When the Trees Part they Reveal Secrets...

[glintfur]

It was the hottest part of the day and she was glad to be in a forest where it was nice and cool. Ulisses twittered on her shoulder as she continued to walk along. She wasn't sure if she should leave this sanctuary and venture out into the real world. Lizzy was scared about the things she didn't know. And why should she leave? She was perfectly happy here in the woods, living more as a deer than human. Her starling friend didn't think it was right though and the previous night they had argued over the topic. Now he was just dropping hints here and there in his chirrups. Sometimes she wished she couldn't understand him, especially now.

From travelers passing through the woods she'd heard whisperings that it was finally peacefully and no blood was being spilt. Her parents had told her to stick with her instincts, but how was that supposed to help when the skittish personality of deer overcame your own? Sighing, she sat down on a root of a huge tree arching into the sky. Lizzy needed to think about this whole thing called life. "I don't know what to do Ul," she said, putting her head between her hands. "You could go out there and seek real compianship other than that of animals. It's not healthy for humans to be away from each other," he chirruped. "Maybe your right...," she thoughtfully said. "Of course I'm right! On starlings honor I'm telling you it would be best to seek out humans of some sort. These woods are giving me slight creeps at night. I don't care what others say about it being safe, to a starling like me it never is," he twittered in her ear while looking around with wide eyes.

[zareuk]

The fox. Such a cunning creature. Maybe that was why he liked to take on it's features, those prefect ears and that marvelous tail both tipped in black. His fangs pearl white from the vampire blood that ran through him. Emerald green eyes attempted to peer on through his dark bangs, barely able to make out the color of the forest surrounding him. His bangs were painted a green hue that matched that of the forest. So everything was almost a blur to his vision in a sense. He enjoyed the challenge of being blinded from it through, sometimes.

The elemental vampire finally shook his head slightly to push the bangs from his eyes, blessing him with vision. The word was just as he'd always remembered it, always the same. How come things never changed? It started to make life boring for him. He wouldn't be one able to deal with something like that much longer. It made him just want to rip out his lushes hair, and let it scatter. That's how his mind was, his thoughts, all just scattered everywhere, searching for a place, an answer, a purpose, or just even a small sign.

Suddenly, Zareuk stopped in his tracks, frozen in time by the voice that he heard, the starling. Being a druid, he too could hear it. Although, he knew an animal wouldn't talk to the point of his understanding unless there was another druid around. His gaze shifted back and forth, searching for the sign of life. Nothing. Nothing at all. It was almost haunting in a way to him, causing the fear to run though his system. He didn't like it when he didn't know the life forms in his general surroundings. It put him on edge.

Taking a step, he began to venture forth, trusting himself by memory that he knew where the creature's voice was coming from. Maybe here, he could find who or what it spoke to. There was always a reason for everything, an answer. As he moved, he was silent, almost like a phantom running through the clouds. Although, he was only help of that sort of creature. Eventually, he came to find where Lizzy and Ulisses were. Not believing in hiding yourself, he stepped forward, into view. "It's not very smart to be out in a place like this."

[glintfur]

At the sound of a voice, she jumped up and turned around in surprise. Ulisses squaked as he laid eyes on a wierd colored fox. "What did I tell you Lizzy! We need to get out of here before it decides to eat us!," he chirruped frantically beating his wings. After looking over the fox as the starling went on and on, she realized it was just a fox, but something else. How else could a fox have those colors. "Calm down Ul," she whispered as she looked on at the fox.

"So says the wierd colored fox. Who are you?," she asked. Ulisses couldn't believe it. Lizzy was talking to the fox?! What had the world come to? He stopped twittering and flew the distance to the fox and circled high above it's head, over and over. He wasn't going to let a fox be sneaky in this forest.

[Mad Hatter Ermine]

Moriko hissed softly as John brushed against her wounded leg. "Be careful, would ya?" she muttered, but he wasn't paying attention. She turned her attention away from him and reverted it to his gryphon, Screet, whom she was riding. She gently pet his head feathers. In a few days she would be able to walk again, ableit with a limp, and another week after that before she was fine. She cursed herself silently for being so careless before.

John, however, was looking ahead as they walked, intent on something. He could barely make out what it was, but he also heard the chirping of a small bird. He turned his head to look at Moriko. "Be silent," he said softly, and gave a command to Screet to stop and stay here, with Moriko. Slowly, and as quietly as he could, he inched forward, slowly, slowly... He stopped a few yards away, hidden behind a tree, he was downwind, that was good. There he could see an oddly-colored fox, a starling circling over it's head, and a girl, who was facing it. Probably a couple of druids, he thought, but the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He could feel the tension in the air as well as any animal. He stayed with his back to the tree, peeking around the trunk. Depending on the situation, we might have to go around...

Moriko crossed her arms in a huff, puffing her cheeks out angrily. Oh sure, leave me here why don't you, she thought. She wondered idly what he could have gotten worked up about. She sniffed the air. The scent of a person and a bird floated on the wind, and the scent of a fox...? She jerked her head back a bit, curious as to what the third scent could be. She gently gripped Screet's feathers, tempted to urge him forward. But, with a sigh, she simply rested her head on his. We may be friends, she thought, but Screet would never take an order from me if it went against John's...

[zareuk]

His eyes wandered onto the bird that circled above him. How annoying. He didn't like it when creatures looked down on him. It made him feel weak, as if he was useless in a way. His brain recycled the words in his head, from both the bird and Lizzy. This really was an odd situation that he had now found himself in. Maybe he should have just turned around and gone back to the main city or something. Perhaps he should have just slept all day in bed too. No, this was entertaining enough to keep him here now.

Sighing softly, his maw opened to release velvety lyrics from his vocals. "Bird, I'm not going to eat you. I doubt you'd taste good anyway." His teal gaze then shifted back up to the girl, taking in her features. He did his best to register them in his mind for later use. You never knew when you'd come across someone again although the chances were slim. It was best to know and remember who a potential enemy was. He was never one to take chances like that anymore. It took time to earn his friendship, and trust.

"My name is Zareuk," he said finally introducing himself to this odd pair. With that, he shapeshifted back into his normal form, that of an elemental vampire, but looking like a humanoid, still harboring his fox ears and tail. It was almost as if these features were now permanent to this form and he wouldn't be able to get rid of it even if he wanted That was the druid now engraved in him though. There was no turning back on it now. He'd spent so many years training to become so talented in the profession, if called that.

The wind carried a scent to his nose, no maybe two or three. He crossed his arms and leaned against the truck of a tree. His teal gaze then flashed over to where he thought that these newer beings were though. He didn't say anything about or to them though. If they wanted to hide, then so be it. Turning his attention back to Lizzy and the bird, his eyes held a silent interest in them. "Your name," he asked, even talking to the bird though his ability as a druid. Maybe, just maybe, he'd learn something new.

[glintfur]

She listened carefully at what the fox said and glanced at Ulisses. "It's okay Ul, you can calm down," she spoke to the fretful bird. "That's what you said that one time with the hunters, but nooooo it wasn't safe. They tried to kill you did they not? And why shouldn't a fox do so too?," he puffed and flew towards his companion again. Lizzy winced at his words, but knew he spoke the truth. She never wanted to be in that situation again.

The fox then said it's name and then turned into a man. Lizzy gazed on in amazement as Ulisses twittered in agitation. He then leaned against a tree and asked their names, not politely, but not rude either. Thinking about it for a second, she decided she could talk to him, being a druid and all. She wasn't alone and if he decided to hurt her...well his form wasn't much of a threat as she could see even now. Her reindeer form could crush him in an instant with huge hooves. "My name is Lizzy and this is Ulisses, my companion," she said and petted the starling with her finger.

Her ears then caught a snapping of leaves somewhere close by and she looked around, but didn't see anyone. As she turned back to the other druid she asked again,"Why do you say it's not very safe out here?"

[Mad Hatter Ermine]

John lifted his foot carefully and grimaced silently. He hadn't seen the twig. He cursed mentally at his negligence and turned his attention back to the trio. Zareuk, Lizzy, and Ulisses were their names. He debated on whether or not to show himself to them; a couple of druids surely wouldn't find bounty hunters ones to get along with. He decided against it, and instead mapped a route around them. Just then, as he turned to silently creep back to Screet and Moriko, he hit his shin on a large rock that he had forgotten was there earlier. With a loud yelp and a long string of swears, he gripped his leg, hopping on one foot. He dropped his staff in the meantime, which rolled out into the open. The phoenix stared off into space, the orb glowing a soft green.

Moriko's head snapped up as she heard him yelp in pain. "John!" she exclaimed softly. Worried, she tried to urge Screet forward, pleading with him, and even gently tugging on his feathers. The only response she got was him laying down. She huffed and cursed, and tried to stand but ended up falling on her side. "Yeowch!" she cried out, and sat up, only to have Screet sit on her. She growled and tried to break free of him. "Get your fat rump off of me!" she said, struggling. Screet simply started to clean his feathers.

[Revii]

Zareuk rolled his eyes at the bird's words again. He never had any reason to attack anyone unless they attacked him or did something to one of his friends. Attacking without reason was just stupid in his mind anyway. There was no point in it and nothing to gain. All you got was a reputation for being weak and stupid. These were two traits he didn't like to find in people. Lizzy and Ulisses. He engraved it in his memory like the ancients engraved their stories and laws into stone. This was the way he handled things now.

The black tip of his orange tail flickered, followed by a twitch of his ear to the upcoming question. Why would she ask why? Wasn't it obvious? He didn't even hesitate when he spoke, the words rolled off the tip of his tongue quickly. "'Cause, people are here are crazy,[/color]" he replied. "You never know what can happen." He never thought women could defend themselves, so it was best if they weren't out in dangerous places like the forest here.. He didn't care much for them anyway. All they ever did was get in his way.

Then his gaze quickly darted back over to the area where he had smelled the scents earlier. The 'Yeowch!' ringed throughout his ears, as his green orbs then followed the staff that was to roll out into the open. Oh this never stopped, did it? "You may as well come out," he called back to John, his voice showing no concern for the possible injury. "Eavesdropping isn't that polite anyway." Like Zareuk was polite himself. Maybe he should take his own advice sometime. That would be the day to see, him being nice to a humanoid, showing concern too.[/size]

[glintfur]

She crossed her arms at his words. Did he think she was helpless? Ullisses moved his beak for it would be shiny in the light to show he wasn't afraid to fight. Even if he wanted Lizzy to converse with people didn't mean he liked people. He was with Lizzy because she was a druid and understood him, but this druid was.....making him angry.

A sound pounded to her ears and she quickly turned her gaze over to where a sound had been heard earlier. This time it was words...yeowch. A staff with a green orb and pheonix rolled out from behind a tree. Zareuk then told the person they could come out and that eavesdropping wasn't polite. Ulisses chirruped in laughter at this. Instead of being so cool, Lizzy cautiously went by Zareuk, making a daring eye contact to ask him if he'd stop her, and walked towards the sound. "I don't like this," Ulisses complained, but flew ahead anyways. When she got to where the staff was, she picked it up delicately, and continued foreward. What she saw was a man in pain. "Are you okay?," she asked.

[Mad Hatter Ermine]

John kneeled halfway to rub his sore shin, and growled to himself when Zareuk mentioned something about being rude. You're one to talk, he thought, and looked around to find his staff. He cursed when he realized he dropped it, and looked up when he saw the girl, Lizzie, walk to him, holding his staff. Slowly he stood, looking at the bird questioningly. "I'll live," he said calmly, fixing his coat. "My name is John... and can I have my staff back?" He eyed her a bit, not rudely, but more cautiously, though she seemed nice enough. Off in the distance, a scream of frustration could be heard.

[zareuk]

He didn't seem to pay much attention to Lizzy anymore but more or less his focus was on Ulisses. The bird was making him angry as well, but he wouldn't be the one to take his anger out on it. Although, it would be nice to just for once put in annoying animal in its place. His flying companions had more common sense. Envi and Teiru would never act so stupid in his eyes. "Bird," he said, not even using Ulisses' name. "Do you ever stop complaining or worrying for that matter? Maybe I should eat you, so you'll shut up."

Unwillingly, he decided it was best not to be left behind and shifted away from everything. The attention was now on this John guy who had recently introduced himself to the odd group they were in now. His ears pricked forward in an alert manner as he stood in front of John now, but away from Lizzy and Ulisses. He raised a brow at the odd human and blinked. "Maybe you should watch where you step, eh," he said, just so that he could throw his two cents in. Zareuk was one who always spoke his mind to anyone and everything.

[glintfur]

Ulisses heard the other druids remark as they went by and made a bird hiss at him. "Do you ever stop being rude?," he asked as Lizzy talked to the person. Lizzy gave the staff back to John with a smile. "My names' Lizzy," she replied. Zareuk then came and commented and she couldn't help, but give him a look that asked why he had to be like that.

"His name is Zareuk...I don't know that much about him and the same to you," she said with Ul fluttering around. He'd heard a noise and seen the gaze from John at him. "Lizzy, did you hear the scream?," he asked. Her green eyes looked down at the little bird and directed her senses out away from the man and druid. Sure enough, screams of frustration were heard. "Are you with someone, John? If you are I think that someone needs help," she remarked.

[Mad Hatter Ermine]

John looked at the other druid, Zareuk, with a disgusted glare before taking back his staff and thanking her. He looked back towards where he left Moriko and Screet and thought for a moment, before recognizing the exact tone of the scream. "She'll be fine," he told her. "My gryphon friend simply sat on her to keep her in one place. I'd better get back though, before Screet decides he's had enough of her." He looked at the bird again before looking back at her. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Lizzie," he said before turning to make his leave. He didn't like the male druid, something about him rubbed John the wrong way.

Moriko, on the other hand, had given up trying to free herself. She lay under the gryphon, panting, and cursed. "What if he's gotten hurt?!" she yelled at him. "He could be trapped, beaten, or worse!" Screet turned his head to look at her, and rolled his eyes. She growled and started beating on his hide. "You stubborn thing you! Let. me. up!!"

[zareuk]

He listened as Lizzy ranted on and introduced him. As if he couldn't have done it himself. It was annoying to have her do it for him. He sighed and shook his head, listening to the bird. Then there was Lizzy going on about someone else maybe around. He could have told her that if she'd asked him. He had smelled them after all. He just turned to the bird instead though, finding much more amusement out of the poor starling. "Do you ever stop being stupid," was he quick reply that he snapped back at the bird.

He took a note of the look that John had given him, but showed no emotion back to it. He had no reason to. If this guy didn't like him then that was his own problem right? His ear twitched slightly to the word 'gryphon.' To be honest, he tried to hold back a laugh by just allowing a smirk to cross his features. Though as John started to walk off, he couldn't hold it in anymore and started bursting out laughing. "You have a gryphon," he called back in question, barely able to get the words out through his laughter.

[glintfur]

Lizzy was happy that John was being so polite to her and her anger towards Zareuk lifted to be replaced by joy. She'd forgotten how good it felt to talk to humans. Then John explained why the screams were being heard and the thought made a her smile. It was a funny reply and she couldn't help it. Her starling glared at the other druid and shot back,"Do you ever stop being ugly?"

When Zareuk started to laugh about the gryphon as John made his way back she in turn, glared with her starling. "I wouldn't want the gryphon to hear you say that. If I was one I would have already stomped you to death, fox," she said with threat issuing out. "Why don't you do it now?," Ulisses said in a sing song voice full of amusement. Lizzy looked back at John to see his reply.

[Mad Hatter Ermine]

John stopped walking and turned his head to look back at the laughing fox. His body language and face was calm, but his tone held something fierce in it. "You should watch your mouth, boy," he said in response. "Underestimation is the reason people die in fights. It makes you weak." He stared intently at Zareuk, no longer showing emotion. He had no respect for this druid so far, and his attitude wasn't helping matters.

Screet's head lifted and he stared towards where John and the others were. With a low, worried screech he got off of Moriko, and urged her onto his back again. Moriko was confused but did what she could to get on again. "What's wrong, Scree?" she asked, her fur prickling. She strained her ears to hear if something was wrong, and held on tightly to the gryphon as he began to walk.

[zareuk]

Zareuk shifted his gaze back to Lizzy for a moment, raising a brow at her words. A gryphon stomp on him? No, never. He had a very loyal friend that was one and he'd never been stepped on. He had much respect for the animals. They were amazing no doubt and he'd always taken pride in having one as a friend. "Oh please, love," he said, his laughing calming down. "Fox? How about elemental vampire?" It was hard to tell what he really was with this fox like appearance on him, but he didn't mind that at all.

John had quickly caught his attention when he had said the word 'weak.' That was something that fired him up, that could make his blood boil. He didn't let these emotions show on his facial features though. Only his emerald green eyes would betray him and show a slight hint of his anger. "I don't know what makes you so stupid, but it really works," he happily replied back to John. Then he shifted his gaze to the starling from the corner of his eyes, not forgetting its comment. "Every bird has the right to be ugly, but you abused the privilege!"

[glintfur]

John turned around to face Zareuk and challenged him basically and told him off. She was glad that he had did. She would've if it had been her. Lizzy rolled her eyes at Zareuk and his comments. This druid was making agitating her greatly when he talked to her. When Zareuk heard what John said it caught his attention. The way he reacted surprised her. John had hit a nerve apparently. Inside she secretly rooted for the human they'd just met.

The gaze of the other druid, elemental, vampire thing rested on her starling and once again the remarks continued. Ulisses puffed up his chest and cawed,"Well, every person deserves to have their differences, but it seems your far worse off. It seems your parents messed up." Insulting parents wasn't such a good thing to do, but Ulisses was far from over with this punk.

[Mad Hatter Ermine]

John didn't move, but a smirk played at the corner of his lips. "You must be hallucinating," he said to the druid. "If you think your weak insults effect me." He turned his head slightly, studying Zareuk's expression and posture. This man... he shook his head slightly, turning to start walking again, when he came face to face with the ones he was about to go back to.

"Hi there, John, not sure what got Screet to get off of me, but we came to make sure you were alright!" Moriko's fur prickled, but Screet remained seemingly unfazed, as he was staring at Zareuk, as if challenging him. John ran his fingers through the beasts' feathers. "I told you to wait," he murmured.

[zareuk]

The seventeen year old elemental vampire was about to say something back to John and the bird but something stopped him, froze him, making his heart skip a beat from the shock. His emerald green gaze was locked upon Screet, the griffin before him now. He was mesmerized by how beautiful it the creature was. Just like Envi, his own griffin companion. Zareuk honestly never thought the day would come that he'd ever be able to see such another wonderful beast again. Envi was a once in a life time chance for him, and he was more honored that the griffin had taken him as his friend at a young age.

Then his gaze caught the challenge coming from the grffin. "Magnificent," he said aloud, still captivated by this creature. "Just beautiful." He honestly still couldn't believe that this griffin would choose to travel with someone like John. In his eyes, it was a waste but he couldn't make choices for the creature. Then the scent of blood like his own in a way came to him from. That was when he turned to look at Moriko who had more of a features of a furrie than anything else. He smiled and bowed slight to her. "Zareuk Valrikin. It's a pleasure to meet you. Your griffin friend is marvelous." It was almost as if he'd forgotten the other three.