Welcome to Gaia! ::

Dune appeared apprehensive as the zombie addressed her and due to that apprehension she paused mid-step. Her lips pursed beneath her mask and for a long while she stared out across the scenary as if she was attempting to regain her composure or better still, to recollect her thoughts - both of which were very important in her opinion to say the least...

"I believe she was introducing me to the entity that appeared out of her crystal." She replied at last, her voice taking on the monotonous tone once more, "And explaining to me exactly how these Crystals came to be alive and how they were to be so special." She added, canting her head to the side ever so slightly as she began to swagger across the wall (apparently she was practicing different walking styles!).

"However I begin to see why they are so special considering that which they bear within them." With that she fell silent, lifting a hand to push her hat down to cover her eyes once more as she drifted across the wall - in relation to the undead she cared very little for their appearances, speaking from experience she had often found some of the undead to be of particular use to her and would have preferred not to shun them unless they were certain that they wanted to kill her.

"Sweet merciful gods! Where the hell are you all spawning from?!" Dune snapped angrily as she was interrupted yet again by another nosey whelp. Immediately her shoulders tensed and she began to pace faster, retreating into the depths of her physical 'shell' - her mask as one layer and her skin as another. With each new addition upon the balcony she began to become more and more agitated and more inclined to lash out against each in turn.

Why could they not stay out of conversations and stay in the foyer where they all belong? Of course, why should she asked - they were all nosey buggers anyway; any excuse to acquire something to gossip about, something to cling to and claim as their own knowledge when she had found it!

Her eyes flashed angrily and her pacing became more frenzied as she drew closer to the edge of the wall; it really did look like she was preparing to jump!

((Hope no one minds, I'm bypassing the other threads because no one seems to be using them anymore...))

Discovering this temple had been something of a surprise to Zayn. He thought hed travelled this way recently and there had been nothing but forest. After a brief visit to the city, he was eagerly looking forward to returning to a quieter place... hopefully one with views that would inspire his artistic muse (she was being fickle, of late).

This temple had been just what the Ieldi youth had been searching for. Already his sketchbook was littered with quick renderings of the outside of the temple and some of the interior. By far, the most breathtaking sight had been that of a large, glowing crystal. But something had warned Zayn that staying there for too long was not a good idea, so he'd quickly hurried on to this balcony. The view of the forest from here was quite nice as well.

Noticing people arguing nearby, he flattened his small wings and moved quietly to the other end of the balcony. Zayn wasn't so good with company, unless he was in the mood for sharing, which was rare. Instead he lowered himself to sit on the floor with his back against the wall and withdrew his sketchpad from a satchel slung over one shoulder. He shot the other occupants of the balcony a few flat stares as he searched for the materials he wanted - did people really have to be so noisy? Obviously this was a sacred place... they should show some respect. Flipping to a new page, he began sketching the scene before him.


((Feel free to notice or speak to him. He doesn't seek out conversation very often, but that doesn't mean he's against it. He just tends to get lost in his art ^^ ))

Zayn glanced up as another person appeared and walked past him. Ruby eyes blinked and followed the newcomer without trying to seem obvious. There really were some interesting looking people around here. Zayn fluttered his wings as the man walked by, a little nervous at having someone so close - it wouldn't do to have someone step on his wings or tail.

The man nodded at him and Zayn returned the gesture, a bit uncertain still but at least this one wasn't yelling. "Hello," he said in a soft voice before turning back to his sketching.

That was enough, her eyes narrowing the masked woman simply shook her head and took one large stepped off the edge of the balcony and in a flurry of emerald and a single plumed feather she hurtled towards the ground below the balcony that had been invaded by so many - she would not be backed into a corner by those who could not understand exactly where they belonged.

That being said, she spread her arms out in the similar fashion to wings, bending one of her legs behind her slightly as she landed with a muffled thump and a brief billow of dust. Nevertheless, as the dust cleared it became apparent that the woman had actually landed on her feet - carefully leant forward with her knees crouched while her fingertips had been used as a gentle buffer, she was almost like a cat!

Her leap completed, she simply straighted up and adjusted the plumed hat into the correct position before stalking into the lobby of the temple once more; if they all decided to gather in there next she was going to blow them all up - every last one of them.

Moving to the Main Hall

Daniel's eyes darted to the side. They'd left, leaving only him and the undead. He had to admit that the leap the woman had suddenly made was surprising, but utterly showy. And she was the angry one. He felt no need to concern himself further with her, or her bleeding friend who rapidly went after her like a puppy dog enthralled. These ones were the ones with knowledge, were they not?

He was suddenly desperate to learn. Why was he here, what did that deep communion mean, what was that entrancing crystal he had edged by? It was all connected, and this shapeshifter didn't appreciate being manipulated, even if it was by some kind of building. He had to understand what was going on.

Seating himself carefully, he sighed. "Perhaps I was interrupting too much. I apologise. But I would still like to understand more about this place..."

Twisting his head to see what the other male was looking at, Zayn spied a window he hadn't noticed initially. Standing up to peer through, he spied once more the large crystal that had rested inside the temple. "How beautiful," he murmured.

A shiver of excitement ran through him. "What marvellous luck, I can capture it from out here," he muttered his thoughts aloud. "That creepy lady inside was rather off-putting..." Hopefully the figure in black wouldn't mind if they viewed the crystal from out here.

"Y-you didn't see her?" Zayn looked at Eidos and blinked. "She was near the crystal... and kind of... misty..."

Well, didn't that sound sane. It wasn't that Zayn doubted what he'd seen (he'd certainly seen stranger things on his travels), but it did make him wonder if the other man had simply not been paying attention or if normal people weren't meant to see the figure in black.

"Maybe she appears and disappears," he mumbled, not wanting to appear too crazy and also not wishing to alienate this person by suggesting they'd missed seeing something.

Blood rushed to Zayn's cheeks when Eidos asked to see Zayn's work, though the blush wasn't overly noticable behind the golden down that covered most of his body. "Um, I guess," Zayn rubbed one hand against his head, embarrassed. "Oh, wait," excitement overtook nerves as he flipped the pages back. "Look, see here -" he displayed a quick sketck of the crystal and the misty figure hovering nearby - "that's her."


((All references to the Crystal Guardian are from what I remember off the top of my head. I could be wrong.))