apparently full of ease even in her larger presence.

[Thalron]

Jaradka shook her head side to side afew times then looked back at Astafy and grinned "Then you are prey, friend prey." she said suggesting that it was not a point that would be useful to argue unless biting or clawing was involved. and that was rather unlikely, and even if it did happen Jaradka figured she could probably knock her out without too much scarring... If she didn't wriggle around too much, of course... She might go for the death if it turned out this was indeed Casimirs mate, she was not worthy of his prettiness and good ness even if he was still prey, he was much closer to a hunter than her.

When the new voice appeared Jaradka looked up at it and seemed to debate whether or not to try and scare him off and chase him, but realized he was with these two and probably would not be afraid... Or if he was would probably just try and hide behind Casimir, the good prey. Good prey was so hard to find <3

She wondered whether Astafy was another word for prey, because it's what they both called the obnoxious one... strange. "sky snake prey, is it friend?" she asked eerily as she took in his appearance, it was strange like the others and seemed very smooth... It's pigment reminded her of flesh, which reminded her that she wanted to hunt and no one had wanted to run... She liked hunting, but did not feel the need to point this out just yet.