[PRP] Lazing in the Shade (Dappled Sunlight x Nightshade)

[Tyia Clone]

It was hot out. That uncomfortably late afternoon hour where the sun was just past it's zenith, and dried out the earth and baked the grass. It was sadly much too hot out to do much of running or playing or eating like he would like to, so Dappled Sunlight was stuck in the shade, lingering near the watering hole to make sure he could keep his thirst at bay, and avoid overheating under the relentless sun.

His movements were in their own way a viscous cycle. Pacing, lying down, drinking, pacing, waiting, waiting for the sun to go down so he could finally leave the shelter of the brush and seek out a real meal in the grasses. Tired of the particular set of foliage he was sheltering in, Dap picked his way between the bushes, slinking low and risking thorns on his skin to avoid the sun. All the while he moved, he kept his eyes and nose trained for any unwanted company, not wanting any surprises today if he could help it.

 

[Leaf on the Winf]

Nightshade had a wonderful plan, a plan that kept nice and cool while the hot sun beat down around her. She had orignally planned on heading more towards the west to search out new adventures but the heat had derailed those plans. So instead Nightshade had devised her newest plan.

It was quite simple. She had simply wandered over to the closest batch of trees that were fringed with ferns and ducked low she was able to lie down hidden beneath the ferns. Lucky for her, she had managed to find a clutch of ferns close to a watering hole so whenever the urge struck her, Nightshade could slide over and drink water when the urge struck her.

Life was good for Nightshade.  

[Tyia Clone]

Oh, oh oh. What was that?! Dap had never seen anything like it. Sure, as a young Pernix he'd not had a chance to see much of the world yet, but he'd yet to see another raptor that tiny, or that colorful. My what a vibrant shade of purple, it was so strange. Pernix and Pratensis, all he was familiar with until today, only came in more muted colors. This was something new and very interesting.

Dap froze for a few moments, peeking through the leaves and reassuring himself that no, he wasn't imaging this. "You're awfully small," he stated, revealing his presence in case the Micro hadn't noticed him. In an effort to appear non-threatening, he stepped out of his cover, hovering on the edge of shade and sunlight. "Are you a baby?"

 

[Leaf on the Winf]

Nightshade had been dozing rather happily under the fern as the hot sun passed over her head. However her wonderful snoozing was interupted by a much larger raptor staring down at her, half hidden in shadow. It was a rather terrifying image as far as she was concerned. Not that she was truly concerned by his appreance.

Nightshade had encountered several of the other raptors before and not all of her encounters had been pleasant. While she didn't react visibly, Nightshade tensed so she would be able to flee if he became violent.

Luckily this one seemed likeable, and his comment about her being a baby was quite amusing.

"I can assure you, I am not a baby," Nightshade said, not bothering to conceal a yawn as she slid to her feet. She was ready to run at a moments notice, being smaller helped her to hide, "I've never seen you around here before. Looking for a midday snack near the watering hole?"  

[Tyia Clone]

It was good the littler raptor wasn't running, the more Dap saw, the more curious he became, almost but not quite overcoming his common sense. Really, he would have liked to lean in and sniff her and see if she smelled as strange as she looked. That would put him within range of those talons and teeth though, and even Dap wasn't quite that daft. A few experiences like that tended to stick with you, at least for a little while.

"You look like a baby though, you're so tiny. You must have been really small when you were a hatchling then." He shifted his weight between his feet and tilted his head a little, regarding her curiously but maintaining a non-threatening posture. "If you haven't seen me, it's because I'm a good hider," he said proudly, twisting his next to indicate his body with a jerk of his heads. "My spots help me hide." Well, really, if she hadn't seen him before it was because he traveled a lot. As a pack-less raptor, he had to stay on the move and forage where he could. "I bet you're good at hiding too, because you're small. Small enough to eat." Oh wait, that sounded a little strange didn't it? Was that threatening? He didn't want to sound mean, he couldn't think of eating something so teeny and pretty! "Not that I want to eat you," he blurted.

 

[Leaf on the Winf]

Nightshade cocked her head to the side in amusement. He was...strangely adorable, that was for certain. He seemed so young, babbling while he tried to talk to her. But even as he babbeled happily away, he shifted back and forth constantly.

Did that mean he would lunge at her? Would he wait for her to relax then shift forward and snap her up like a small treat? Or maybe he would lash out with his claws first...

"I must say, you certainly are a good hider," Nightshade told him gently, going into the gentle trill she used on the young Mirco's she met, "And I am quite glad you don't want to eat me."

Like she honestly believed that.

"Can you tell me why you're talking to me?" Nightshade asked gently, resisting the urge to call him little one.  

[Tyia Clone]

Oh yay! She complimented him! Dap prided himself on his talents, which he felt were several, but hiding had to be one of his favorites. And if she thought so too, that meant it had to be true right? Deception didn't cross Dap's mind often, he was ultimately a trusting and happy sort. "I'm glad I don't want to eat you either. Then I would have to try and chase you and you would have to run and then we couldn't talk and it wouldn't be as much fun." Dap loved a good chase of course, but this wasn't the time. It was too hot for running besides.

Why was he talking to her? Well...maybe that did bear explanation. It was pretty unusual now that he thought about it, and might seem odd to her. He would certainly find it unusual if one of the larger Pratensis started chatting him up. One didn't usually just mingle with them. "Well, because I'm curious. I've never seen a raptor like you before, and I wanted to learn. And it's hard to learn as much when you're chasing, or eating." He stopped to look her over again, with scrutiny in his eye. "You have lots of feathers, I'm sure you wouldn't be very tasty anyway. No, I like talking better."

 

[Leaf on the Winf]

Nightshade cocked her head to the side in silent amusement. Had he even taken a breath when he spoke to her? She truly doubted that he had. It was adorable that he was so excited to learn, Nightshade had always enjoyed teaching the few times she was around the young.

"You want to learn more about me?" Nightshade couldn't keep the amazement and amusement from her voice as she regarded him, "That is certainly quite an odd reaction."

Nightshade stepped forward on a little bit, leaving the safety of the ferns a step behind. She had the feeling she could trust this one for the time being.

"Well, I was always this colorful and I've always had these feathers," Nightshade explained gently, "And honestly, before I tell you anything else I would like to know your name first. It is simply quite strange not to have something to call you besides Tall One."  

[Tyia Clone]

Dep rarely had an instance in his where he could feel 'tall'. He was very average for a Pernix, and compared to the world at large he was indeed, very small. To have someone refer to him as large was admittedly something of an ego boost. He was the great and powerful Dappled Sunlight! Only maybe not that great or powerful, but hey, he got his kicks where he could. "Of course I want to learn. You have to learn if you want to survive," and as an animal of the natural world, he really, really did want to survive. How was it odd at all?

He had many more questions he could present to her, but that was right, he hadn't actually introduced himself had he? "Oh how rude of me," he said with alarm, pulling his head back a little abashedly. "I'm Dappled Sunlight. But that's long and clunky, you can call me Dap. Dap is a nice name I think." Dap, like dapper. Was he dapper? Probably not.

 

[Leaf on the Winf]

Nightshade nodded at the young one before her. Even though he towered over her, a childlike quality he sent out made her want to answer any questions he had for her. It was so rare that anyone sought her out just to talk to her.

"Nice to meet you Dap," she said gently, "My name is Nightshade. And that is the only name I answer to."

Nightshade stretched a little before fixing Dap with an amused look, "Now, I believe I promised you answers. You can ask anything you want, and I'll answer to the best of my abilities."

For some reason, Nightshade was convinced that Dap would be talking to her for a long while. Good thing the only activity she had planned for that day was to sleep under the ferns.  

[Tyia Clone]

Oh, there were so many things to say and so many questions to ask! He dipped his head a little in thought, eyes going out of focus as his mind turned over itself to find good questions to ask. There were lots of things really, but he didn't want to seem too silly. He had something of a predator's image to maintain after all.

"Why are you purple?" he asked finally, after a significant pause. "Were you always purple? Are all teeny raptors purple?" It was such an unusual shade, it warranted investigating. Who knew, maybe she'd been born a different color and she'd grown into it? Or maybe she wasn't really purple and she'd just found something to roll in? She didn't smell like she'd been rolling in anything though. Hm. Oh right, back on topic! Tangents could be saved for later.

 

[Leaf on the Winf]

Nightshade waited patiently for Dap to speak. She thought he was a strange little thing, one moment happily babbling away and the next moment trying to look all serious. Nightshade truly doubted he could actually be serious.

And of course, his question proved her right.

"Yes, I have always been purple," Nightshade explained gently, "I was born looking like this. Not everyone of us Micro's are purple, they come in all sorts of colors. Don't the others of your kind come in different colors? It wouldn't be much fun if everyone looked just like you."