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 Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 10:05 pm
A thick wooded forest that covers most of the land between the city and the mountain. The trees are thick, tall and block out much of the sun's lights, thus the name Kuro Forest. The branches are large and low enough to the ground for some people to climb easily. There is very little undergrowth but the dry leaves make for traveling off of the beaten paths rather noisy.
A small stream runs through the forest and continues on to the ocean.
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2014 1:10 am
Sol Estrella looked over at his twin sister, blinking warm golden eyes at her. They had been in the town two months now, and she had yet to open up to anyone. So neither had he. However, he could tell she was comfortable here since she didn't cross her arms and usually held her head up high. "Lovely day isn't is Luna?" He asked smiling, knowing what her reply would be, as always on warm sunny days."It will be a beautiful night, too." Luna Estrella said, running her pail dainty fingers through her long practically silver hair. She smiled for him as he nudged her. "Maybe some day we will swap interests yeah, Sol?" She said looking around at the tall elegant trees. It was too bright for her personal preference, but the tree provided shade and comfort and softened the breeze as it blew. She could hear water in the distance somewhere, too. This town was quiet and peaceful. It really was therapeutic.Crimson Topaz Flame sat by the water, her sapphire blue eyes blazing in the sun like gems resting among the flame that was her red locks. She'd only recently figured out her chosen human name struck people as weird, but she didn't much care anyway. She usually had them call her Topaz, or Lizzy. If they didn't know she was a dragon, and she wanted to keep it that way, she always chimed that it was a childhood thing, but it was honestly a personal joke about her being a dragon. Having been in the town four months, she had gotten it a lot. After all, despite being a dragon, she was extremely social and very chipper. It was hard not to be noticed. From time to time when she had trouble avoiding people she'd change herself up a bit. Something quite unique to her, even as a dragon, was her ability to turn into a male human just as easily as a female. She sensed people nearby, but also sensed they were of no threat. For now she would sit by the water and relax, something she treasured doing when she wasn't up to mischief.
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2014 12:36 pm
Jumping from tree branch to tree branch, today was just not his day. In Kuro Shiro for fourteen months and already Aoi Kökedai Zaya was being attacked by a dragon, it was just his luck. Call Aoi what you will, a pacifist, coward, whatever, he just did not want to fight or cause trouble. Enough of his early years saw him in hundreds of battles in several bloody wars, and it made him sick to his stomach knowing he killed many men and innocent people because of the greed of kings. And, at this instance, the immortal elemental did not want to fight a dragon, he had enough of dragons, especially Kuò Clan and Hiryū Clan dragons. Those two clans could fight themselves to extinction for all he cared, but he wouldn't fight for either side. He killed dragons from both sides, the dragon leader Kuò Cong Li and thousands of Hiryū dragons. It was a pain fighting, especially when he was forced to fight. He wished the Hiryū attacking him would listen to him, but no such luck.
The Hiryū was young, probably a good five hundred years younger than him, so he was still a little Chinese firecracker to Aoi and ignorant to who the water elemental was. It was always the ignorant youth who attacked him over the years, never the ones alive during his fight with Cong Li and Feng Chi. go figure. "You know," he called over his shoulder as he continued to evade the dragon—the Hiryū was in his human form, which was good because it meant he'd cause less damage to the beautiful forest that way— "I don't work for the Kuò Clan. Never did." He smiled at the young dragon, but he didn't listen.
Instead, the dragon yelled, "That tattoo behind your right ear says you are Kuò Clan!" Right, the tattoo that Cong Li had magically tattooed on him so that it would never go off, no matter who he asked, magical or otherwise, just like his immortality. No one could get rid of it and those who might have the power always laughed away his request because who wanted to be mortal? Aoi did, it was better than living alone forever.
But whatever. Aoi needed to focus on the dragon attacking him and the branches he found refuge on. The young dragon shot white flames at the tree branch Aoi was on. Yelping, Aoi jumped off his tree branch and went for another tree, but the dragon destroyed the branch before he could land. The elemental fell down the four story tree and landed hard on the ground. He heard and felt several ribs crack and coughed up blood. Groaning, he looked up at the sky and noticed two people, a golden haired young man and a silver-haired young woman, similar in appearance, so they were siblings, nearby. Great, the dragon was going to try to kill him and these two siblings—they looked like twins—would get injured in the crossfire.
Fuyuki Rin Hiryū was minding his own business in the forest when he saw him, a Kuò Clan soldier. He knew he was a soldier from the tattoo behind his right ear, the Kuò Clan's crest with the symbol of immortality. The Kuò dragons often made their soldiers immortal to win their wars, but even immortals died. Fuyuki chased the soldier through the forest, ignoring everything he said because it was just a ruse to let down his guard. He knew Kuò Clan tactics well, he fought against one solider who said the same things as this man, and he nearly got killed because he believed him for a fraction of a second. This time, he wouldn't be so easily fooled.
Fuyuki managed to down the soldier until a torrent of water hit him from his left side. The water came back and knocked him around while the soldier slowly sat up. What's going on?! He breathed fire at the water, evaporating it quickly, yet it was useless. More water attacked him. Fed up with this, Fuyuki went after the Kuò Clan soldier while dodging the water, positioning himself so that it would miss and hit the trees near the soldier.
[Fuyuki isn't the brightest guy sometimes.]
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2014 1:00 pm
"What the..." Sol shielded his eyes from the splintering wood with gritted teeth. He heard a loud thump as something landed near them and looked down. "Hey are you okay!?" He walked over to the man rather hurriedly when he was he wasn't dead or anything and crouched down, putting his hands over him and heat emitting from them. Something Sol found he could do was read the injuries by the temperature from the body. "I am surprised you aren't dead. Luna, you have anything to help?"
Luna looked at him blankly, the stranger, not her brother, then went through her things. "Here, I have some bandages. But it's not like they help with him coughing up blood and such." She walked over and handed them to her twin and just looked at Aoi. "I am Luna, this is Sol. If you aren't dead, I assume you aren't normal and you will be fine, but if you feel weak keep talking." She didn't like meeting new people that much, it kinda showed.
Topaz looked up, shock written on her face with all the ruckus. Was she seriously not allowed to relax? Ever? She got up, shifting into a dragon of brilliant reds with bright blue eyes, and took off to the sound with her wings tight against her side so she could travel faster.
Ahead she could smell smoke and fire and she saw flecks of white. She let out a roar. "What is wrong with you?! I am trying to relax!" She snapped at them. Her dragon voice was a strange tone, not feminine, not masculine, but it rumbled and roared like any dragon's voice would. As she leaped into a tree she shifted back into a human girl and crouched on a branch there, where she could see the white dragon easily enough. She didn't seem to notice the people crowded together. "I was really enjoying things and here you are, going to catch the whole damn forest on fire with people in it. What is wrong with you? Were you raised in a barn? Ruining such a pretty day like this you should be ashamed of upsetting people, especially a lady of any sort."
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2014 1:28 pm
Aoi smiled brightly at the siblings, hoping to set their minds at ease despite the blood dripping from his mouth. When around other people, he played the part of a happy person always willing to make the best out of everything. He did not want to worry these two siblings. It was a bad idea, just like angering another dragon was a bad idea. Today was just not his day. Akane would love the opportunity to fight—of her own free will of course—a dragon. She'd use her flames and compete to see who had the hotter flames. She was like that sometimes. He wished she was still here to see it all, or that he was buried with her in Mongolia. "I'm Aoi and I'm immortal, so please don't waste your bandages on me." He did not hesitate at Miss Luna's personality, he knew plenty of people over the years who didn't like meeting new people. It was understandable. "Please, excuse me for a moment. I need to calm the dragons." With a bright, practiced smile, the injured elemental stood up and walked over to the Hiryū dragon and the angry red dragon.
Redirecting the water he used to fend off the Hiryū dragon, Aoi silently commanded it to wrap around the white dragon and freeze around his body. Then he turned his attention to the furious red dragon. Today wasn't his day. "My apologies, Madame, Mr. Hiryū had a large misunderstanding. It was entirely on my part. I will keep him under control, so please may I have the honor of allowing you to relax again." As he spoke, he forced himself from coughing up blood again while he commanded the nearby river water to quench the flames of the burning trees and anything else on fire. Years of practice with Akane's wild personality made him a master of this, even while injured. It was an old talent of his. "Please forgive me for my carelessness." He bowed his head to the dragon, but looked to the siblings who tried to help him. An angry dragon would destroy anything and anyone in its path, and he did not wish Mr. Sol or Miss Luna to be hurt. Their kindness would be a great loss to him.
Fuyuki felt chilled to the bone by the ice that formed around him. It did not cover his mouth, but it might as well have. The ice was so cold, so cold. He was a dragon, his flames always kept him warm, but this ice was colder than normal ice and burned hotter than his flames. He stared at the soldier he had attacked and watched in amazement as he spoke to the other dragon, the angry one that lost her temper because of him, and did not flinch from her gaze or mere presence. This soldier wasn't an ordinary solider. Though his black eyes looked warm, they betrayed coldness like the ice wrapped around him. Just who is this soldier? With time to cool down his head, Fuyuki started to wonder if he should have listened to the soldier.
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2014 2:51 pm
Topaz relaxed and folded her arms. "Don't talk to me like that. I am Crimson Topaz Flame. Call me Topaz though...or Lizzy." She stuck out her tongue and winked. "It wasn't you making all the ruckus though it was this big brute." She turned her blue human eyes over to the white dragon. "But I do not like ice and I doubt he does, so would you kindly let him go. Perhaps he will listen to you now. If not, I can always pin you two down and make you listen to each other. Then maybe I can go find someplace that doesn't smell like ash and mud for me to hang out in, hmm?"
She was a weird dragon, hating fire and fighting and noise. She looked at the male with some distaste, thinking him just like her siblings who were so vicious as angry. "And when you two are done talking, go to town and have someone heal those bones. You'll just suffer a lot walking about like that."
Sol watched the stranger, Aoi, go and address a large white dragon and a very brave looking red-head. "I guess if he can move like that he is fine." Sol said to himself, standing up and dusting his clothes before looking over to Luna. Her eyes were locked onto the dragon's white scales. "Magnificent creatures, aren't they? One of the few things that aren't only considered creatures of day or night. They are a lot more like people than most animals."
Luna nodded quietly. "His scales shine like the moon. It is almost blinding with the light shining through the trees." Her soft voice was picked up easily by her brother as they watched to see what was going to happen next with the occupants of the trees.
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2014 8:43 pm
Chua slowly came to regain consciousness as she heard pounding on the ground. She had been in hibernation for a few hundred years, and it hadn't been so noisy here when she'd come to sleep. She began lifting her head and wings, and her massive frame rose as the ground and plants that had grown on top of her sleeping form crumbled down around her. Finally as she stepped from the large hole now in the ground, she opened her slitted purple eyes and looked around. It is still a forest, as it was when I went to sleep. She could sense other beings close to her in the forest, not very far away. Not for a Dragon anyways. Including two dragons. Interesting. It had been hundreds of years longer then she'd slept since she'd met dragons other then her clutch and parents which had perished.
The others were not weak either, but it was the dragons she cared about. Other creatures were common enough. She unfolded her wings, anxious to fly after so long grounded, but first she lifted her head to the vast sky above and roared loud and proud. If the other dragons were interested, they would know she was here, and awake. She would not chase them, all dragons were free creatures. Besides, she would not spend her first day awake in 100 years living for others.
She bunched her legs, and leaped into the air, unfolding her wings as she did, and giving them a powerful stroke downwards. She rumbled with joy as she felt the air catch under her wings, making her airborne at last. If she could, she would spend all her days in the air. She kept soaring higher and higher until she rose above the clouds, then rode the air currents, letting the sun behind her heat her back.
This is where Dragons belong. In their air. We are the rulers of the skies. While we are powerful on the ground, no creature can match us here. She snorted, smoke escaping from her nostrils. And I intend to remain a Queen here.
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2014 9:53 pm
Aoi's practiced smile turn into a practiced grin as the dragon, Lizzy, spoke reasonably with him. He didn't dragons much, typically because they're trying to kill him, but when they weren't aiming to end his life, they were good with conversation. "No, I believe you are correct, Miss Lizzy, but it is on my part that Mr. Hiryū went into a rage. His family and I have history, and not the good kind." As he spoke, he melted the ice around the white dragon's body and heard the dragon collapse. "I don't mean to sound rude, Miss Lizzy, but I'll pass on speaking to this young dragon, though I'll say one thing to you, Mr. Hiryū, as the former Köke-Erdene of the Kuò Clan you hate so much, I won't hesitate in killing you if you come after me again." A cold smile and spared moment's glance at the white dragon as he transformed back into a human—white hair, blue eyes, pale skin—and shivered as he tried to regain his body heat, made Aoi feel assured the young dragon wouldn't be causing him trouble in the future. Lizzy and the Hiryū dragon were both young and needed to learn how to keep their tempers down.
The now young man glared at Aoi with fear and anger, but all hate was lost in his gaze. No one wanted to fight against Aoi, any Kuò or Hiryū knew the consequences. "Thanks for the advice and my apologies for not introducing myself. I am Aoi Zaya and I hope we don't meet again under these circumstances." With that, the immortal elemental walked over to Sol and Luna. His broken ribs would take three or four days to heal on their own, but he rather get patched up now. With a bright smile, Aoi turned to the siblings who tried aiding hi, earlier. "Mr. Sol, would you mind escorting me to town? I guess we should take the Hiryū boy as well. He's fine health-wise, but he may have frost burn—" A strong bout of coughing shook the man, sending another round of blood out of his mouth. Ugh, he needed to set his ribs, or else his lungs would fill with blood. He hated when that happened. It was uncomfortable.
Fuyuki rubbed his hands up and down his arms, trying to regain the heat lost to the ice that once wrapped around his body. He didn't know ice could be so cold and hot. Looking at his arms now, he could see patches of blue where the ice was the thickest. The Blue Jewel's powers were unreal. Fuyuki wouldn't pick a fight with him anymore. Zaya killed Cong Li and defeated his personal guard and air elemental—some stories said single-handedly while others said with his sister's help—but all knew he was dangerous. He wondered why a powerful and ancient elemental was in Kuro Shiro, but he was afraid of ask. Instead, he just shouted at him. "My name's Fuyuki, not boy. Get that straight." He was afraid of Zaya, but he wouldn't let him think he could call him whatever he wanted.
But it seemed that it didn't matter to Aoi as the man said to the twins—ignoring Fuyuki completely—as he looked up at the sky as a dragon's roar and the sound of beating wings echoed through the forest. "I hate to inconvenience you, but I think Mr. Fuyuki and I will need help walking as well. Miss Lizzy can entertain herself somewhere calming or calm the other dragon in the forest." Aoi was calmer than a still pool of water. The front of Aoi's shirt was covered in blood and dirt, but he didn't flinch from the pain. Fuyuki understood why Aoi needed medical help, but both of them? The dragon just needed to warm up a bit, but still. Curious, he tried moving his legs and pain shot through his entire body, and he gasped at the burning pain. He pulled up his pant legs and saw his pale skin turned an ugly blue-purple. Frost burn. He didn't want the other dragons seeing him like this. It was humiliating and would make him appear weak.
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Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 11:16 am
Sol looked at them, "Luna, escort Mr. Aoi here, I will go with the dragon." He put his hand on his sister's shoulder when her eyes flashed with panic. "Right behind you, I'll be better help with the dragon since he is frozen anyway." Sol emitted unnatural heat an Luna was abnormally chilly to the touch. That was how things were. He walked over and looked at Fuyuki. "The town has some skilled people form what I have heard, so let's get you taken care of."
Luna nodded and moved over to Aoi. "You look a mess." She said rather bluntly, but still quiet. "Come on, this way." She glanced at her brother and took lead to town.
Topaz looked over at them. "Fuyuki, be more careful. I'm not from here, but I have heard a lot about some of them being mean or insane." She turned and with a sudden leap she shifted into a dragon took off. Her species of dragon was rather small, but even still she'd lived long enough to appear a well practiced adult. Her wings spread out, and for dramatic effect, when she broke through the trees and into the sky she rattles her scales until they sparked and ignited the oil on them. A red dragon lit with blue flames.
Ahh, this was great, all this air, and she could see who this other dragon was and what she looked like. Her blue eyes blinked their many lids and focused on the other dragon. Her wings shifted, pulling her above the other dragon and allowing her to hover there and observe.
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Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 11:48 am
Fuyuki leaned into Sol, feeling heat flood his body as he shivered again. This man was like a walking hot-water bottle, better even. If he could just stay near him, he would, but he needed to heed Topaz's warning. The people in this town did seem insane, maybe not mean—Fuyuki was the one who lost his temper and Aoi was an old warrior fed up with war—but he'd listen to her. "You do the same, Topaz, and I hope to see you soon," he called to her as she flew up into the sky. She was a small dragon, different from him, but she would be extremely powerful once fully grown.
Once the red dragon was gone, Fuyuki glanced over at the others. "So, where are these skilled people?" he asked as his numb legs regained feeling.
Aoi smiled at Sol, thankful for the assistance he gave to Fuyuki Hiryū, though it seemed for the last five hundred years, the Hiryū Clan lost their ice magic, pitiful for them, but better for Aoi. By the end of the week, Fuyuki Hiryū would be back to full health, which meant less fighting and chaos around him. It brought a smile to his face.
The immortal than glanced at Luna and smiled at her, not a bright smile like Akane's, her smile was like the sun beaming down on him, but like moonlight hitting a tranquil pool. He could never be warm like his sister, he always needed to share her warmth to feel whole, but he's practiced so well over the years that he could fool others into thinking he was warm. "Yes, I am a mess, but I rather say this is the cleanest I've looked after a fight." Again, he smiled as he looked at the pale girl and followed her to town.
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Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 1:21 pm
Sol looked ahead at his sister, and spoke so both could hear. "The hospital, I figured that was obvious."
"It isn't a normal Hospital though, they have magic and things too." Luna added to reassure then they weren't being dumped off on normal humans. She stayed close and made sure she wasn't too fast for the man she was helping, or that her brother lost sight of her.
[exit to hospital in Town]
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Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 1:36 pm
Fuyuki blushed when Sol stated the obvious. Right, a hospital, he kind of forgotten those existed since he calmed down. Then again, he didn't know any normal hospital that would treat people like him and Aoi. They didn't usually exist. At most, private clinics and hospitals owned by magical and odd creatures existed. His one sisters and her children owned a hospital in Japan. "Right, well, I hope they have plenty for room for me to stretch my wings," he said as he stood up and followed Sol and Lunar.
Aoi chuckled, though covered it with a cough, when Fuyuki blushed. It was amusing to see a dragon so embarrassed, they were such proud creatures, it really was funny. "Thank you for walking with me, Miss Luna," he said as he kept pace with her despite the stabbing pains. The faster he arrived at the hospital, the better.
[Exit Fuyuki and Aoi to the hospital.]
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Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 11:44 pm
Chua allowed the other Dragon to rise above her in the air, something she wouldn't allow if she were in a battle. She simply kept her eye on the other dragon for a few minutes as she flew, trying to decide if she was dangerous, and show she wouldn't attack.
Then she stretched her wings again, and beat down hard, rising to be close to the other dragon. "Hello, Dragon-the-colour-of-fire, I am called Chua." She spoke both out loud in rumbles, and projected from her mind, unsure of which way this female Dragon would wish to communicate. "I have not met another of my kind in a very long time, and now I have seen two of you in one day." She mused. "I wouldn't mind your company while I stretch my wings, the air is strong today."
She tried to be both formal and polite, drawing on ancient memories of her father teaching her how to greet other Dragons. She was not desperate for company, but neither was she opposed to it. It was a good day for flying.
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Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2014 10:42 am
Topaz looked at the other dragon for a long moment. "I go by the name Crimson Topaz Flame, but you may call me Topaz or Lizzy as others do." She said in her weird gender neutral voice. She spoke mostly with her voice, as it wasn't a private conversation. "I have avoided my kind for a long time, so I must admit I am shocked by seeing two in one day, and being addressed politely by both." Her wings paused their beating for a quick stretch. "A flying partner would be nice for a change, it is a wonderful day, and two sets of eyes see twice as many interesting things."
The rattling of the scales on the looser skin of her neck gave sign she was nervous talking to another dragon who was larger than her. She'd known many very hostile dragons in the short time she stayed with her kind and some of the worst were females. But perhaps their greed and hostility was why they were always larger than her. Some breeds ate treasure to make them grow big and their scales thick, perhaps she should have learned more about herself before leaving.
It was obvious her mind was wandering with the slow beating of her wings.
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Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 1:38 am
"Greetings, Topaz." Chua spoke allowed, now that she knew how the other Dragon wished to communicate. So this Dragon has also not been around her kind in some time. Maybe it had to do with this place they were in, it felt strange. She acknowledged the other Dragon's comment with a dip of her head, and she slowly thrust her wings down, to glide on the air, keeping slow so the other Dragon could follow.
Chua watched the other female's thoughts drift far away, and the nervousness show through. "Rest easy, you have done nothing to offend me, and I don't attack without cause." Not to say she hadn't in her younger days, she'd had quite a temper before. But she'd grown up since then, and was more sensible. And if she was crossed, she still made a formidable enemy.
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