The large, tropical leaves of the Yoreiqi rainforest bobbed steadily as rain splattered from the heavens above. Upon traveling through this portion of the forest, one could see sulfurous smoke curling up from rivers of lava that cut steaming scars through the green foliage. Other then the ambient hiss of rainfall and volcanic belch of nearby magma, it was unnervingly silent- not even a distant birdcall could be heard...
Nonetheless, a massive creature moved through the forest, following the river of fire toward the great mountain from which it came from. Large, feline head was held low, like that of a prowling predator as the armored manticore trekked silently onward- eerily black eyes staring ahead. It's very mane bristling like a thousand needles whilst the whip like tail silently snaked behind, barb glinting rather threateningly in the dull light.
It's large maw parted, drinking in all the scents: the toxic fumes, sweet scent of burning bark, fire reborn as liquid, even the rain that soaked all- but still it could not locate that distinctive scent for which it hunted, that of a dragon. Perhaps the villagers had lied-? No, not under the agony she had placed them under, some had tried but all had admitted to sighting a great beast about this mountain... So... Where was he?
The manticore let our an audible sigh of annoyance, shutting its mouth to conceal somewhat stained ivory fangs," Where~ Where are you?" It seemed to sing idly- black gaze flickering across the wall of jungle... Where aaaaaare you~?
Muttering and grumbling could be heard in the distance, followed by a loud crash as a massive sword crashed through a particularly thick tree.
"Bloody jungle. Bloody damp..." Marakai muttered, stepping through the gap he had made. He was a massive man, just shy of seven feet tall, and very broad. His black under tunic was soaked through with sweat, and what parts of his body came in contact with his blsck, hardened leather armor were uncomfortably adhered to it. His black hair, streaked with red, was plastered to his forehead and the back of his neck.
Looking up from his feet, his red eyes flared brightly for a moment as he caught a scent. Instantly, Marak stopped moving, senses on high alert as the smell of corruption and blood flooded his nostrils.
'Something's here....' he thought, straining his senses further. Marak though he could hear a sing-song voice, and turned his head toward it, his massive sword following.
'....what matter of beast stalks me?' came the thought.
Pausing short, massive talons digging into the soft earth, the Manticore opens its maw again... There. Its pitch black eyes widen slightly, the rubbery lips curling into a malicious sneer. The great armored flanks contacting as it exhales- shrinking, black mist curling from its skin, scales flaking to the ground-
Aev'iterna ran laced her fingers through her silver hair, sighing deeply as she stretched her human body, back cracking slightly. Her mouth opening in a loud yawn. The void-like eyes flickered warily around, briefly wondering if she should bother looking for clothing- damn sentients and their damnable sense of decency, it was disgusting.
The demon decides it was just not worth it, looking at her hands briefly, frowning- squishy and pink... Well, whatever kept their guard down. Focusing upon the sound of movement, hugging her chest and ducking her head before slowly sinking to her knees- this time letting out a low, broken cry," Where are you..?" somehow she managed to sound more pitiful then she felt in this form.
Abruptly the smell of blood disappeared. Smells didn't do that - they could fade, become weak, but they didn't just cease to be. The mind of a 400 year old predator worked this over and over, going through the possibilities, a short but intense internal argument.
And then he heard it. Voice, softer. Inflection, different. Almost obviously artificial in its attempt. An obvious ruse.
"I am no dullard, creature - you cannot trick me with your mimicry," he said, staring straight ahead, through the trees, at where he suspected the voice came from. He took a single step forward, and brought his massive sword to rest against his shoulder.
"Show yourself, beast. I will not be stalked. I am not in the mood. It's bloody hot, I'm covered in God's knows what from this infernal jungle, and so help me, if you're worth anything as a snack, you might want to turn right around and chase something a little smaller than you."
Red eyes flashed irritably. "Step forth, or leave my presence."
So much for theatrics- ugh. Sitting upon her knees stubbornly, she crossed her arms calling out," Give me some credit for trying," standing poutily, she took several steps forward- quickly popping from the foliage no more then four feet from him. Meeting the red eyes with her own souless black ones, her lips curl into a frown.
" Care to explain what a man like yourself does with a sword?" Cocking her head to one side, she arches a slender eyebrow, locks pouring over her shoulder like liquid silver. Her stance was rather relaxed, one hip slightly pushed to the side in a casual manner- still looking slightly upset that her masterful acting had been all for naught.
Needless to say, this creature had no scent of her own- but for the undeniable scent of fresh blood that seemed to perfume the air every time she spoke- sickeningly sweet.
Marakai was momentarily taken aback when the unearthly woman finally stepped from the brush. For an instant, he thought she appeared familiar - that hair, that porcelain skin. But that ended when he saw those eyes, inky, black and deep. He was quickly able to catch himself.
"When you live in a world where my kind are used as steeds and beasts of burden, you take steps to fit in. A sword is a weapon of a man." He brought said sword down to rest, it's point digging lightly into the soft earth. "Besides, I'd rather not cause a panic every time I have to defend myself. People tend to run in fear when I from what they don't understand."
He eyed this woman, this creature, red eyes staring into black ones.
"And of you...why do you appear before me? And without clothing or equipment? If you are stalking me, you are woefully under prepared."
" First, humanity can take their sense of decorum and shove it back where it belongs," She answers with a snort, seeming to roll her eyes briefly," second, you're probably right about being unprepared- maybe to fight you, but I'm not here to do that," the demon idly gestured as if brushing the thoughts away.
Once more, her gaze flickers to him, offering him a tiny smile," That is.. Rather sad, truth be told- having your race enslaved in such a way. But why don't you simply destroy place after place in venegeance? It would not be difficult~"
"Perhaps I spoke incorrectly - they are not my race. Dragons, yes, but they are not of my Clan....which reminds me..."
Marakai took a quick step backward, and quickly brought his crystalline great sword up, level with Aev'iternas nose, it's tip hovering perhaps an inch away.
"....you obviously knew what I was. Where I was. If you are not here for combat, then why did you seek me out? I have not the time for idle pleasantries. Why are you here?"
Truth be told, he had thought occasionally about simply wreaking havoc on those armies that kept other Dragons as beasts, but to be honest, those creatures were below him. He knew it seemed callous, but he was of the Aerie Clan. He was a Dragon, yes, but he was also a man.
Also, wanton destruction was - usually - not his way. But she didn't need to know that.
Her eyes focused upon the blade, and rather fearlessly, the young woman reached upward, grasping both sides of the broadsword with both hands- fingers sliding along the sharpened edges rather delicately- admiring the work, or so it seemed," Well- much like you, I have a human form, but also do not-" she began idly,"- but unlike you, I'm essentially a toddler when it comes to creatures such as you and I- there is much for me to learn."
She pauses, her next few words made her want to bite her own tongue off, but offering a small smile and shrug, she chides," I was seeking you out as a mentor of sorts on how to survive."
Ah. Great. There it was. A fledging form-changer seeking to learn how to fit in and coexist - in one way or another - with the lesser races around him.
He lowered his sword, and considered her for a moment, one brow raised as he mulled it over. Truth be told, perhaps he could use some company. It'd been far too long since he'd had any earnest interaction with anything more than a barkeeper. But at the same time, he had no idea if he could trust this creature.
Yet, it wasn't as if he had anything to lose. Not anymore.
"......well, then, what do I call you? And what are you, honestly? You are no Clan Dragon, that much is obvious. I could sense a heavy corruption before you appeared before me, that I have not felt in my travels."
It took all her effot not to simply change there and then, pounce- get this charade over with. But alas, she could probably use him, it had been several moons since her encounter with a demon hunter on a frozen tundra that she had used as a source of.. Warmth. She had planned on sparing the man but- he seemed displeased for her feeding on the first village they entered and had to be promptly... Silenced when he drew his blade on her.
Releasing his blade, letting it drop from her fingers, she once more crosses her arms over her chest," Well- I'm a demon, I hope that much was obvious-" she shrugs, offering a smirk," But more specifically a creature known as a manticore~" she shrugs gently, flashing him another sweet smile.
"I'm afraid I'm not familiar with demons, or any variations of them." He turned slightly to his left, lifting his sword and plunging it into the earth, nearly two feet into the soil. He leaned on it, relaxing slightly, and then mimicked her stance, crossing his arms over his broad chest.
"So, then, what is it you wish to know? I'm afraid I'm not much of a teacher, but I suppose I can share in my experiences."
He wondered where this was going to go. He was still open to the fact that this could be a ruse, an attempt to get him to let his guard down. And he would let his guard down, even if it was only to invite an attack. Let her think his guard was down, and that he was defenseless. Even unarmed, he wasn't helpless - the thrashed corpse of his brother could attest to that, even if it was only so much dust now.
But whether this was a ruse, or a legitimate attempt to gain an understanding of how to coexist, he could sense there was something else coming. He had to anticipate it.
Watching his sword sink into the ground, the demon simply shrugs gently," I would like to observe, if possible-" she answers softly, swaying from side to side, shifting her weight from one hip to the other. Arching a white eyebrow," If that is alright, I am fully capable off caring for myself, I assure- but it's nice to know I don't have to slaughter every village I enter."
Once more, she tilted her head to the other side, almost as if exposing her neck in a subtle challenge. Her nostrils flared briefly as if very much aware of his lure, her cherry lips curling back into a smirk to reveal slightly sharpened canines.
" Monsters like company every so often, yes?"
Marakai gave a slight smirk at that. "Indeed. Well, I don't know what observations you can make, especially not here, in this Gods-forsaken jungle. I have little idea of where I - we - should head to next. Have you any idea what the lay of the land is like? Usually, I would simply fly above, but I did not wish to cause
...a panic."
He noticed her answering stance, reading her body language as an answer to his ruse. She'd apparently played her share of traps before, just as well as him. He wondered to himself, exactly what was it she could want to learn?
Ah, that was it. He'd tossed the possibility around before, actually seriously considered it, but it was becoming a more and more prominent thought.
The likelihood of this just being a more and more complex weave of lies and traps designed to lure him into a bloody fate was increasing with every sentence they exchanged. He smiled broadly, his teeth appearing briefly as a normal humans, before separating and narrowing, lengthening slightly into dagger-like fangs. He caught himself before he fully lost his form, aand after only a second they returned to their previous form.
But his wide smile continued. He would accept the challenge. He would walk right into her trap.
And he would relish it.
"In any case, before we go traipsing through the jungle, you might want to obtain some clothing. While I can on some level appreciate the human female form, the first rule for people like us is not to stand out. Being completely naked in the middle of a village is not how you go about doing that."
She rolled her eyes- or seemed to- it was rather impossible to tell with the utter lightlessness of her eyes," Ah... Very well," she mutters, pausing her gentle sway and catching his smirk- the slght transformation- it made her predatory instincts instantly flare, almost territorially. She simply smiled an almost sickly sweet smile in response.
Looking about, she seemed rather lost- the abundance of giant leaves were an option- but an extremely temporary one," How about we worry about that once we get to civilization, hm?" Chiding lightly, Aev'iterna paused before suddenly sticking her hand out awkwardly, as if to greet him," My name is Aev'iterna, by the way- I'm afraid you will not receive my full name as those who practice particular arts would love to invoke it."
Marakai smiled slightly, and bent down a little to take her small hand and grasp it with his large one. "Well, Aev'iternas, I am Marakai Trin. You may call me Marak, if it suits you." He gave her hand a short but firm shake before releasing it, and taking up his sword again, pulling it from the earth. Nothing stuck to its clean, crystalline surface, no moisture and no soil.
Raising it up, he brought it's flat, adamantine side to rest against his shoulder, his grip on its hilt loose. "So...as I said, I am in unfamiliar territory. Do you know where a settlement would be located, so that we could obtain some proper clothing for you? Or must I transform and scout from the sky?"
Briefly hwr mind to the thoroughly ruined village she had left in ruins no more then ten miles away- boy would that be something to explain to her new mentor. Admiring the sword in silence for a moment, she spun lightly upon her heel," I believe once we reach the coast, we'll find a village or so, maybe a port. Shall we Marak?"
Theatrically she motioned to the distant blue band hidden behind thick trees- only visible through the cleft left by the oozing magma. For a moment she paused, if they left this island- depending on how much destruction she could 'convince' him to sow, the bounty upon his dragon head could spike dramatically. Hmm~ all the more reason to linger, she supposed.
Aev'iterna briefly glances back at him, gently motioning for him to come as she skips into the foliage.
Heaving a sigh, Marakai began following after her, making sure to keep his gaze on her at all times. Occasionally he would bring his sword to bear, cutting a swath through the thick trees and brush, but he always made sure to keep an eye on her at all times.
After a time, he noticed the trees begin to thin, and the damp soil and brush gradually have way to sand and rocks. He stopped for a moment, staring at the sea, lost in a memory for a moment.
It was a scene like this one, him standing over a short cliff overlooking the white shoreline of his adopted home, his mate by his side. He remembered looking down on her diminutive form, smiling sadly as he took in her long silver cascades of hair, trailing over a soft bodysuit of soft, silver leather. Her elfin face upturned, looking back at him sadly, silver eyes full of moisture.
That was the last truly happy memory he had, and here he was now, looking over the sea with a sad smile, momentarily forgetting himself in the last time he had seen his beloved, more than twenty years before.
Aev'iterna calmly pushed her hair behind her ears- casting him a sidelong look- he seemed lost in thought. From the faintest movements of his face, she could see pain, it caused her to smile slightly. But instead of simply lingering on it, the demon approaching the edge of the cliff until her toes curled over the edge, stone crumbling away slightly.
Looking first left, the right- having to hold her locks bahind her ears with her hands- she took a deep breath- scenting a distant smell of cooing smoke and fish- just North of them. Without speaking a word, she pointed idly down the beach- simply waiting for him to snap from his memories.
After a moment, red eyes shifted to his side, noticing Aev'iternas movement, watching her point to the north. He had also noticed the various scents of civilization, but at the time they were lost to him, while he was lost in his musings. He took them in again now, and calmly stepped off the short shelf of rock, landing lightly on the sand below.
"A small fishing village. I don't know how to get you in there without drawing any attention to you, and stealth isn't my strong point....let's get closer and see what we're dealing with - perhaps then we can figure out a plan." He turned and looked up at her, carefully training his gaze on her face.
Meeting his eyes, she nodded slightly, turning her head to comment," I'll just steal some laundry or something, no worries," she chirped simply, already pivoting upon her heel, walking bare footed upon the rough surface of the stone.
After several minutes, she turned her head slightly, asking," Yiu look down upon all others- don't you?"
Marak blinked, flicking his gaze to the side to look at her. "No. Not usually. But typically a cold personality pushes would-be conversationalists away. That usually works for me - a part of society, but only loosely. Seen, but forgotten. I don't mean to seem as if I'm looking down on you, but that's just the way I am now. I...try not to get too close to anybody." There was a story behind that statement, but one he likely wouldn't be sharing with anyone anytime soon.
"To be honest, this is the most I've spoken to anyone in about eight years. You should feel honored," he said, a slight smile curling his lips. He continued walking behind her and slightly to one side. Looking up, he noticed that the smells of village life were getting stronger as they steadily grew closer to the small village.
"I hope you're not expecting to find anything extravagant here. The clothes from a fishwife aren't going to be anything special." He turned his head and looked at her. "Do you want me to go with you, or shall I wait for you here?"
Immediately upon his inquiry she countered with," Will you check on me if I do it alone?" She murmurs cautiously- narrowing her eyes at him. The last thing she needed was him to be a do gooder if things went awry.
Marak narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at her with a leveled gaze. "I'll leave you alone so long as I don't smell blood or hear any screams. That happens, I intervene. Otherwise, I'll stay here if that's what you want. If you want to stick with me, those are my conditions." He jammed his sword into the ground, leaning over onto it.
"Get in, get what you need, and get out again. If you're caught, act as human as you can. Find something to cover your eyes, pretend you're blind, beg if you have to. Don't hurt anyone, or it'll be me hunting you this time. And I won't be so nice."
His features softened slightly, and he looked off to the side. "I'm going to trust you this once. This will be your test, and I'll see if you're worth the trouble."
His gaze flicked back to her, and his red eyes flared brightly for a moment, the whites and pupils completely disappearing behind the sudden glare.
"Don't disappoint me, Aev'interna."
" Trouble? Have I caused any yet?" She counters, snorting disdainfully before beginning to move ahead of him," Don't worry, I will be quite alright," flashing him a devious smirk, she slipped into the jungle once more- moving stealthily in this form would be easier. As well as having devoured one village already left her not particularly keen on feeding upon another.
Hmph- he was like an obnoxious brother, not that she would know of course.
"Hmmph. I can already tell this isn't going to end well." He pulled his blade from the ground, and turned around to walk a short distance away, out of eyesight from the village, far enough away that he could do what he needed to comfortably without causing a panic.
He finally picked a spot, safely out of sight and far enough out of earshot that so long as he wasn't roaring his frustrations to the sky, he wouldn't be heard. He leaned his blade against a particularly large stone, and took several steps towards the waters edge. In the middle of a large spot of empty sand, he stopped, looked toward the ground, and closed his eyes.
Even from beneath his lids, the light was brilliant, a red corona of light bursting forth. Internally, Marak could feel his other side, like a dark empty space beyond a thin curtain. He pushed, and began to feel his body change.
His black, hardened leather armor seemed to meld with his flesh, becoming a part of him. His neck elongated, and his head took an almost equine appearance for a moment before the skin darkened and exploded with horns and spikes. From the small of his back, a knot of flesh formed and expanded, finally exploding into a long, serpentine tail, lined with spikes and a long, fin-like appendage at its end. His arms seemed to snap at the joints, his wrists and hands elongated to form long, deadly taloned paws. His legs formed mostly the same way, longer and thicker. Huge, leathery wings exploded from his back, stretching to their full, huge span.
In a matter of moments, in the place of a Goliath of a man, there was a behemoth of a dragon, scales colored like coal and nightmares, ranging from a glossy jet-black to a dark, ashen dull gray.
The beast let out a low roar as his form finished shifting, stretching out as he hadn't in quite some time. He hated cramping his essence in that tiny form, but he couldn't stand dealing with the fear and horror from the lesser races. Hestood at his full height, and turned his head and neck to face back towards the village, concentrating his impressive senses to monitor the events there.
With a sigh that allowed superheated black flames to escape his dagger-filled maw, blowing across the white sand, almost instantly blackening it and turning it into glass.
As he couldn't possibly speak in this form, he settled with thought - there was no one in range for telepathic communication anyway. 'This had better go quietly and bloodlessly, or she'll have a nasty surprise when she gets back....'
Seemingly on que to his grumbling, the silver haired girl reappears, looking at him in vague surprise as she clutched a large, ragged cloak to her chest. Pursing her lips at the massive creature, Aev'iterna approached him with a light skip in her step.
" Well aren't you just the handsomest little dragon on this whole island?" She cooes up to him, already slinging the cloak around her shoulders, the fabric thick enough to close about her like a black curtain. She stopped just below his large head.
" You know, if you really find me so distrustful, you might as well fly off now- you're stuck with me otherwise,"
He lowered his great head, tilting his face downward so he could easily see her, his snout barely a foot away from her face. He gave a bit of a sniff, scenting for blood he may have missed.
Apparently satisfied, he raised his head again, remaining in a laying down position on the sand, and looked down at her.
His mouth didn't open to speak - the muscles in his mouth and throat would never allow anything more than inarticulate grunts and hisses. However, he was still able to speak in one manner - he broadcast his surface thoughts directly into her mind, speaking through a form of telepathy typically locked to most races.
"Actually, as far as I can tell, I'm the only Dragon here within one-hundred miles. And it's not so much that I don't trust you - it can sometimes be very uncomfortable to cram everything that I am into that tiny form. I felt the need to stretch my wings for a moment...I see you at least managed to get something to cover yourself. It will do in the meantime."
He turned to look to the side, looking down the coastline, to where they had come. "I heard nothing. You did well, and I cannot smell blood in the air, or on you. You showed me that perhaps you can hold back your urges." With that, his head swivelled back to look at her. "There is no scent of life for quite some distance. I think travel should still go easily...."
His eyes closed again, and his entire form seemed to become covered in a smokey haze, quickly shrinking to a vaguely man-shaped silhouette.
Details began to emerge, first his leather armor, pushing the outline outward. Secondly, twin pinpricks of red light formed in the position his eyes would be, flaring brightly.
The haze of smoke burst outward in a shockwave rather dramatically, the rest of his form revealed. He looked to her, regarding her with a small smile.
"Well, then. Shall we go? Lead the way, Aev'interna. I shall follow you."
Watching the transformation, she blinked and muttered something about wishing she could shift without tearing clothes before shrugging. The demon skipped up to him, reaching out and cupping his face in her hands with a bright smile," Yeah- lets go-" saying this even as she squished his cheeks,"- but you're just too good for this world, huh?" Giggling, she quickly released him, skipping past him as she does so- steely locks bouncinf enthusiastically
Marak blinked several times, and shook his head. What was that? Seriously?
He turned to regard her, crossing his arms over his chest.
Sighing, he shook his head again, and turned to walk to his sword. Taking it in hand, he lifted it to its place at his shoulder, and began to follow her.
"Yeah...a real piece of work, that one..." he mumbled to himself.
The demon seemed to have wrapped herself in the oversized cloak rather comfortably as she plodded ahead, occasionally glancing back to make sure he was following her-
//Several Hours of walking later\\
Aev'iterna paused upon the white sanded beach, gazing at a rather busy port town a mere mile and a half away from them- the sun had long since set, causing the golden lights from the buildings to reflect off the water like fire flies.
The demon seemed to grow noticeably wary, seeming to sink slightly into the cloak, holding it tighter around her- knuckles white. Black eyes flickered to Marakai Trin, now only visible from the spots of light that gleamed off them,"... Lead on." she muttered in a somewhat strained voice.
Marakai stopped slightly behind her. He could see that she was tense, and it worried him that they were headed into a populated area with her in that condition. He did something that only a being as dangerous as him could do in that situation.
He lifted his hand, and gently settled it on a demons shoulder.
"....Listen, Aev'interna. It's been a long day and we've been walking for hours. If you're not comfortable right now, we can make camp. If you can stay put for a moment, I can get a fire started and hunt for something real fast."
He released her shoulder and stepped around to stand in front of her, his massive frame blocking the view of the city at night. His eyes, red and glowing, emitted enough light to illuminate his features.
"This is a large settlement we're getting close to. We can figure out what were doing in the morning."
She stared through him for several moments before her face tilted toward his,"..." Aev'iterna nods gently, thanking the darkness so he could not read the hunger on her face. To have gone nearly 24 hours without shedding a single drop of blood was a bit of a stretch especially for her.
" Yes, lets camp- but... I can hunt, I need to," she answered quickly, glancing toward the jungles just to their left. Already she began to bounce slightly upon the balls of her feet, shifting her weight from one side to the other~
Marakai gave a small nod, and placed both hands on her shoulders.
"Fine, hunt if you must. But take care to stay away from the city. Once you've sated your hunger, I will hunt for myself."
He turned toward the jungle, peering into the trees with sharp eyes. "I know not what can be found in there for us, but I trust I can find out from you when you return. I'll be waiting by that cluster of boulders back there. Try not to be long." He gave her a long look before releasing her shoulders and turning away, headed to a rock formation behind her.
He stopped, looking around for a moment for fuel of some kind, before stepping toward a tree straggling from the jungle. With a crack, he was able to pull it down with shear force, it's trunk splintering and bark peeling back. With his sword, he quickly cut the trunk into several small pieces.
He dropped several of them on the sandy earth, and shifted as noiselessly as possible into his Dragon form. With a quick exhalation of superheated black flames, the logs ignited, dark fire gradually giving way to orange and yellow hues.
He laid down, and curled his entire body around the rock formation, his head rested atop the tallest one. His eyes, completely and utterly red and glowing continuously, stated into the small fire, his black scales absorbing the heat.
Truth be told, his constant touching felt unusually nice- as Aev'iterna usually just took what she wanted, the voluntary mannerisms of this was rather... Sweet? Hm- weird. She quickly shed her cloak, not wishing to rip it upon her transformation, simply letting it slide into the sand as she disappears into the shadows.
Her transformation was almost too good to stay silent, alas, the massive manticore begins to rip through the trees- nostrils flaring, rubbery lips parting to drink in the scent of prey.
//Less then an Hour Later\\
The human form of the demon appears again, this time running like a... Well, a literal demon. Quickly scooping up the cloak and wrapping it around her throat," Why did you change?!" Her voice reaches him far before he does, soon smashing her fists rather harmlessly against his massive forepaw," They saw you! They saw you!!"
Sure enough, the town seems in turmoil- voices shouting in panic. From the demons actions, she had not seemed to have incurred the wrath of the populace- why would she? Especially with a hundred plus foot dragon settled upon a beach to do that instead~
Marak had actually dozed off, and was startled awake by the tiny creature beating uselessly against his paw, as well as her frantic shouting. It took a moment for coherent thought to catch up, and his great eyes widened.
"How were they able to see a black dragon in the middle of the night?" he asked, his mental voice directed at her. Never had this happened before. He thought he was careful, building the fire amidst tall rocks and then hiding the light with his huge form.
He quickly shifted to his human form - at least, as well as he could with his current level of stress. He still looked like a monster, being at normal height but with a single black spike jutting straight up from the side of his head, and one arm covered in scales from his fingertips all the way up to one shoulder.
Hell, he hadn't even managed to form his armor. He stood there bare chested, patches of scales crawling across his side, over his left pectoral, and reaching up to meet the base of the odd spike protruding from his scalp. Clawed fingers flexed instinctively on his misformed hand.
"This isn't good..." he said, his voice low and gravelly, as if his insides hadn't quite firmed correctly either. "I can't even speak to them like this. We have to go while there's still time." He grabbed his sword and gestured for her to run before him, into the trees and the dark jungle beyond. "We'll finish the night out amongst the trees. I'm in no mood to fry an entire city, and then have half the island down our throats by morning. Let's go!" he yelled, hid voice sounding like half of a roar by now.
The demon stared at him, looking at his half-form rather strangely before seeming to remember her anger, huffing," The moon is bright- look-!" She pointed to the white orb that floated overhead, it seemed to have lit the sea with silver fire.
Shoving a finger in his face, Aev growls," And you're a big ass black dragon on an open beach, what'd you expect, huh??" Shaking her head, noticeable droplets of blood flying from- somewhere. Nonetheless, she quickly grabbed his wrist, dragging him into the forest.
Marak muttered something about being over a mile away, before shaking his hand free of hers - it was difficult to run stooped over, and doubly so without tripping over her cloak.
He ran slightly ahead of her, wrapping his free arm around her waist as he did. Curling his fingers in the thick material of her cloak, he made sure of a firm grip before lifting her off the ground.
"Hold on. I'm taking us up." He pulled her against his side and leapt upward, moving towards a thick tree. With one arm, he plunged his wide bladed sword into the thick wood, the blade positioned horizontally and creating an impromptu platform for her to stand on.
"....climb up and hide. I'll lead them away. If they don't come by here within an hour, move to the ground and transform. I'll track you by scent."
Hanging there by the hand on his swords hilt, he patiently waited for her to climb up.
All this being picked up like a sack of potatoes truly caused her frustration to spike to unprecedented levels but pouting slightly, she balanced her bare feet upon the flat of the sword before pulling herself up into the branches- stomach audibly rumbling as she settled int the crook of a fat branch," You... Better not just leave me here or I swear I'll slaughter that whole village," she huffs in response, though the threat didn't seem nearly genuine.
Nearby the voices grew louder, as if they knew exactly where the monsters were hiding- the light of torches dancing amongst the tree growing clearer.
Marakai gave a small smile and a barely perceptible nod, saying, "Of course not, little one. Just stay quiet and out of sight. Keep my sword safe, I can't take it with me....if they're wanting a Dragon, then it's a Dragon they're going to get." He gave her a crimson wink and dropped out of sight.
Landing heavily on his feet, kneeling only slightly from the impact, he glared through narrowed eyes at the approaching lights. Leaning forward, he started forward at a run, leaping into the air and transforming in midair.
The behemoth that crashed through the trees was nothing that simple men could prepare for, not armed with their flimsy armor and pathetic steel. Glowing, blood red eyes lit up his draconic head, dagger-like teeth seemingly dripping blood as the crimson light illuminated his salivating mouth.
He had been hungry before. This could be a feast. The great black dragon gave a roar, a wave of heat escaping from his mouth. The platoon of armed men stopped in their tracks, gazing wide eyed at the monster before them.
If Marakai could have smiled at that time, his grin would have been bloodthirsty.
One foolish man raised his sword, apparently acting as the leader as he gave a cry and ordered the other men forward, and Marak raised his head as they surged forward. With a twist, he turned his great body partially to one side, his great tail following through with the movement, slinging forward to crash into a group of the closest.
They flew backward, into the foliage and out of sight, a loud clatter of metal signalling their landing.
Changing his stance, he brought his great body low, as if ready to attack them. He broadcast his thoughts to everything in range. "You fools think that a couple of armed men can bring me down? You have no idea whom you attack!" He crouched low, then, and suddenly pushed straight upward, leaving the ground and beating his great wings to push himself aloft.
One fool thought it'd be a good idea to fire a crossbow. A few more followed his example.
Four steel bolts flew up at him, and unfortunately, all four hit their mark - a creature like him made an easy target, as large as he was. He made like the damage was worse than it was, and crashed straight back to the ground.
Screw it. Him and Aev'interna would eat well tonight.
He pushed himself back up, charged forward, quickly taking one man in his massive, saw-toothed maw, and lifted, shaking him from side to side before flinging him against a tree. Three more crossbow bolts found purchase in his neck, and he gave a grunt of pain before whirling around to give them a second taste of his tail, bowling the lot of them over.
On the ground, they made an awesome target for dragonfire.
A high pitched whistling sound could be heard as he inhaled, creating a vacuum. In the back of his mouth, those that were watching for their deaths could see a swirling, flickering blackness before a plume of black fire billowed forth, cooking then remaining men in their armor.
----
A couple minutes later, Marakai walked back in his complete human form, clad only in his leather greaves and boots, and covered in what seemed to be buckets of blood, irritably pulling a crossbow bolt from his side. He looked up after tossing the offending object on the ground.
"Dinner is served, Aev'interna. You can come down."
This was almost too perfect, maybe if she could keep this up, she could get this dragon's bounty to nearly four times its original worth. All the while goading him on- too bad he did not destroy the city, but mauling most of the men would be just as deliciously good. She had tucked herself against the trunk of the tree, hugging the sword to her chest beneath her cloak almost like a protective mother would a child as she observed the distant chaos.
When he returned, her head was hidden beneath the cloak, only popping up again when he spoke, a small like of blood against her collar and jaw signalling where she had hugged the blade a bit too enthusiastically.
She stood awkwardly and looked down at him with a slight smile," I thought you discouraged eating people though?" She mocked, even so, she grasped the hilt of his sword- chucking it to the ground where it landed neatly in the soft earth at his feet. Blade first, hilt quivering.
Aev'iterna began to shimmy down the tree as well, now willing to jump in this squishy form.
"I never said anything about eating people. I don't want you to slaughter innocents, the people living their lives who would otherwise leave us alone. Those men attacked with no provocation. Armed men, sent on a hunt. That was self defense." He reached down and pulled his sword from the earth, and moved over to another tree. He leaned it against the trunk, and sat at its base.
"Besides...I left none alive to report back. No one in that city will know what happened here, and I plan on us being long gone before anyone sees the scene over there."
He leaned back, and winced slightly. He slid forward a bit, and reached behind him, tearing out another crossbow bolt.
"....I hate these damn things..."
Nodding slightly, she approached him. cautiously- it's not like she could tell him without rousing suspicion just how much those people would know. Flashing him a smile, Aev'iterna chirps," Turn around, I can ge tthe rest for you. You should be like me- with an armored hide rather then a simply hard one."
The demon placed a hand on his shoulder, already making him turn around- her touch was surprisingly gentle- but that tenderness ended abruptly with her grasping another bolt at his lower back and ripping it free. Quickly dropping it to the forest floor she pressed her hands against the wound in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
He gave a slight wince and a hiss of pain as the bolt was removed, a little unprepared for it.
"Generally, I'm used to bows...crossbows have a little more force behind them." He reached back and gently pushed her hands away. "I can heal it, now that the bolts are out. Watch." He closed his crimson eyes, concentrating briefly on the spots of fire on his back and side, and willed the pain away.
Within a moment, the small holes shrunk, and healed themselves without even a scar.
He opened his eyes again, and smiled. "You see? No problem."
The demon crouched, watching closely as the wounds healed swiftly, looking up at him with a bright smile," Cool-" she crooned briefly before popping back to her feet, silver ringlets bouncing like liquid springs before she swiftly turned her her heel,"- but I'm hungry, so I'll take what you killed, is that ok? You can join me?"
Sticking out her tongue, the demonlord smirks and winks at him- gesturing him to follow after her~
Marakai pushed himself to his feet with a tired groan, and shook his head. "I've already had my fill. I think I'm going to head inland a little ways and make camp again.... I don't know about you, but I have to sleep sometime. That little amount before did absolutely nothing for me."
He grabbed his sword, and gestured further into the trees. "Just look for a fire. I'll keep it far enough away that it won't be seen by anyone casually looking into the woods, but you should be able to find it easily enough. Just enjoy yourself, and come find me later," he said.
And no surprises this time, he thought, turning around and headed through the trees.
About a half hour later, he decided he had walked far enough. He brought low every tree within thirty yards, giving himself ample room to transform if he needed to defend himself again. He was a bit more conservative with the fire this time, finding several stones and building a ring with them. Inside this ring, he built his fire, briefly transformed to ignite it, and shifted back to his human form. Selecting a large number of broad leaves, he was able to make a couple impromptu pallets for them, set several feet apart.
With an exhausted groan, he settled down on one of them, laying his massive blade on the ground beside him, between the two pallets.
In minutes, he was asleep, and his nightmares were his memories.
-----
He was searching through the shattered stones of the palace of the Tenkou Clan, heaving aside great slabs with his massive forepaws, looking for his beloved amongst the wreckage. His brother had finally fallen only minutes before, and Marak was in horrible shape with massive bites taken from his haunches and one wing nearly torn off, but he didn't care. He had to find her. He hysterically prayed to Crosis that she hadn't been killed during the battle.
After nearly eleven hours of throwing aside stone, he unearthed the entire palace down to the catacombs, never once stopping to take an assessment of his wounds. He never found her. A day later, he'd torn through every building in the city, wrecked or otherwise. He found nothing. Not.
A.
Soul.
Lightning crashed in the depths of the night, and his roar of anguish provided the thunder, echoing for miles.
---
Marakai thrashed in his sleep heavily, and in time with himself in his dream, he shot straight up and screamed.
"Otohime!!!!"
Hush.
A soft, familiar voice immediately spoke seemingly from the back of his mind. In the pitch darkness, a massive shape shifted- light shining briefly off the large form of the monster nearby. It lifted its huge head, looking down at him- lips curling away from ivory fangs in some form of a smile.
Welcome back to the waking world, Marakai Trin.
The first thing he noticed was the smell, like blood and corruption. Then he heard the voice.
Aev'interna.
So this is what she turned into. And it would seem he had been right before - she was luring him into a trap.
She was the trap.
Deftly, he rolled to the side, quickly grabbing the hilt of his sword and coming to stand in a single motion. He held the massive blade at length, one arm extended with the other at his side - an impossible feat for anyone else, holding that 300 pound blade aloft with one arm.
He leveled his fiery gaze at the beast in front of him, and sneered.
"This had better be a joke, Aev'interna. Otherwise, you're going to regret this. I promise you that." The last bit of that came out like a hiss, almost, and his face began taking on more draconic features - his skin just above his forehead split as a spike erupted forth. A line of small spikes poked through the flesh near his eyebrows, giving it a ridged appearance. He bared his teeth, their appearance becoming long and dagger-like.
Almost audibly, the flesh along the arm holding up his sword split, revealing glossy black scales beneath. Those scales quickly twisted a path up his arm and shoulder, dipping over his chest and back up his neck, spiraling up his face to encircle the base of the spike on his head.
When he spoke, it was a voice of venomous death, with an odd duality to it - almost as if the man and the dragon were both speaking at once.
"You have been warned."
Great claws folded over one another and though the eyes were not visible, they seemed to roll with great annoyance, Oooooh I see how it is... Aev'iterna's telepathic coice oozed with annoyance and sarcasm.
So you can change and stretch whenever you want but I'm too scary to, huh? Thats rather hypocritical don't you think, Marakai? the great maw opened briefly, red tongue curling with a great yawn as ivory fangs flashed briefly in the dim light. The manticore's great bulk rose, stretching much like and oversized armored cat, long tail recoiling stifly as the vicious barb flashed threateningly despite the movement being utterly innocent.
Marakai stared for a moment, feeling slightly chagrined. Then suddenly, he lowered his sword and began striding toward Aev'iterna, raising a hand and poking her bestial form in the nose.
"Any other time would be different, but when I wake up to you looming over me, after a nightmare, and looking the way you do now, what else was I supposed to think?" With a huff, he turned away from her and moved toward the dying remains of the fire, tossing a couple logs in it and poking at it with the tip of his sword.
Glancing to the side, as the fire stirred to life, he could see her more clearly. He visibly winced when he saw her armored hide, and squeezed his eyes shut.
She wears her face, speaks in her voice, and even this form reminds me of her. Oh, Otohime, where are you?
Marak's eyes opened again, and he stared into the fire for a moment, before speaking again.
"I prepared a bed of sorts for you, too, but if you're more comfortable in that form, it'll be kind of useless. I figured it would be best to remain looking human, in case anyone came looking for a dragon after what happened before." He glanced at her again, this time turning his head to be sure she knew he was looking.
"If you don't mind my asking...where are you from? If we're going to travel together, we should really know each other more."
The demon's muzzle noticeably wrinkle as he pokes her nose, but seems to relax its broad shoulders, shaking out the silver lion-like mane, each bristle seemed metallic and viciously sharp- making a sound like a thousand needles being sifted through.
I would answer your question if I knew. The demon answered ominously but sincerely. She, in fact, did not know of her home, her origins. Forever wandering- hmm... When did she even begin? When was the beginning for her? These were questions she had never bothered to ask herself before.
Marakai turned away, looking back into the fire. He was silent for a moment, concentrating on his form as he tried to relaxed - slowly, his flesh returned to normal as the scales receded, the horn protruding from the side of his head shrinking and finally disappearing, all draconic aspects evaporating as if they hadn't been there at all.
He looked at her again, and spoke, "...It must be rather perplexing, not knowing where you're from. I can relate - sort of. I'm from....a really, really long time ago. It's only been about eight months since I awakened from what was apparently a several-thousand year nap. I know little about the world I find myself in now." He looked away again, his eyes moistening slightly as he stared into the growing flames.
"I'm from what was once known as the Aerie Dragon clan. Though the records no longer exist, as far as I've been able to find, I am the last living member of its Royal Family, the House of Trin."
So you're worth more then you look, the demon teased seeming to be attempting to lighten his mood. Folding one massive paw over the other, it shook its great mane, chortling quietly, How is the future, Marakai Trin? Is it all you dreamed of?
Marak wondered about that first comment for a moment, one brow lifting in response, but nothing more. Placing his sword tip-down on the ground, he slowly spun it, watching the light dance off the adamantine flat edge.
When she spoke again, he glanced up at her. "....it's not exactly fantastic. Humans are still little more than squabbling groups of imbeciles, with their war and twisted ideals. The world has gone and changed without me, the terrain rearranged almost completely. No one that I knew is still alive... I'm completely alone now." He then actually turned his head, staring into one of her large black eyes.
"....shape-shifting demons that know more about certain things than they let on decide to follow around disgruntled, depressed dragons...oh, what has the world come to?" He gave a small chuckle at that, and turned back to the fire, the orange and yellow hues not quite meeting his crimson eyes.
"....why were you following me, Aev'iterna? Really? It's just...a little odd for what seems to be a ghost from my past to so readily attach herself to and follow me around. You don't need my help. What is it you really want?"
The beast made a soft chuckling sound deep within its chest, I am no ghost of your past, if you tell the truth- I am much, much younger then you. Slowly it began to shrink, the great plates of armor flaking away and shattering to dust- the silvery mane shedding and dissolving. It could almost be considered beautiful were it not... A demon.
"Do you not trust in me?"
The young woman hugged her knees to her bare chest, offering him a small smile- silvery locks flowing over her shoulders- pitch black eyes blinking slowly
".....you misunderstand me, Aev'iterna, when I call you a ghost." Her transformation was audible, and he turned to look at her, blinking a minute before offering a sad smile.
"To tell the truth, I know not who to trust. I'm not even sure I trust what I see anymore, or what I hear. If I were to fully trust you, I think I would have to be insane."
He stood up, shoving his sword into the earth, and walked away from the fire. He came to a stop at the edge of its light, and stared into darkness.
".....a very long time ago, I had a mate. Her name was Otohime, and she was, to me, the most beautiful creature to ever exist on this earth. And this is what I mean by ghost."
He then turned to look at her, some ten feet away, staring at her over the fire with a sad, faraway look. "....if it wasn't for those eyes, and the fact you are a demon, I swear by Crosis' name, you would be her. You walk in her skin, you speak in her voice. I never said anything before, because I thought, surely, that I was losing my mind."
" Whatever you say-" she points to her face with a small frown," this is my face. Why? Because it's been on my damn head for years." Seeming to roll her black eyes, she shook her head- crawling toward him on all fours after shifting her weight. With incredible stealth, she was behind him- standing slowly before wrapping her arms around his neck- hugging him closely from behind.
" I honestl could care less if I look like your mate," she admitted, her warm breath brushing past his ear," as long as you know that I am me. No one else."
Marakai's back went rigid at her touch, before he relaxed with a long exhale. His eyes began to take on a low-burning glow as he gave in to the feel of her naked flesh against his bare back.
He tilted his head slightly, resting his cheek against the top of her head.
"I am well aware of the difference," he stated in a low voice. "....you are playing a dangerous game, Aev'iterna."
Turning her head slightly, the demon pressed her lips to his cheek, still hugging him close as she whispered in a low, sultry purr," I am a demon, it IS what we do,"
Her eyes, in turn, seemed to merely reflect the dull glow like black mirrors, the smallest of smiles curling her thin lips.
"I'm not sure you're old enough to know what a dangerous creature I truly am. How experienced are you with dealing with dragons?" he asked, lifting his head slightly and turning to look at her. His eyes began to flicker and flare in tune with his heartbeat. He leaned in slightly, his lips almost close to touching hers, and stopped. In a low voice, barely over a whisper, he said, "It wouldn't take much...I could accidently destroy you. Are you willing to take that risk?"
" Most things could destroy most other things, who is to say I couldn't take you down with me?" She cooed gently, arching a slender eyebrow at him as she tilts her head to one side. Her teeth flashed a brief white in the darkness, her arms sliding away from his neck as she placed her feet flat on the ground once more- circling around him. Fingertips brushing his arm before one more embracing him about the waist, simply gazing up with an inviting, challenging smirk.
" I have fought dragons before, not any like you but every one has a weakness. Maybe I am yours hm?"
Marakai gave a low, throaty sound, half between a growl and a chuckle. "That may very well be, but I may also be yours as well. And...."
He gently pushed her arms off of his waist, and gave her a reassuring smile.
"....there's still the matter of that trust issue. And so, I ask you the same you asked me: do you trust me?"
He gave a short chuckle and began to walk away from her, his body quickly enlarging as he transformed.
Turning his large head to look over at her, he spoke.
I offer this to you, that I haven't offered to anyone in a very long time. The sky is clear, and the moon is full. Fly with me, Aev'iterna. Climb on, and know what it is to be me, above the clouds and amongst the stars.
Shifting her weight from one foot to the other, she stood on the tip of her toes, her slender hand reaching toward his muzzle as if to stroke his massive nose.
" You sound so romantic it's absolutely suffocating," she laughs lightly, silver hair nearly white in the darkness.
" You're too tall- come down here- I can't reach."
When you're as old as me, you eventually get stuck doing things a certain way...also, I believe there is something that you would be very interested in seeing.
He lowered his head several feet, a couple of the great spikes ringing his massive face digging into the earth. His eyes continued to burn brightly, the glow erasing any evidence that they were anything other than red light, gleaming off of the glossy scales around his muzzle and head.
One massive paw came forward to rest next to his head, giant talons mere inches away from her feet, to serve as a sort of platform for her to stand on.
His long, serpentine tail snaked around to the side, it's tapered end wrapping around the hilt of his sword by the fire, and wrenching it from the earth. He brought it forward, depositing it as closely to her as he could withoit dropping it on her.
Grab that, if you would please. It will be difficult for me to carry in this form, and I do not intend on us returning to this place. When you climb up, mind the spikes, I don't want you to accidentally impale yourself.
The demon obediently grasped his sword before retrieving her cloak, scaling his paw, then settling behind his head, the girl leaned over his head, carefully twisting her torso to not impale herself upon one of the smaller spikes.
" My Marakai Trin..." She breathes softly, in a sultry voice," I will try not to fall off." one slender hand, stroking his massive forehead- leaning down to press her lips against them. Aev'iterna arches her back, sighing as she straightened blissfully.
And I will endeavour to catch you should you fall. Let's be off - please hold on tight. If you need me to stop for anything, let me know immediately.
And then, without further warning, the massive beast suddenly rushed forward, leaping upward and easily clearing the closest trees he had left standing. Pumping his massive wings, he quickly gained considerable height, and within a minute the thirty yards clearing he had made for their campsite was no more than a small green circle, their tiny fire no more than an orange dot in the darkness.
He steered back towards the south, towards the massive volcano they had been near when they first encountered one another the afternoon before.
Still gaining height, he cleared the rim of the volcano, his huge wings filling with the rising hot air ad he caught a thermal.
With a great burst of speed, they cleared the clouds, bursting through their surface with an explosion of fog. The great dragon shook his great head slightly, dislodging an amount of condensation from his eyes. Still looking ahead as he adjusted their course to face the northeast.
Here, it is not hard to imagine we are the only creatures on this place the Three deemed us worthy to inherit. Even that cursed moon appears beautiful, floating above a sea of clouds.....I wish to show you something, if you don't mind. My home, once upon a time, lies buried amongst what the people these days call the Thunderblacks. What do you say?
The demoness hunches against him, holding on tightly as she holds him tightly. As they clear the clouds, she lifts her head slightly- narrowing her eyes against the whipping wind.
Yes... sure- Yes let's go. Her voice seemed to ring in the base of his skull, a telepathic message as her hands curled more securely about the small protrusions of his spikes.