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Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:08 pm
The fact that Dwenna was utterly helpless during daylight hours was exactly why she wasn't telling this human girl anything. Attempt, indeed. So long as she kept her secret safe, that's all it would be. Humans destroyed themselves with ease, and she had no desire to add gargoyles to that list of things that could break beneath their iron so easily. That, and being smashed to rubble was never really a good way to end a day.
She waited as the girl doubled over laughing, then fell flat out her butt, still gasping for air. Dwenna merely sighed, similar to a mother holding out in the storm of a child's moods, and shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest as her gaze flickered over to the east for a brief second. She thought she'd heard someone speaking, but whoever it was, if they were anything like her current company, she'd want nothing to do with them, no matter what their race.
"Well, I could right now, if I really wanted to," she mused, examining the nails on one of her hands, as though Devi was hardly a threat, sadistic smile still in place. "Starting out rather rudely didn't do you any favors. Which makes me think," she turned her attention back to Devi, "that whatever bug crawled up your behind has something to do with the fact that your 'dog' is obviously not an ordinary human pet."
Even with the moonlight, Donella was having a hard time seeing as she pushed through the forest foliage. Really, what was with forests and thick branches and generally plants? Weren't there supposed to be paths or something for travelers?
Oh, right. This wasn't a part of the forest normally visited by her fellow man; it was simply too far from any town. Too deep in mystic shadows and mother nature's grasp.
Or rather, the grasp a vine snared around an ankle. Landing not so gracefully with an obnoxious thud, Donella's arms wrapped protectively around her stomach as she tried to find some way to cushion her landing and landed directly on her tailbone, cursing quite loudly in pain and throwing her hands up in defeat. This was just not her night.
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Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:57 pm
"Well, I never said she was, did I?" Devi smiled sweetly at the gargoyles not-sweet-smile. Why let it bother her? The gargoyle was going to do whatever she wanted too at the point. The cocky approach didn't work. Neither did the subtle threatening. Or the insane laughter. Indifference was the only thing left to fake, but she couldn't really stop smiling, so that didn't work either.
Devi didn't actually have a grudge against this, or any, gargoyle. As long as they left Sutien alone. Or, they could even play with her as long as they didn't try to take her away or try to harm her, or the human. It wasn't too much to ask, really. Or, maybe it was, since Devi really didn't need the gargoyle to answer her question. The human knew where all the eggs were. Or, at least, all the ones in that rookery. Not that she'd ever destroy them. She wasn't a murderer. But it was a good piece of leverage. Or possible a rope to hang herself with.
Sutien moved off to the side and a few paces back, where someone was trying to push through the trees. The pup put her nose through the leaves and found herself looking at a human, who seemed upset about something. Possibly in pain. Sutien tilted her head to the side, looking at her before barking to get the humans attention.
"Of course, it maybe just that you're jealous." Devi said softly, not paying full attention to the gargoyle any longer. There was something behind her. The human tightened her grip on the knife. Were more stones coming to bother her and her Sutien?
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Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:22 pm
Dwenna snorted at Devi's question, amazed at the girl's stubbornness, and shook her head.
"I do believe your first words were 'get the hell away from my dog'?" She gave the girl a slightly disapproving look. "There are such things as manners, you know. It wasn't as though I was going to swoop in and take her away. On the contrary, she pounced on me." The chuckle turned appreciative as she watched the dark purple beast wand off slightly, before returning her attention to Devi, slightly tense at teh sight of something hidden behind her back.
"And what, might I ask, do I have to be jealous of?" She quirked a brow, wondering how this human's mind worked. Really, Dwenna didn't mind humans: they weren't her favorite and had a tendency to repeat past mistakes, but that rule didn't necessarily apply to all of them, as she was learning. She just...had an intense dislike for those who opted to attack first without even thinking things through.
Whatever she'd been expecting, Donella would never have imagined the dusky beast that poked its nose out from the brush, head tilted to the side as its blank eyes watched her. Her cursing cut short, she simply stared back at the creature, not entirely sure of what to make of the current situation. Did that mean a gargoyle was nearby? The thought made her shiver slightly. That migth not be bad, so long as they weren't against humans. The bark was certainly interesting, not quite like a normal dogs, deeper and fuller. She smiled for the creature's sake, trying to show she was friendly.
"Look at you, now," she said softly, not quite willing to try standing just yet. "Aren't you a pretty thing?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 6:42 pm
"I don't know, what do you have to be jealous of?" Devi still had half her attention on whatever was in the woods behind her. She had not lived this long by not paying attention. Still, if Sutien didn't find whatever it was threatening, there was a good chance whatever it wasn't couldn't hurt her. Unless it was a gargoyle, because the pup seemed to have bad sense when it came to them. "I heard my pup yell, forgive me for jumping to conclusions." Of course, she didn't sound sorry at all.
Sutien grinned at the human, probably with the same idea that the human had had. See. No threat here. The pup pushed herself a bit closer to the human, until half her body was through the brush lining the clearing. At least the girl hadn't tried to climb over that big log, with as clumsy as she looked.
Devi half turned to look at her dog, who was half gone from her sight. Her tail was wagging, though. The human stood up slowly, wondering what it was that caught her pups attention. "And what would a stone know of manners?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:05 pm
All Dwenna did was offer another casual shrug, the movement looking odd with her wrings now wrapped about her. It was a sign that Dwenna no longer considered Devi an immediate threat, though her guarded expression spoke otherwise, the tension still making her ache slightly. It was hard to be ready to fight and try to relax at the same time: the body worked in completely opposite directions. She chuckled at the girl's audacity.
"I have nothing to be jealous of, coming from you," she said wryly, eying the girl almost appreciatively now, though the human probably thought that just meant that she was being considered for dinner or something. She certainly had tenacity. Needed to learn her manners, certainly, but not the worst she'd seen.
"Apparently, more than you. I, at least, wait to learn if I'm coming against friend or foe before threatening them." Another glance at the dog. "Still, I suppose I could understand, with you not knowing her as well as you'd like, mistaking a yelp like that." What was behind them? Whatever it was, the beast didn't seem to find it a threat, the way it's tail wagged like the wind. So, Dwenna turned her attention back to Devi, who could still pose a threat if she desired.
Sighing at her own despicable klutziness, Donella slowly rose to her feet, wincing momentarily as she did so, testing her ankle as gently as possible. Surprisingly, she hadn't hurt it further, though it certainly stung. And the creature was watching her, pulling through the brush a bit more. Apparently, it meant her no harm, which was definitely a good thing. The took a seat on a nearby root, deeming it better for her to sit than try walking and bumbling about even more and called to the beast. Such odd, blank eyes, and yet so pretty.
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 12:54 pm
Devi's head snapped back to look at the gargoyle. If the human's eyes could have glowed, they'd be doing it now. Did the stone actaully think that she couldn't tell the difference in her Sutien's barks? That she didn't know her pup better than anyone else did, or could. The human ground her teeth together. Calm. She would be calm.
On a cold day in hell.
Sutien glanced back through the folliage. Her human was not happy. Her scent changed when she was angry. The pup wavered, half in and half out of the brush. Maybe she should just bring the human into the clearing so she can get to know her and keep an eye on her human. The pup looked back at the human in front of her, jerking her head to try and get her to follow. Into the clearing. With an angry human who loved to share her angry with others. Still.
"Why wait? I mean, you know what they say, better safe than sorry." Devi balanced the knife on her palm again. Calm. She could be calm. Besides, the stone probably said that just to get a rise from her. Yeah. Still. Calm. "And anyway, it's not like a stone could know Sutien. At least, not a stone too far gone from her clan and life to know any difference. Closed off. Stone hearted." Devi took a breath and stopped. She hadn't just said that out loud, had she?
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 12:47 pm
Dwenna was surprised at how well the girl was at keeping a calm visage, though the tightening of her jaw was a giveaway. She hadn’t meant to bait the girl like she had, but it just seemed to slip out on its own. Not that it wasn’t amusing in its own right, but she still seemed too on edge for much more banter, reacting as though she’d been personally threatened. She was incredibly testy, and while it might be fun to purposely antagonize her, Dwenna wanted at least a little credit to biding by the rules. A little.
Somewhere beyond them, she could hear a soft voice, and what sounded like the beast moving about. Things might just get interesting, after all: it seemed like they might just get some company.
In less than a second, Dwenna’s eyes flashed red, her expression murderous. There was such a thing as crossing the line, and this human was only a breath away from dropping off the other side.
“Watch your tongue, girl,” she growled softly.
The poor thing looked so divided, Donella thought as she watched Sutien. It obviously wanted to be elsewhere, and maybe there’d be someplace for her to stay for a bit until she could fully assess the damage or something. Maybe. Rising in defeat, she made her way towards the beast, holding her hand out to the creature and wondering just how she expected to find help with a gargoyle beast in the first place.
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 6:42 pm
Devi could have cursed herself for say that, but it looked that gargoyle was going to do it for her so why should she bother? Still. She already had one foot in the grave, might as well jump. "If I watch it, will it do tricks?" Devi grinned at the stone. This was fun. She kept talking, since the last wasn't a question she wanted answered anyway. "And why? Did I strike a little to close to home, demon-eyed?"
All the while, someone was screaming in her head: STUPID! She ignored it, of course. This gargoyle had pushed her to anger. Might as well get it all off her chest. "I mean, why else would a gargoyle be out here. All alone, not even a beast at your side for company, if you weren't, uh, emotionally stunted?"
Sutien let the human use her neck as a support as she looked back through the brush. Her human and the gargoyle were still just standing there. It should be safe enough for this human too. Then Sutien could still protect her human.
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Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 5:42 pm
"Tricks?" Dwenna couldn't help the harsh, odd burst of laughter that left her throat feeling slightly raw. Not only was this human cracked, but it looked like she was going to infect Dwenna with her own madness. And Dwenna found this amusing, of all things. Where was the wrath she'd felt just a moment ago, the irritation at this human's audacity and the desire to squelch it? "Are you a beast yourself, then, to perform on command? I think I'd find it rather amusing."
Of course, then the girl had to put her foot in her mouth and swallow her kneecap. Of course.
"My reasons for being out are none of your concern," she snarled softly, wings snapping in agitation. A deadpan expression crossed her face and stayed there: it was very much like looking into the eyes of a rattlesnake right before it would strike. "I could say the same for you, though. After all, you're obviously rather solitary, yourself, and I have to wonder why that is. I mean, you can't even get a creature belonging to your own species to keep you company, now can you?"
Donella stopped short as they came into the clearing, eyes wide and mouth slightly agape at the sight before her, even if the young lady did have her back turned. It was the pearly gargoyle that kept her frozen, in both awe and curiosity, and perhaps a tad bit of fear. After all, they were known to rebel in some cases when pushed too far, and the crimson gaze of this one showed signs that the line was going to be crossed very soon, if it hadn't already.
"Ahem," she cleared her throat politely, softly. Donella felt very much like she was walking in on a feral stray: one sudden move or sound and she could make things much worse..
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Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:33 am
"Is that really the best you can do?" Devi giggled. "Come on! Dig deep. Really try to hurt me!" She tilted her head to look at the gargoyle. The stone hadn't said anything that Devi hadn't already come to terms with. She didn't get along well with others of her own kind past a certian point. She tended to get flustered and angry and then she'd leave. Or they would. But it didn't bother her. She had Sutien.
Sutien put herself in front of the human, just incase the hostilites rolled back into them. Her human was talking loudly, maybe taunting the gargoyle. The pup didn't understand what was going on, why the gargoyle and her human were fighting. She hoped it didn't devolve to fighting, cause she'd have to protect her human. Sutien didn't want to fight anyone, let alone the pearly one in front of her. But she would.
Devi didn't turn to look who had come into the clearing. The voice was obviously human and obviously entranced with the sight of the gargoyle. Great. And she'd get seen as the aggressor here. Probably because she was, but it made little difference. The less humans who knew about her, the more freely she could move about during the day.
"Of us loner typers, there are two." Devi pointed to her own chest with the dagger. "Those who chose to be alone." She shifted it, leveling the small hunting knife in line with the gargoyles chest. "And those who have been cast out, who couldn't force their company on any others of their kind." She grinned. "Now, the question is, are you here because you want to be or because you are such a pain in the a** that there is no one who would want you? Want me to take a guess?"
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Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:47 am
"It was not my original intent to hurt you, in any way," Dwenna said flatly, fully aware that there was another human in the clearing, who would have to be considered a witness. Wonderful. "I am here because I chose to be, but I'm beginning to see this as a mistake, or merely a waste of time. I am not a 'loner,' as you suggest. Your labels are much like yourself: simplistic and falling utterly short of their capabilities." She weas regaining her self control, appearance once again normal.
"Really, human, what is the purpose of this pointless banter? You either think of me one way, or you don't." She was tired of the taunts and baiting, bored now that it was obvious that, while the girl was hiding something about the creature, she was willing to spin Dwenna around in circles until she revealed something she shouldn't.
"You origianlly refused to answer my question about the beast with you, and nothing you have done supports any theory that might suggest innocence on your behalf." She rolled her eyes at this, as though she'd already long since decided that Devi could not possibly be innocent in any way.
Donella raised her brows at the exhcange between the two, curious as to what she'd been lead in to, and why the beast was protecting a human. Now that the gargoyle seemed less angry, she found herself less awed by the sight and glanced in Devi's direction, wondering if she'd seen her before. There weren't that many who traversed the forest alone, especially at night.
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Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 5:05 pm
Devi tilted her head to the side, studying the gargoyle now. That hadn't worked quite the way she'd hoped. The stone was a bit harder to crack then. Still. It'd been fun insulting her without any reprisals. Well, if one way wouldn't work, something else would have too. She flipped the knife into the air, catching the blade. Hilt toward the stone.
"We were trying to determine my innocence?" Devi grinned. "And I thought you wanted to know how I got Sutien?" She shrugged, still smiling. "Well, if it is a question of my innocence, then I have to say that, according to our laws and beliefs, I am innocent." Mostly. Somewhat. Well, the only thing not innocent about her is her job.
Sutien nosed at the human, letting herself grin. She took a bit of fabric in her mouth, pulling the human towards her human. Maybe the fighting would stop if there was someone else there. This wasn't what she'd wanted when she'd bumped into the pearly gargoyle. They could all play fetch together, if the sun didn't catch them. Then there would be sleeping and stone, not games.
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Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 5:57 pm
Dwenna had to admit, she felt slightly better when the first human was no longer pointing the knife her way. Whether or not it could do much damage was beside the point: it was the principal of the matter, really. Whoever this was, she obviously had issues, and the debate on innocence? Yeah. That wasn't working. It was also sending a certain alarm through the gargoyle's head: BORED! She'd heard this sort of thing before, and more than once was plenty, thanks.
"You obviously don't feel like sharing," Dwenna said with a slight shrug. "There are better ways to waste my time. If nothing else, I can always come back and investigate further." Some night when she was feeling less antagonistic and sadistic. Really, push the girl too far past paranoia, and who knew how and when she'd snap?
"Please," she said with a snort. "Innocent, my right eye. No human is ever innocent, and those who truly believe that are delusional."
Donella found herself being somewhat dragged into this conflict, resisting somewhat at first until she realized that doing so would probably wind up with her falling flat on her face in between the two, which is what she was trying to avoid in the first place. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife, the hostility not that far behind.
"So good to see you two getting wonderfully along," she said dryly, fully aware that she would probably be the target for the wrath of both ladies. Nothing she hadn't dealt with before, though the gargoyle bit was new. Donella just chalked it up to being hurt, hungry, and tired. Curse that stupid fox for taking off with her dinner!
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Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:01 am
Devi looked down at her pup as Sutien ambled to her side, the human in tow. Great. Just great. Things that were better kept secret were exposed to human and gargoyle alike. Maybe the fact that she had Sutien wouldn't get her killed, if she could come up with a sutiable excuse that the gargoyles would believe. That would require some thought. Not what she wanted to say to the stone in front of her. But they could not find out where she'd been. And since she was the only one who knew that, there was little chance of anyone else finding out.
"I'd like to think I was innocent at least one point in my life." Devi tilted her head and watched the human. "All humans start out innocent. That is extremely predjuiced of you, gargoyle."
Sutien dropped the human, so to speak, and stuck her nose under her humans hand. They were still all talking. Maybe when she grew up she could understand the human's speech. As it was, it was all just noise. But the noise wasn't angry anymore. At least, not on the surface. Devi was thinking again, her voice always had that tone while she was thinking. Sutien licked her masters hand and wonder what her human was doing.
Devi grinned at Sutien, running her hand over her ears. "And find, waste your time somewhere else, gargoyle. There is nothing keeping you here, of all places. I am sure you have your own friends, your own family, to get back to." She looked at the human again, frowning. "And we aren't killing each other, stranger, I'd say that was getting along splendidly."
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