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 Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 1:29 pm
 Powerful wingbeats carried the bright-marked Painter swiftly through the air. The jungle passed by quickly below him, a mass of dark trees with no sign of any of his kind. After a brief visit home to say hello to his parents, Florian had set off again, this time north and east, towards the mysterious Jungle of Sleep. So far, they didn't look very mysterious. He hadn't seen anything unusual, just trees. But then, the young Painter thought, I'm probably too high up too see anyone down there...
The decision was easily made. He wheeled round abruptly and dived down towards the trees, pulling up just above the topmost branches and looking around for somewhere to land. There were no obvious clearings within sight, so he flew up a little higher to get a better look at the surrounding area. After a minute or so of searching, Florian spotted a patch of trees that looked less closely packed, and headed over towards it.
He wasn't worried about the jungle's reputation. No one, so far as he knew, had been seriously harmed by the mysterious creatures who were supposed to live there, and the possibility of seeing one far outweighed the risks. No, he thought as he manoeuvred through the branches to the ground, it'll be fine...
Landing, he glanced around. Where first? It all looked the same, really: trees, more trees, vines and creepers and... He looked down at his feet in horror. Oh yes, that was mud they were sinking into. Thick, sticky, wet mud, that clung when he pulled his foot out. He put it down again carefully, only to find it still sinking - and he couldn't get purchase to take off, just beating his wings alone wouldn't do it. Florian swore to himself and looked around, trying not to panic. The empty forest that had seemed so blissful and beautiful moments before was now just creepy... "Hello?" he called anxiously, praying that there would be someone around. He didn't care who. "Hello? Help?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:52 pm
 Living in the deeper regions of the Jungle of Sleep made it easier for one to forget who he was. With such an omnious reputation and an aura for putting others off the idea of travelling within, it was a pretty safe bet to say that he would be alone forever. When his wings had still been strong, Brutis had flew into the central part of the jungle, nestling deep within its branches to make his home.
Now that all the voices had died out of his head, he barely remembered the guilt. Evil had tempted him once and here, he was sure it wouldn't happen again. His large, scarred body lumbered across the stones, making sure he didn't have to sink further into the swamp that surrounded him. The cool, squishy mud helped him to clear his thoughts and concentrate on making it from one side of the jungle to the other alive.
A voice caught his attention. Brutis swerved her large head in the direction, leaning over to get better reception. Someones in distress? That was impossible! What fool would come to the Jungle of Sleep? Never the less, Brutis felt it in his bones to go help this stranger. He wouldn't allow anymore to die because of his negligence.
With his wings tucked at his sides, he maneuvered around the tightly packed trees until he was at the end of the thinner marsh, peering at the bright Painter. It seemed unnatural to him that someone colored like the sun would be stuck in this kind of place. " Don't struggle so much, " He chided, smiling kindly, if not a bit hollow. His left forepaw stretched out ontop of the mud, sitting ontop of it as if it were solid ground. A bi-product of his magic; the skills of the Earth.
" I'll help you get out if you do exactly as I say. "
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Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 7:42 am
Florian froze as he heard the voice - before he even registered what it had said, he was frozen in fear of whoever it might who lived in this place. A moment later, he finally registered the words and the kind, if disapproving, tone, and he relaxed slightly. If this 'painter was going to help him get out, he must be nice. Then the other painter continued, and Florian smiled a little at the affirmation of his thoughts. So he wasn't stuck here - that was good.
Craning his neck, with wings spread for balance, but moving as little as possible, the young 'painter twisted round to smile at his rescuer. "Umm... okay," he replied, gazing curiously at the other male.
He was oddly built, with a large and powerful body, and small wings for his size... in fact, Florian didn't think they would carry him. Well, he supposed, if this guy lived in the forest he wouldn't have much need for flying... And then his foot slipped deeper into the mud and he flailed, panicking, then froze as he remembered what the other had said. "Uh... sorry," he said with an apologetic grin that wouldn't be visible to his companion now that he had turned round again. "What do I do?"
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 7:21 am
Brutis slowly walked across the swamped earth, using one of his only magical abilities to keep him upright and out of its clutches. He treaded carefully so as not to disturb the natural balance of the swamp. " Just don't move, " Brutis repeated, feeling it needed to be firmly planted into the younger 'painters mind. Youth, he'd found, were less likely to actually listen when advice was being given and more likely to complain when the job went sour for them later on. Since starvation could set in if the 'painter were to stay here for too long, it was a life or death situation, and Brutis didn't want that on his claws for too long.
Brutis lowered his body as close to the ground as he could get. When he felt the cool mud brushing up against his underbelly, he slowly moved his head forward, underneath the other 'painter. He used his great body as a wedge to push up from the others underside, prying him from the muddied earth. Closing off his eyes and mouth, he kept as much muck from entering him as possible, though some snuck into his nostril as he scooted forward. When he'd wiggled himself underneath the younger male, Brutis stood up, sucessful in his mission.
{ ;-; I appologize immensely for my lateness. I never forgot the rp, school just got to me. }
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Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 2:25 pm
It was incredibly hard not to move as the larger painter squirmed underneath him - especially because it tickled. But Florian held still as best as he could, and didn't mention the tickling to his rescuer. It wouldn't have helped the somewhat awkward and uncomfortable position he was in.
Neither did being lifted above the mud, although it was a relief to feel his feet freed from its sticky clutches. Feeling slightly more sure of the situation, although no less stupid, Florian manoeuvred so that he was standing on the other painter's broad back. He looked pretty strong, but even that more dignified position wouldn't be comfortable for either of them for very long. As delicately as he could, Florian pushed off the other painter's back, beating his wings hard to lift into the air.
He hovered a few feet above, peering down at the swamp - and only then did it occur to him that his rescuer wasn't sinking. He almost forgot to keep his wings beating. A momentary dip towards the surface startled him back into concentration, and he stared down at the other painter. He didn't appear to be even touching the surface... but questions about that could come later. For now, there was a slightly more pressing matter to be addressed. "Um... where is it safe to land?" Florian called down to his companion, not willing to trust his own judgement of the ground's stability.
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 10:21 am
Brutis braced himself as the younger painter balanced himself ontop of him. He could feel the magic's strength wearing away and as he looke down, he saw his claws becoming covered in muck. When the younger male pushed off, he grunted as he sank down further. Luckily, his magic withstood the onslaught and he was able to walk a bit and keep himself upright, safe from the swamps clutches.
" Any of the tree branches are safe, but I don't suppose you would have much luck finding one sturdy enough for you. " Brutis began to carefully trot back the way he came. Maneuvering his right wing, he pointed to a rather large flattened bolder to the left of him. " You can rest there. " The stone would be cold and hard, but less mucky than sitting on any of the decent ground in the area. He himself liked to sleep on it, keeping it clean of filth by dusting it off with his tail.
The larger painter stopped using his magic as soon as his claws connected with solid ground. Once he was safe that he wouldn't sink, he slowly sat down on the ground, then stretched out to lay, head upright to watch the younger male. It had been so long since he'd had any form of company that he was unsure of what to say to him, but he knew he wanted to say something.
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Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:34 pm
Florian landed on the boulder with a sigh of relief. Safe, solid, rock. That was good - much less nervewracking than trying to distinguish solid ground from mud and swamp. His feet, though, were covered in muck and left muddy footprints as he shifted, trying to find a comfortable position on the raised boulder. Frowning at them, he flicked at the mud on his right forefoot with his left. It was minimally successful, and after a moment he decide to just shake off what he could. Little lumps of mud flew across the clearing, and Florian winced as one passed close to his rescuer's head. Luckily none hit him, and after a few moments the bright painter was satisfied. He folded his legs neatly under himself and looked down at the other painter.
Now, he thought, was the time for questions. "Um, how come you didn't sink in the mud?" he blurted out before he had time to think. Gabbling slightly, he added, "Also, thank you for helping me. I'd have been stuck without you. And hello. I'm Florian."
There. Completely bacl-to-front, but it would do. There was something different about this guy, and he wanted to know what.
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 2:37 pm
Brutis methodically used his great snout to flip pieces of mud off his talons and from between his claws. The rest of him would eventually dry and flake off but he needed his claws to catch prey with. He wasn't about to starve for vein beauty. His massive tail was still half-way in the swamp muck anyway and was poorly trying to flick itself out.
Looking up at the brighter painter, Brutis levelly stared at him. Such an innocent question, but one that he wasn't expecting. Nor was it one that he was planning on answering. Magic was something that always came back to bite you in the rump and this was his time. " You're very welcome for the rescue, Florian. " He smiled at bit at the youngers bad pun, before shaking his head and putting on a more serious face. " As soon as you are rested, I would implore you to leave as soon as possible. No objections. "
He knew it was rude to not give his name, or answer the males questions but his name was linked with many, many bad things that he didn't feel like talking about now. Once successfully cleaned, Brutis stood up with a 'grunt' and slunk off into the woods.
No waif of a dragon was going to make him come back to the world outside his swamp. He lived in peace and liked it!
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 3:39 pm
Florian stared after the other painter, puzzled, for a few moments, and then shook his head to himself and called after him. "Hey, wait!" Hopping up from the safety of the rock, he flew after him, skimming through the trees with only the occasional minor collision. "You didn't answer my question..." There was probably a very good reason for that, but he continued anyway. "Are you... a magic user, then? I mean, if you are, I was hoping - one day - to study with Kitxoone. I just wondered..."
And now he was being incoherent as well as probably annoying. Frowning to himself, Florian found a reasonably sturdy looking branch in a nearby tree, and took up an uneasy perch on it, hoping that the strange painter would stop and at least reply to some of his questions. Flying through the forest was hard work. And besides, he had other questions, too - like how come this painter lived in the forest safely, and in a swamp at that?
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Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:41 pm
Brutis tried not to let the panic make itself visible on his face. " My kind of magic would make Kitxoone very angry, indeed. " In the battle field, they'd been on separate sides and no matter how hard he'd tried not to listen to the voices in his head, always whispering, always taunting, in the end he had been to weak. " If you absolutely have to learn magic, I would suggest learning from him. Otherwise, do yourself a favor and find your own swamp. "
The larger painter moved around the wide girth of a tree before hopping up onto another boulder. He moved his snout down the ground and picked up a limb of berries he'd left there earlier in the day before hopping back down onto the squishy earth. Maybe, if he didn't say anything else, Florian would just leave and never ask anymore questions again. Thats the trick. Stay positively quiet.
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