Breakable ((Moonie!))

[CastlesInTheSky]

Phoenix was a glassblower. Glass breaks easily. So, when he was about to finish something brilliant, it did something very expected: it broke.

Phoenix was not happy.

After a few hours of stalking around his home, seething and grumbling, tearing apart a letter that he didn't want to read any further and stubbing his toe, he decided to go for a walk. A very long walk.

He packed a few things, including a small lunch, and headed out of his home, locking the door tight. He headed out of Arca. He sat and ate lunch and hour after stopping, then continued, further and further. Soon enough, the city had gotten smaller and smaller. The land was as such so he could see for quite a long time in many directions, the only he could not see for what seemed to be forever were with some hills in the distance. Though, the grass was getting high where he was going. He had gone off the path, not wanting to deal with people. He soon found himself up to his thighs in tall grass. The flowers scattered about were very nice, but he didn't care about them at that time. He came to a river in some time, sitting on a dry spot of land. He munched absently on a bit of leftover from his previous lunch absently. He still had some snacks with him. He found himself calm now and settled into his thoughts.

[Anonymous]

Phoenix wouldn't have known it, but ever since he entered the long grass, he had a stalker. The long grass was the perfect place for someone like her to hide, stalking her prey. Not that she saw him as prey, he was much too large and probably powerful. Also, she didn't exactly care for the taste of humanoids. Actually, she didn't exactly care for hunting much at all. She wasn't bloodthirsty enough for hunting proper. Her brother had always been the hunter and provider, but her brother wasn't around anymore. Nisha had been reduced to a scavenger and begger, but she took it all in stride.

It had been the tantalizing smell of his food that drew her to follow him. Her body was lean when she was well-fed, but now she looked lanky and scrawny. Her fur was matted in places and fairly dirty. Her grey eyes were filled with a strange determination, though. When he left the tall grass to sit on a clear patch by the river she stopped short, staying in her hiding place and crouching down to watch him silently. Although it was really the food she was watching. Her long tail flickered as she contemplated how best to go about getting some scraps for herself.

[CastlesInTheSky]

The man continued to eat, his eyes fixed upon nothing. He took small bites of his food, chewing slowly. His thoughts were taking him to his sister, his mother, and finally, his father. What a bastard. Why did his mother ever make it with a demon? He couldn't figure that one out. He mumbled past his food.

Strangely to him, it felt like someone was watching him. He sat up a bit straighter, but didn't look around himself. That would be silly. He didn't want them to know he knew of their presence. Well, if there was actually someone there. Phoenix's eyes came to focus again, and he stared at the river. He wondered if they were behind him. Sighing, he came to the conclusion that he was simply paranoid. He threw a bit of the harder to eat parts over his shoulder just shy of the grass without a second glance and kept eating.

[Anonymous]

Nisha watched and waited patiently. She'd found that many times hunters would leave the less desirable scraps of their kills behind, and picnickers were quick to also simply toss aside what they themselves didn't want. As she watched the man, her patience finally paid off and her grey eyes zeroed in hungrily on the scrap he'd thrown within reach. Ah, but it was just outside the grass. Hrm, she could wait and see if he threw more and retrieve her prize once he was gone. She licked her lips hungrily and found her stomach too impatient to even wait that long.

Keeping one eye on Phoenix and the other on the food, she slowly and silently creeped forward just a little, stretching her neck and head out of the grass and carefully took it in her mouth. Fighting the urge to gobble it down right then and there she pulled her head back into the grass, trying to make as little sound as she could as she scarfed down her prize. Her brother would have looked at her in disgust, but since Gavin wasn't there to feed her, she had to make do with what she could get.

[CastlesInTheSky]

Phoenix was munching on his meal when he heard the grass stir slightly. Perhaps he had been correct. Despite himself, he turned, looking behind him casually. He furrowed his brow in confusion. He hadn't heard the scrap he tossed fall in the tall grass, but it was nowhere to be seen. He glanced up at the tall grass. Though the grass was very thick and hid whoever may be in there, he supposed it must be some animal. As his sense of smell was better that the average human's, he could tell something was there. He just didn't know what in the world it would be.

He turned back around, then got up. He shoved the last of his food in the bag on his lap and sat next to the river, dipping his feet in. He stared forward, away from where he tossed his scrap. He absently dipped a finger in the water, watching it go past his hand.

[Anonymous]

Nisha had crouched as far down as she could and froze as the man looked in her direction. Of course she was really good at hiding, so she didn't really expect for him to see her. That didn't keep her from relaxing slightly as he turned away. There was always that chance of being discovered.

Her ears drooped as he put the rest of the food away and moved to sit with his feet in the water. Now he was even further away! Her nose lifted in the air and sniffed. She knew he still had food, she had seen it! She could smell it still.

For a few moments she simply watched him, tail flickering as she puzzled the problem over in her head. He had food. She wanted that food. Nisha didn't think she could simply waltz over and take it from him. He was much bigger than she was, and she wasn't much of a fighter. There wasn't much else for it, though. She would have to approach him or leave to find another, easier, meal.

Creeping slowly out from her hiding place, her neck was stretched forward, her nose twitching as she zeroed in on his bag. If she got close enough maybe she could grab the bag and make a run for it. Hey, it was worth a shot.

[CastlesInTheSky]

Phoenix flicked his finger in the water to and fro absently. It was a strange thing for him to be actually calm, for once. He had his pants legs rolled up to his knees, and he noticed that they were damp anyway. He didn't really care. It was a mild day, not too hot but not cold either. The water was cool, flowing past him evenly.

His calm feeling was interrupted when he heard a quiet noise behind him, a noise that was barely even there. He was sure it was some sort of animal, for people weren't that quiet. Whatsoever. He listened, his hearing not as sharp as his smell or his eyes, but rather like that of a normal human. He didn't know what was behind him, but he knew it was there. He could almost feel it close to him. He quickly turned his head around, staring at whatever was there.

Phoenix stared at the animal for a moment, then tossed some food at it. What a scrawny creature. "Take it, eat it. I don't want more of this." He proceeded to toss the rest of the food near it. "Put some bulk on you, it will."

[Anonymous]

Nisha had tried to be as quiet as possible as she crept towards her goal. When he suddenly turned to face her, she stopped mid-step. For a moment she could only freeze in uncertainty. He didn't run and didn't attack, so she put her foot back down and settled back onto her haunches. The game was up, she'd lost, but at least he didn't seem angry about her presence.

Then he threw her some food and for a moment all she could do was look at it curiously. Once se decided that it wasn't some kind of a trick she was quick to pounce on it. Her long tail wagged happily as she ate the scraps as fast as she could. It was almost like she was afraid someone or something was going to take it from her. As she swallowed the last bit she sniffed the ground where he'd thrown the food, looking for anymore morsels.

When she didn't find any she walked over to Phoenix, sniffing him curiously now that she'd gotten what she'd wanted from him she could at least check him out, since he didn't seem hostile. Her long tail was still swaying slightly as she examined him.

[CastlesInTheSky]

Phoenix stared at this...strange...creature before him. He kept thinking about how...thin it was. Not healthily thin, but underfed. The animal snatched it up so quickly, as if it was starving. He wouldn't be surprised if it was. This idea confused him, as the area was full of game. He wondered why this animal wasn't hunting. Perhaps it had been too weak to get food. Maybe it wasn't a native animal and escaped from some trader who'd been feeding it badly. He related to this animal somehow. Something that didn't fit, either. He returned the curious look he was given. He wasn't sure what manner of creature he had been visited by. He wondered if the other knew he was strange as well.

"Uh, sorry I don't have more food for ya, friend." He stayed still, not wanting to be frightening. "But I think I could go get some more, if you want me to." He slowly stood up, looking down at his companion. "Come on, I'll get you something from my house." He started walking the way he'd came. He knew where he was going, as he took the same route a few times. He hoped she was following him. He wasn't normally the type to do things like this, but something made him want to help this new friend of his.

[Anonymous]

While he was staring at her she stared right back at him. Strange creature, he smelled funny. Not a human, they smelled much different than this one. As she sniffed at him she puzzled over what he could be. Well, for a little bit, anyway, once he started talking to her she tilted her head cutely to the side, ears perked up. Food? He wanted to get more food? And he wanted to share?! Aha! She liked this strange one! Her tail wagged furiously as he mentioned getting more food.

Nisha continued to look up at him as he rose to his feet and started walking. Like a little puppy, she followed him, practically prancing now. Perhaps it was a bit naive to follow him home, but she always was a bit on the trusting side. Not really a good trait to have, but what could she do? Besides, how bad could it be? He wanted to give her food!

[CastlesInTheSky]

Phoenix suppressed a chuckle as his new companion became incredibly excited at the mention of food. What an amusing creature. Her eyes were sparkling at the mention of food. Not much unlike any hound would. He was thinking about patting her on the head, but didn't want to get his hand bitten or something.

They continued until they reached the city borders. There, he turned to her and said, "Now, stay here. You hear? Stay in this place. There are people over where I live who...don't like animals." He jogged off.

Returning a few minutes later, he handed a chunk of meat to her. "Here. It's good, have it." He leaned against a tree while she ate it. Or rather, inhaled it.

"Sorry I don't have more." He slid down the trunk of the tree, sitting now. "What now?" He sighed and prodded at the earth near his feet. He was too irritated with his work still, and there wasn't much else to be done.

[Anonymous]

Nisha followed and obediantly sat and waited when she was told. She usually didn't come this close to towns. People meant food, yes, but they could also be terribly cruel. Never, ever had she actually ventured within the walls of a city. Her brother Gavin had gone into them frequently, though. Idly she wondered what had happened to him. He had always brought her food, but not anymore. She missed him terribly.

Her attention returned to the nice strange one as he came back. When he offered her the meat she snatched it happily and devoured it as quickly as she could. When you couldn't catch your own meals, and couldn't defend it against other scavengers, you ate when you could, as fast as you could. It was just standard nature.

When she finished Nisha licked her lips. It felt good to have a decently full belly for the first time in weeks. Not getting more food was probably good for her. Like most starved animals, she'd have probably ate herself sick if given the opportunity.

She watched him, her head once more tilted with perked ears in that adorable puppy way of hers. Her tail flickered as he asked a strange question. Slinking over on she laid down beside him and laid her chin on his leg, letting out a large and content sigh. A strange, strange one, yes, but he'd given her food, so that made him alright in her books.

[CastlesInTheSky]

Phoenix watched her as she came over to him and rested her head on his leg. He patted her on the head, and returned his hand to making patterns in the dust. He thought of his sister, who was nothing like him. Who could turn into a wolf. He sighed deeply. He wished he knew where she was. Though he would never admit it, he missed her. They had been with each other all the time when they were younger. Playing in the dirt and other silly child things.

He turned his gaze to his new friend. This creature had taken a liking to him...perhaps he would keep her around. If she wanted to stay, that is, for a little while. Not forever or anything. He figured there was no animal on the face of the earth that wanted to stay with a human forever. They were wild things.

Phoenix shifted a bit, irritated by the way his energy was being sapped by hiding his wings and tail. He nudged his companion to show her he was going to get up and did so. "Let's go a bit more in the forest. Don't want any people coming by and bothering us." He walked a bit into the forest away from the path. There he stopped and turned to her. "I hope I don't scare you." He let his wings and tail appear. It felt much better to be in this form. He sat down again, on a rock this time. His tail curled around him. He wondered why he was talking to this animal he had met, but it seemed like she understood somehow. "I don't even know what I am, but I guess it doesn't matter, huh." He frowned a bit.

[Anonymous]

Nisha might have been content to take a nap there, using the strange, kind human-thing as a pillow, she gave a light wag of her tail as he patted her on the head. She didn't mind getting petted by people. As long as they weren't yelling and throwing things. It made her sad when they did mean things like that to her.

Her eyes had closed by the time he nudged her, but she grudingly got up and looked at him curiously before following him into the trees. It confused her when he left the path. Didn't human-things like their strange little roads? There was even more puzzlement when he mentioned not wanting to scare her. For a moment she wondered if he really thought she could understand him. Most human-things assumed that she was nothing more than a dumb animal, but she liked this human-thing. He actually spoke to her.

When he took on wings and a tail, Nisha started. Her grey eyes regarded him strangely. Ah, he was one of those special human-things that could do neat tricks and look like something else. To Nisha, in the end, they were all still human-things. She watched him settle down on the rock and tilted her head to look at him. When he said he didn't know what he was she snorted and looked at herself, then looked back to him, as if to say 'yeah? And what do you think I am?'

[CastlesInTheSky]

Phoenix was sure she could understand him when she answered him with a gesture that made him smile a little. Well, at least he wasn't alone. In all honesty, he didn't have that many friends, or at least, real friends that didn't want things of him. It was nice to talk.  He was glad she wasn't afraid of him. Though he was used to being an object of fear, and sometimes enjoyed scaring the wits out of some people, it got tiring. He said, "Hey, at least I'm not alone in that." A tone of amusement was in his voice. "So, I suppose you're not from around here?"

He looked thoughtful for a moment. "And what's your name?" He wondered if she could reply, or simply listen. As a dragon, he couldn't speak, so he was curious.

[Anonymous]

Nisha gave him a toothy, wolfish grin as he spoke to her in his amused voice. Her tail swished slightly as she continued to look at him. Her head tilted to the side, he kept asking her questions! When he asked for her name her ears drooped and she began pacing back and forth in front of him, obviously frustrated.

Suddenly she stopped and her ears perked up as she eyed a twig nearby. Moving quickly she picked it up and placed it carefully in front of him, then darted to pick up another and another and another. Several sticks later she had crudely spelled out a word.

N-I-S-H-A

[CastlesInTheSky]

Phoenix couldn't help but remember when he tried to grin as a dragon once. It didn't work out in the least. She did a better job than him at it, then again, she was a wolf. Or something to that effect. All he knew was that she was a magical creature. He'd leave it at that.

Phoenix nodded. "Ah..hm...Nisha?" He smiled a bit. "Well hey there, Nisha. My name's Phoenix." He was impressed that she could spell her name out with sticks. Or spell her name at all. There were a lot of people around who probably couldn't spell their names. He couldn't help but wonder were a wolf learned to spell. But then again, he didn't really know what she was, but it didn't really matter.

"So, I guess you don't talk to people much. You're not missing out on a lot, trust me." He shook his head. "There's a lot of people out there who don't understand kinds of people like us, or...well, you know, not people, but you get what I mean." He sighed.

[Anonymous]

Nisha 'grinned' and wagged her tail as he introduced himself. Phoenix, that was an interesting name. Was he named after the great fire-birds that she'd heard about? She wished she could ask him, but that would take a lot of sticks! It didn't occur to her that there were human-things that could not read or spell. She had been taught when she was just a little child, her brother had learned too. Their father had insisted on it. Of course, that was back before their mother had gone insane and her father had disappeared. Now Gavin had disappeared too. It was an upsetting trend. First her father, then her brother. Both gone without a trace, a word, a note. Nothing.

Still, she didn't let it bother her too much. Things were what they were. They would both come back some day, and they could be a family and her father and brother would feed her and take care of her and she would take care of them and it would be like old times.

Nisha snapped out of her thoughts as he went on to talk to her some more. Her head tilted as it always did when she was listening carefully to something and thinking about it. Did he not like to talk to the human-things? He was a human-thing. A different kind of human-thing, for certain, but still quite human-thingish.

Her ears drooped slightly when he sighed. Looking down at her twigs she thought for a moment how best to communicate to him. She moved the twigs and fetched a few more, spelling two simple words: A-L-O-N-E  -  L-O-N-L-Y. Walking over to him she nudged him gently with her head.

[CastlesInTheSky]

"I guess both of us are both of those, huh. Alone and lonely." Her nudge brought a little smile to his face again and he patted her gently on the head. "But not right now, right? I mean, at least right now we can talk to each other." He looked into the trees, his eyes searching for something he knew wasn't going to appear.

"I guess I'll spare you from having to use more sticks, as that looks pretty tedious..." He shrugged a bit. "Anywho, I guess I'll say something about myself." He looked thoughtful. He'd never found anything about himself interesting, though others did. "Well, I guess I'll say something about my mother...she was pretty harsh when I was a kid, but I know she taught me all the stuff I need to know that way. The only thing she couldn't really teach me was how to deal with my father." He rolled his eyes. "My father is, all in all, rotten to the core. He makes a brilliant politician and he knows how to get things done in the way that benefits him the most." He glanced at Nisha. "I'm not boring you, am I?"

[Anonymous]

Nisha sat down beside him, looking up at him with her ears perked up, listening intently as he started talking. Sometimes it was good to talk, and if it would make Phoenix feel better to talk to her, then that was okay. He'd fed her, the least she could do was keep him company for a while, the poor human-thing seemed like he could really use the company. Come to think of it, she could probaby use the company too. How many days now had she been alone? No, no, it must be weeks now. Phoenix was the first one to talk to her since her brother left.

He talked about his mother and father and her ears drooped, her expression turning to one of sympathy. It was sad when people had bad parents. Her own father had been fairly loving and caring. Sure, her mother had always been a little insane, and her brother seemed to have inherited at least part of that insanity, but still...

When he asked if he was boring her she shook her head awkwardly. Human-things could shake their heads much better than she could.