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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 10:35 pm
An ornate, and exquisitely decorated incense burner stands atop a dresser in the bedroom belonging to a chameleon named Keith. The bedroom is located in a two-story house somewhere in Durem and it belongs to a woman named Huni Pi. The door to the house is locked, accessible only by a select few. If you wish to possess an incense burner of your own, they are found in this Pet Shop. However, realize there are certain... conditions involved when purchasing one. What these conditions are, I leave for you to discover on your own.
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:28 am
1 - Introduction 2 - Navigation 3 - Dates of Importance 4 - Rules 5 - How It All Began 6 - About Chameleons 7 - About Keith 8 - Photo Album 9 - Possessions 10 - The Others 11 - About Huni Pi 12 - The Family (ic) 13 - Extended Family (ooc) 14 - Links of Interest 15 - Disclaimer
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:32 am
March 2006: Shimmer arrives, Keith doesn't like her either December 2005: Christmas and a new arrival? August 2005: Haze comes over to live with us, Keith doesn't like her July 2005: Visited the shop because Noi wanted to look and we ended up getting a chameleon?
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:34 am
Only the following may post: 1.) Any of the staff members 2.) Any Painted Soul Guardian 3.) Any other pet from Count D's shop and his or her owner who have met Keith 4.) People dropping off gifts
Please take note of the following: 1.) When posting, please do so in character 2.) If there is an RP going on, please wait until it is over before posting 3.) Please turn off you sigs when posting 4.) Do not ask me to sell you Keith or his future off spring 5.) If you want to as for a playdate PM the account Linneas Pi 6.) More will be added if necessary
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:35 am
 Huni was on a mission, namely to find Noi a suitable toy. One that the Soul would like, and since Noi's tastes were as erratic as her mood, Huni had to bring the infant along. They had combed nearly every shop nearby when the red head decided to go to Chinatown.
She had heard there were interesting shops there, and maybe one of them had something Noi would like.
Noi clung to Huni with a vice-like grip. They were going out. Again. Not that she blamed her guardian, the red head wasn't very good at figuring things out, was she? Noi didn't want a toy, she wanted a pet! It was when she noticed some people exiting a store with animals did she suddenly try to fling herself at the store they came from.
Huni practically screamed when Noi attempted to lunge for this Pet Shop. She held the Soul against her chest, jade eyes wide in terror. "Noi! What's gotten into you?!" she gasped, feeling the little girl squirm in her arms. It took a good few minutes for her to realize the infant wanted to go inside the pet shop.
"You're not old enough for a pet, sweetie. But maybe looking at a few puppies or hamsters wouldn't hurt." Huni added with a goofy grin. She always did have a soft spot for furry animals.
With that, they entered the pet shop. "Hello?" Huni called out.The ornate doors open to reveal a small anti chamber ringed in curtains...the faintest whifs of a delicate insence tickles at the edge of your sences... a curtain to the left is brushed aside by a light skinned hand...stepping through silently emerges a young man whos dark rimmed eyes gaze balefuly from beneath furowed brow. Across his back he caries an enormous 'Bottle Gord'... "Welcome to the Pet shop of Count D...." he says in sullen tone. "Hes buisy right now...." He stares down at the wiggling infant with a small tweek at the corner of his eye. At first, Huni thought they had gone into the wrong shop (that has happened on some occasions). There was no yipping or squawking, no noise that animals generally made. Not to mention there was no smell! It was a very odd Pet Shop indeed, if it was one. She was about to exit when she heard the rustle of cloth and saw the young man arrive.
What he said confirmed that this was indeed a pet shop and that the owner was currently unavailable.
"Oh, is this a bad time?" she asked, feeling Noi squirm again.
Noi blinked at the male before her, golden eyes staring curiously at the mark near his eye. She wondered if that was like the scar on her face, or was it paint? She reaced out to him, trying to get a closer look, as if pulling at the air would drag her closer to him.The young man pauses as though weighing some hidden gravity to the question.... "No...." he says after a long pause.. "He's just in the back....." He glances over towards a curtain at the right.. "Follow me.......I'll get.....cookies" he lifts aside the curtain. Holding it back with his arm...turning back to gaze at the reaching child. He tips his head in answer to her golden curious eyes...head canting slightly down as though he could, by force of glare determine what she was reaching for. "Ah, alright, for a moment there I thought the shop was closed." Huni smiled, though she couldn't help but feel uneasy around this young man.
Noi would have beamed in approval at the big person's reaction, but her fingers were far too busy trying to trace the mark. She was surprised to find that portion was smooth, as if his skin actually took on that hue by itself. She wasn't aware of tattoo's yet, hardly even realizing that not everyone had scars on their faces.
Wordlessly she stared back at him, eyes asking how it was possible to have skin in a different color that made a different shape.He scowls as hes prodded at by chubby little fingers. "no....he almost never closes the shop...." He says straitening..."Does......-that- need milk?" He points an accusing finger at Noi staring at her like she was somwhere between fastinating and....horrid. Huni tried to keep a straight face at the young man's reaction to Noi's curiosity. "He almost never closes? That's wonderful! Isn't that good news, Noi?" she smiled to the infant in her arms. "When you get bigger we could go here and you can choose a pet for yourself."
Noi puffed out her chest at Gaara, almost trying to mimic his stance as best as she could while suspended in her guardian's arms.
"That?" Huni frowned a little, feeling tad miffed that the young man referred to Noi as a thing. True, Noi wasn't human, but she should still be referred to as nothing to the contrary. "She is fine, no self-respecting shop-a-holic goes on a spree without eating before hand." she adds with a chuckle.Gaara leans down again as Noi puffs out her chest... tipping his head he dosen't quite know what to make of her...he sticks out his own finger as though to poke at her puffed chest... "I.....-she- wants the pet then?" he says correcting himself..." "Shop-aholic?" he says looking back up at Huni with a tip of his head. "You could say that, I don't think she's ready to have a pet yet. At least not one that's actually alive." Huni nods, grinning fondly at Noi. "Shop-a-holic, yes, I'm just grateful Haze doesn't mind footing the bill. Then again, that woman has more money than she knows what to do with. And very few people meets her brother's standards." the red head adds with a shake of her head.
Oh good! He came closer! Noi thinks happily as she reaches out with both hands towards his face. And because she wasn't interested in the latter as Huni had red hair, she focused her attention on the part of his face that was protruding. Namely his nose. Her palms press together as if in prayer, only with Gaara's nose in between her hands.
"Noi, sweetie, that's not nice." Huni scolds, trying her best to keep the laughter out of her voice.Gaara stops dead as his nose is grabbed...somewhere between stunned...and appauled...and quite frankly at a loss of what to do. "You....child....I..." He sputters....He reaches up to...suprisingly gently...take her small wrists in his fingers.. "-My-....nose.......please" he says trying to loose her 'prayer' without damaging a future customer.... Noi pouted as she parted her hands from the young man's nose, her lower lip trembling at Gaara. Her wide golden eyes started to brim with tears. Why won't he let her play with his nose? It's not like she wouldn't let him do the same...
Jade eyes saw the signs Noi was making and knew what was coming. "Now, now, Noi. Don't start. Please." Huni stated, though the last word sounded more like she was begging. eek "What...whats she doing...no...no crying!!!" He looks at you demandingly. "Make her stop!!!" He says in harsh panicked command. eek "She doesn't exactly listen to me all the time." Huni replied in distress, though she wasn't as distraught at Gaara was. "Look Noi, what's that over there? Pretty curtains, aren't they pretty curtains?" she cooed, trying to distract the infant from her objective.
What was Noi's objective? Well, that was to start wailing at the top of her voice, and with Gaara's harsh tone, she was even more determined to fulfill said objective. Huni's attempts were ignored as she burst out crying her little lungs out. What would appease the little infant?
Noi didn't know exactly, she just wanted to cry at the moment. The duration of her wailing could last as short as two minutes, or as long as half an hour."Auuugh! "No!! Don't CRY! H...HERE flower! like the flower? He yanks one of the peonies fron a nearby vace and thrusts it towards her....No? He glances around in a panic for anything that might apease the wailing Noi. eek "RRrrrrr!" He slides the gord off his shoulder and uncorks it...pouring forth a torent of somewhat coppery sented sand...-dang that thing must be heavy- "Counts going to have a FIT..." He grumbles... "SAND! how bout sand...see?! Shiney?...sorta?!" The flower was ignored. Completely. And the blonde infant continued to wail. But when Gaara released the sand, Noi instantly stopped crying. Her golden eyes widened in curiosity at this thing the young man called 'sand.' Wordlessly, she reached out for it, wanting to touch it, smell it, maybe even taste it as many infants are want to do.
Huni crimsoned in embarrassment at the fit Noi was throwing. She tried her hardest to comfort the babe, but to no avail. Relief soon flooded her when Gaara decided to show her the contents of the large gourd he carried.
"Good thinking." she gasped, patting Noi on the head and wiping away the tears from her face. "I'll help you clean up." she offered, it was partially her fault that he had to spill the sand.Gaara lets out an extended sigh of relief as the flood of tears sputters to a halt..."its fine" He says sounding a bit petulant....He puts the cork back into the gord for now and scoops together some of the sand on the floor. "Many of the others here enjoy sand as well...." Standing he pulls the gord back over his shoulder "There....she.....can play in it...." a small smile quirks at the edge of his mouth before it vanishes again. "I'll get tea...." "Oh, tea would be great, but would you happen to have some coffee?" Huni asked, "If it's not too much trouble." she quickly adds as she lowered the curious Noi down.
Noi squirmed downwards in Huni's grip, trying to wiggle her way onto the floor where the curious substance was. When the red head finally set her down, Noi was just all over the sand. She kept silent, staring intensely at the millions of tiny specks that littered the floor. Whenever she scooped some of it into her hands, she was surprised to find it 'broke' apart. In a lot of ways, she thought it resembled water.
Only it wasn't wet.
Noi's golden eyes rose to meet Huni's, as if demanding for an explanation.
Huni's jade eyes blinked as she turned to Gaara, as if asking for his help in the matter.He cracks his neck by craining it to one side.. " Count dosen't keep coffee...don't sweet enough and none of us drink it...the Civits eat the berries but I don't think you want whats left..." he says with a quirk of his mouth.. His eyes drink from Noi to Huni again as she looks to him expectantly... as though to say.. "What do you want -me- to say....before opting for a quick if brief escape.. "I'll get tea..." he says and vanishes though a curtain. Noi tilted her head to the side as Gaara left and her gaze fell upon Huni once more. Taking a handful of sand, the infant poured it onto her hair to see if it would flow like water.
"But-" Huni began as the young man exited. "Noi! No, don't do that sweetie, some if it might-"
Noi started to wail as some of the sand got into her eye. Needless to say, it stung.
"Uh, young man, could you get some cool water as well?" Huni called out, picking the infant up.He returns forthwith with a silver tray balanced percatiously on one hand...he sets down a bottle of milk and a tall glass of water....then sets down the rest of the tray revealing a beautiful tea-pot and matching cups. "I got it..." He mumbles and crouches down near Noi "Hold still..." He says in a dull tone and places a suprisingly gentle hand under her chin...espcaily for someone so brash.. "look up....alright?" he instructs the girl.. Noi hiccuped a bit but did as she was told, sniffling now and again.
Huni stays perfectly still, as if breathing would break the silence that had fallen upon Noi.The stinging sensation moves away with the cautious application of a finger near the corner of Noi's eye...though...one would almost swear he never came close enough to actualy draw it out... He stares at it for a moment...sitting on the end of his finger then runs his hand though the pile of sand on the floor. Gazing back up at her he moves his head to lock his own jade colored eyes with Noi's incredible gold ones. "Sand hurts sometimes....ok? you don't want it near your face... tastes bad and stings if your not careful..." he chides in almost comedicly serious tone... having gone from calling her "it" to treating her as though she understood exactly what he was saying. He turns slightly...and makes a small pillar of it between his hands...crimping it to the shape of a slightly tippy turret.. "There....try that..." He says and glances back at her... "Sand castle...." Noi practically threw herself at the sandcastle, but thankfully she learned her lesson about being careful when sand was involved. She took a handful and pile it atop another pile, trying to build her own version.
Huni looked at Gaara for a while, she was mildly surprised at what he had done, but not in a bad way. "Well I'm glad someone here has some abilities." she nodded in approval.A rare smile quirks at the edge of Gaara's mouth as he watches the girl....then he glances upward eyes back to that dangerous blandness.. "The scar...where did it come from?" he says in near monotone... "You'll never believe me, but she was born with it. Well, she wasn't born per say, more like appeared from a painting... uh, it's complicated but simple but still complicated." Huni rambled, she really didn't have a clue how to explain what Noi was because she wasn't entirely sure to begin with.
Noi continued to play with the sand, ignoring Gaara and Huni.He blinks slowly....and finaly nods.. as though such things made perect sence...glancing down at Noi he finaly stands...and pours you some tea... "I wonder....who would paint her that way..." Huni was relieved when Gaara didn't question her further about the circumstances of the infant's arrival. "Well, it wasn't a portrait of her though. It was a heart, half was white, and the other half was black. And there was a rip on the painting, like someone cut it with a knife or something. I guess that's why she has a scar when she emerged."
It took a while for Huni to realize she didn't know the young man's name. He wasn't wearing a name tag, which at first made her wonder if he was an employee or the owner's friend. "I'm Huni by the way, that's Metanoia or Noi for short. You are?"the youn man's face creases in a frown at the description of slashed painting but he forces it smooth again with an almost tangable effort... "Gaara....my name is Gaara..." "Nice to meet you Gaara, if you don't mind me asking, but do you work here?" Huni asked as she poured herself some tea."Mm.....you could say that...I live here....." He says... and sets the teapot down again.. "Sugar?" he queries as though hes said nothing out of the ordinary "Hmm? Oh no, it's fine. I prefer sugar in my coffee than my tea." Huni explained, "You live here? Interesting place to live in, Chinatown. Or so I've heard."
Noi had gotten tired from all the crying she had done even before they had left added with the two times just moments ago. She gave a wide, silent yawn and started to crawl towards Huni and Gaara. Where once she arrived, she started to tug at Huni's pant leg.
Huni blinked and then scooped the infant into her arms, and Noi promptly snuggled up against her and fell asleep. "Well, it looks like Noi's all tuckered out. Will the Count be here soon?" she asked.Gaara stands "I hear the count....follow me...I'll bring you two him...I think he'd be interested in meeting you..." "Oh? Really? That's great." Huni smiled as she carefully got up so as not to disturb the napping Noi. Quietly she followed after the young man.The curtains from another room lift and a young mand with bright red hair and dark eyes... "D-san.....this is Huni...I belive she has some buisness with you.....I'll fetch him...." He lets Huni pass by him and lets it drop without entering. Christin looked surprised at another person showing up, blinking back surprise before turning to Count D. "There are other people staying in your shop?""That was Gaara...he is a Tanuki." A gentle smile. "Please excuse me, Christin." He stood up, bowing a bit to Huni.
"...Good day to you.""What? But I-" Huni stammered as Gaara left, well she did say she wanted a pet for Noi. But the Soul wasn't old enough to take care of one, but then again, if she got one now and she took care of it, Tamis and Noi and the yet-to-emerge Tala would have something to play with.
"Er, hello." she squeaked, waving a little awkwardly given she wasn holding a sleeping infant in her arms. "I'm uh, well, looking for a pet.""I already know that, dear." A gracious smile.
"Actually...your information was relayed ahead. By mail."
Weird....
"...And I already have the contract written up for him. A charming creature.""You do? He is? What?" Huni blinked, she was certainly confused. If she finds out Haze had something to do with this... she wouldn't do anything about it. Rather she couldn't do anything about it.
"A contract, you say?""Yes, dear." He smiled and walked over to the cabinet, filing through the parchments that had been prefilled.
"...I'm sorry if this feels so sudden...I only know what I have been told."
He pulled out a sheet, looking back at the curtain.
"Gaara, dear? Would you be so kind?"The curtain lifts again over the back of Gaara's pale hand...he shifts the gord on his shoulder and mutters "Im not a dear....Keith.....c'mon....." He steps aside gaazing frun under his brow back and Huni and the sleeping child... Folowing him...comes a man in the....strangest clothing.....and with the most vibernt....green...hair! "Keith?" Huni echoed, 'Now I know this is Haze's work. She always did have a penchant for names that start with K...' the red head groaned to herself. Well, it wasn't a total loss, at least she was sure Noi would have a pet to grow up with. "What sort of animal is he?"
When she turned to find the 'pet' that Gaara was bringing her jaw fell open. This was no pet. It was an adult male! And he had... bright, green hair. "What? But that's, but he's, and I'm.... in the wrong shop!" she gasped.
Keith frowned, what? Wasn't he good enough for this woman? He raised the bright yellow goggles as he stepped towards her.Suddenly seeing the new 'pet' that showed up, Christin's mouth hung loose from her jaw at the Count giving a person away as a pet. Surely this was some kind of joke.... right? Or maybe they're just friends, and the pet was yet to come...? Not saying anything, Christin watched from the couch. Whatever he was... he certainly was a cutie."This is no mistake, dear...this is Keith. A handsome young chameleon, isn't he?"
D smiled at him, patting him on the shoulder. "Keith, dear, this is Huni."Gaara smiles...well....smirks might be a better description... "Watch the child Keith..she grabs....But shes alright..." He adds...the last bit being high prise from the less than socialble Tanuki... Huni could scarcely believe her ears, this young 'man' wasn't a man?! He was a reptile!? Then again, Noi did come from a painting, what was weird about a reptile that looked like a man? It's not like he could-
"Sure." Keith murmured softly to Gaara, feeling unnerved at how many people were around. He stared at the red head, then the infant before lowering his goggles back, his dark green manicured nails evident against the bright yellow tinge of his eyewear.
He could talk!?!? For Huni it was like getting Noi all over again. Only with a much more older and articulate 'child.' Keith looked old enough to be her brother. One with a very... unique sense of style. "Wait, can I see the contract first?""Count" Says Gaara with a small bow... "I'm going to go help T-chan in the back....goodbye for now Noi....good bye miss Huni...Keith..." he bows...adjusting the heavy gord over his shoulder and lifts the curtain aside... "I'll clean up the sand in the loby as well..." he says and lets the curtain drop behind him before the scolding can begin for messes made. "-That's- a chemelean?!" Christin asked with just as much surprise as she had seen when finding out Scarecrow was a spider. "But he looks like a regular guy...." She hadn't left from the couch, but didn't feel like being ignored.He forgot his glaring at Gaara to smile at Huni. "But of course, dear." He handed it over.
"If you agree to the clauses, you may sign it...Keith is all ready to leave the shop at any time."Huni took the contract and read it over, it sounded suspicious really. Especially considering Haze had something to do with it. The red head still wasn't sure that the man named Keith was indeed a chameleon.
Keith suddenly latched onto Huni, as if scared out of his wits. Christin's exclamation had startled him, and the chameleon's first instinct was to hide. However, rather than shapeshifting, his shirt began to change to resemble Huni's clothing. It was as if the red head had grown an extra head.
At the sudden impact, Huni stumbled forward and when she saw what Keith had done, she was sure now that she couldn't leave him. For one, Haze would kill her for 'rejecting' her gift. For two, Keith's skin did feel like a chameleon's. For three, he looked so terrified it would have broken Huni's heart to leave him like that.
"Alright, I'll sign. I take it payment has been made? Or did Haze leave me to foot the bill again?" Huni chuckled, she wouldn't have been surprised if it was the latter.
Noi stirred briefly but went back to sleep.Seeing the man's shirt change colors she shut up. These people were deffinately odd ones, but they were most certainly animals. "Er- sorry for startling you." She said to Keith as she stood up, walking toward Huni and her new pet.Keith spied Christin approaching and instinctively inched as far away from her as possible while still keeping himself attatched to Huni.
"You'd better not be trying to cop a feel..." Huni warned, chameleon or not, Keith still looked like a man and the fact that he was latched onto her was very... weird.Unable to help but laugh quietly at Huni's new pet, she smiled at Huni, and offered a hand. "Hi there, I'm Christin." She said cheerfully, glancing toward the lizard-man. "I'm really sorry for scaring you hun."D watched this exchange, smiling softly.
"...To answer your question, dear, yes. Payment has been dealt with already. Just sign on the empty line there...."Keith frowned, he didn't like how he was being talked to. "Don't patronize me." he said quietly.
With her free hand, Huni shook Christin's hand, before retracting it to sign the contract. "Nice to meet you, I'm Huni. And as for scaring him, don't worry about it. He looks fine, if you ask me." she said absently as she scribbled her signature onto the contract.
"Oh, would you happen to be carrying insects or would I have to catch them myself?" she asked D."I will start you off with a supply, dear, and you can purchase them here afterward." A kind smile."Patronize?" Christin looked to Keith. "I wasn't patronizing you... You got scared of me for being surprised and shouting." She said calmly, looking to Noi and back to Huni. "I'm going to have to bring my pet here to see the pets Count D is selling... Maybe your new pet can even meet him?"D was very calm, considering the commotion.
Just a good thing that Scarecrow was asleep. Otherwise, he would be having fun with Keith.Glancing to her watch, Christin gasped. "I'm sorry! I have to hurry to that job interview!" She said quickly, waving as she hurried towards the door. "Bye D! Good bye Huni!" And with that, she disappeared out the door.Christin shouldn't take Keith's dislike too hard, the chameleon wasn't a jolly sort. He scowled and clung tighter to Huni, even after she had 'warned' him.
"Oh, thank goodness! I don't think I'd be able to catch the amount he'd need." Huni sighed in relief.
"A pet for a pet?" Huni blinked at Christin, well whatever floats her boat. "Well I guess Keith would want to check if the insects are enough for him, sure why not?" the red head smiled.
Noi yawned and opened a cranky eye, they were all being so noisy. However, when she saw Keith was latched onto her guardian her first instinct was to point and scream.
At the scream, Keith winced and let go to cover his ears. What ever made Gaara think Noi was alright?! He couldn't help but wonder.
"Oh no, uh, I think Noi wants to go home, right now. I'm sorry but I have to go. Er, Keith? We're going now." She offered him her hand, treating him as if he was one of her children rather than a 'pet.'
Noi settled down when the green haired man separated from Huni and curiously stared at his shirt, which had reverted to the original pattern they were in when he arrived. She began to reach out to him, squirming in Huni's arms to maneuver herself closer to inspect Keith.
Keith stiffened at Noi's approach but nevertheless, he took the red head's hand and followed her out of the shop.
"Goodbye, and thank you Count." Huni smiled and exited with her two charges.
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:36 am
 Chameleons
Chameleons (family Chamaeleonidae) are squamates that belong to one of the best known lizard families. Chameleons are among the most unique animals on the planet. They are famous for their ability to change their color, their elongated, sticky tongue, and for their eyes which can be moved independently of each other. The name "chameleon" means "earth lion" and is derived from the Greek words "chamai" (on the ground, on the earth) and "leon" (lion).
Description
Chameleons vary greatly in size and body structure, from the less than 4" Brookesia species, to the 24" Chamaeleo parsonii. There is even one species, thought to be unique to Malawi's Mount Mulanje, that is barely 1.5cm across when fully grown. Many have head or facial ornamentation, be it nasal protrusions or even horn-like projections in the case of Chamaeleo jacksonii, or large crests on top of their head, like Chamaeleo calyptratus. Many species are sexually dimorphic, and males are typically much more ornamented than the females.
The main things chameleon species do have in common is their foot structure, their eyes, their lack of ears, and their tongue:
Chameleons have feet that are split into two main "fingers", with a soft pad in between. These "fingers" are equipped with sharp claws to gain purchase on surfaces such as bark when climbing. An interesting, albeit useless, fact about chameleons is that they have two claws on the outside of their front foot and three on the inside, yet on the back foot this is reversed.
Their eyes are the most unique among the reptiles. They can rotate and focus separately to observe two different objects simultaneously. It in effect gives them a full 360 degree arc of vision around their body. When prey is located, both eyes can be focused in the same direction, giving sharp stereoscopic vision and depth perception.
They lack a vomeronasal organ. Like snakes, they don't have an outer or a middle ear and seem to be deaf; at least they cannot detect airborne sounds. But some, maybe all, can communicate via vibrations that travel through solid material like branches.
Chameleons have incredibly long tongues (sometimes longer than their own body length!) which they are capable of extending out of the mouth at a rapid rate. It has a sticky tip on the end which serves to catch prey items that they would otherwise never be able to reach with their lack of locomotive speed. The tounge's tip is a bulbous ball of muscle, and as it hits its prey, the tongue rapidly forms a small suction cup. Once the tongue sticks to a prey item, it is drawn quickly back into the mouth, where the chameleon's strong jaws crush it and it is consumed. Even a small chameleon is capable of eating a large locust or mantis.
Distribution and habitat
The main distribution of Chameleons is Africa and Madagascar, and other tropical regions, although some species are also found in parts of southern Europe, Sri Lanka, India and Asia Minor. There are introduced, feral populations of veiled and Jackson's chameleons in Hawaii and isolated pockets of feral Jackson's chameleons have been reported in California and Florida.
Different members of this family inhabit all kinds of biotopes like tropical and montane rain forests, savannas and sometimes semi-deserts and steppes. Chameleons are mostly arboreal and are often found in trees or occasionally on smaller bushes. Some smaller species, however, live on the ground under foliage. The Chameleon is "battling" humans for their space and habitat.
Behavior
All chameleon species are diurnal. Their main activity is in the morning and in the evening. Chameleons are not active hunters but rather sit motionless for hours and wait for a prey to pass by. Chameleons live mostly solitary lives, and can be quite aggressive toward other members of the same species, except during mating. Chameleons move slowly most of the time (but make no mistake - an agitated chameleon will quickly sprint for safety if it thinks its captor is not watching) and rock gracefully backwards and forwards as they walk, which makes them almost appear as if they were a leaf fluttering in the wind. However, this does not seem to be a conscious thought process, as a chameleon placed on a flat table or in an open area will still sway in this manner, although there are no leaves nearby and the chameleon is still easily visible.
Reproduction
Most chameleons lay eggs, which lie buried for up to 9 months before hatching. Newborn chameleons are surprisingly independent, due to the fact that their parents will have moved away from the clutch long before its hatching. Some species, like Chameleo jacksonii give live birth. Clutch size varies greatly between species, smaller chameleons typically having smaller litters.
Diet
Chameleons generally eat locusts, mantids, crickets, and other insects, but larger chameleons have been known to eat small birds. However, contrary to popular belief, most full grown chameleons tend not to eat flies. A few species, such as Chamaeleo calyptratus have been known to consume small amounts of plant matter.
Change of color
Some Chameleon species are able to change their body color, which has made them one of the most famous lizard families. Contrary to popular belief, this change of color is not purely an adaptation to the surroundings (although the surroundings play a large part) but also an expression of the physical and physiological condition of the lizard. The skin color is changed under influence of mood, light, and temperature. The skin color also plays an important part in communication and rivalry fights.
Chameleons have specialized cells that lie in two layers under the chameleon's transparent outer skin. The cells in the upper layer, which are called chromatophores, contain yellow and red pigments. Below these chromatophores is another cell layer. Cells of this layer are called guanophores and they contain the colorless crystaline substance guanin. These guanophores reflect amongst others the blue part of incident light. If the upper layer of chromatophores is yellow, the reflected light becomes green (blue plus yellow). A layer of dark melanin containing melanophores is situated even deeper under these blue and white light reflecting guanophores. These melanophores influence the lightness of the reflected light. All these different pigment cells can relocate their pigments, thereby influencing the color of light which is reflected.
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:37 am
 Name: Keith Nickname: None Hair Color: Green Eye Color: Black Skin Tone: Pale Gender: Male Age: Human years early twenties, Chameleon years one year old Type: Pet from Count D's shop Specie: Chameleon Posts in: Seagreen
Likes: Insects, especially grasshoppers, Huni Pi, tall ceilings, things to climb on, being in small groups, anything familiar, and blending into the background Dislikes: Large noisy groups, small cramped spaces, people who are too emotional, beings who don't understand the meaning of "Personal Space," being hugged by strangers, and strangers in general Personality: Keith is shy, and quiet, speaking only when spoken to and hardly ever causes a scene. He can get pretty territorial and protective (not to mention possessive) at times, and easily gets cranky. He's sensitive to emotions, almost emphatically. He also tends to get claustrophobic when there is a large group of unfamiliar faces. He Abilities: The clothes he wears changes their texture and or pattern under emotional stress Is currently: Stressing over Shimmer
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Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 11:55 pm
  I love his hair and shirt, isn't he the most gorgeous thing you've ever seen?
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Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:00 am
  Haze had given Keith this mistletoe necklace last Christmas, I think it's was more of a joke than an actual gift...
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Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:01 am
Keith has met only a few of the other pets from Count D's shop, I am still compiling the list, however
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Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:02 am
 Name: Huni Pi Hair Color: Red Eye Color: Jade Green Skin Tone: Oriental Gender: Female Age: 21 years old Height: 5"4 Weight: 110 lbs. Type: Gaian Posts in: Lightsalmon
Personality: Affectionate and loving, it's obvious if Huni likes a person, however, she's extremely self-conscious about her image and whether or not people like her. She tries her best to put her best foot forward as often as possible, but when she's in the comforts of her own home, she's usually more relaxed about how people will see her. Possibly due to the "home court" advantage she's learned from Haze. Huni is also generous with the ones she likes, often ending up in debt and/or near bankruptcy, but thanks to her friends, she manages to survive her worse case scenarios. Her view on parenthood is that she prefers to have children that are not genetically her own because she belives in single blessedness. That and she just can't afford to get pregnant and take time off as being an employee of Haze means she must be available all the time. Huni is also someone who is easily amused, and has shallow happiness. She is a sucker for anything squishy and simple gestures of kindness can easily earn you a place in her heart. But she is one to carry a grudge and let resentment build inside her, she finds it hard to express her anger or dislike, especially to the people involved.
History: Huni is Gaian by birth, but she was raised in Silar* in the city of Scardane, capital of Virall. There, she grew up to be the permanent "friend" of Haze until they grew old enough to travel apart. Huni gets to visit Gaia often, and even has a house there, paid for by Haze's older brother Arson, where the Silarian woman often stayed during vacations. Recently, Huni has been spending more and more time in Gaia, and is a little freaked out about the numerous children she is suddenly taking care of. And now that Haze has decided to take a hiatus from Silar, she has an additional child to worry about and look after.*Silar - a world created by Andrea Dy that has seven regions, each with a predominant god watching over it.
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Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:05 am
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:11 am
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Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:13 am
 [x] - Flerida's Diary [x] - Janan's Journal [x] - Kalderetta's Room [x] - Khun Ying's Diary [x] - Linneas' Tome [x] - Metanoia's Journal [x] - Paestri's Journal [x] - Shimmer's Incense Burner Thread [x] - Sim's Journal
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Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:16 am
Pet Shop of Horrors concept copyright to Matsuri Akino The Gaian Pet shop copyright to Lady Vincira Artworks copyright to endejester Banners and Keith copyright to Huni Pi Steal anything and I will make you kulam!
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