Welcome to Gaia! ::

The nights were rolling in and the darkness was taking over earlier than usual, with the chill wind ready to snap at anyone that braved the outside, signs that winter was setting downs its roots as it stripped the last of the golden leaves from the trees. However in a small clearing in the main park that shared close quarters with D-corp a light shone and the air was warmed. Both were caused by a large campfire. Getting bigger by the moment as a silver haired women feed wood into the blaze contained by a ring of stone. Also logs had been dragged around it to create seating as well as some blankets and a few cushions encase the night got any colder, sitting on one of the padded squares was a black fired boy, his sleek velvet like fire shinning quite prettily, he watched his mother feed the fire as he popped another mash mellow into his mouth rolling the soft treat over his tongue before biting into them and swallowing. Also around him were other treats for the night, nuts and hot drinks that could be made up with little effort. At this time of night Taren was normally snuggled at home possibly getting to the point where the feeling of sleep was just starting to creep up on him. His dragon Periwinkle had already given in and was curled up some distance from the fire buried in a pile of leaves.

But not Taren, not tonight. He was on a high of excitement, nerves and no small amount of sugar. Sleep was the furthest thing from his mind. Oddly enough for rather a shy and easily alarmed child Taren was fond of ghost stories. The type that would purposely switch over and watch a ghost story or horror film then end up peeking out from behind the sofa for most of it. But he loved them really. So this had been his mothers idea. She had even put up a sign at D-corp inviting the other children along which read something like...

GHOST STORIES NIGHT!
OPEN TO ALL OF 5 YEARS AND ABOVE. (Dragons also welcome)
FUN NIGHT WITH FOOD AND DRINKS INCLUDED.
It then went on to list the time, date and place that the small event would take place

Silen really did hope that some people would turn up as Since his encounter with real sickness for the first time Taren had been put off going to see other D-corp kids and she had just wanted to keep him close all the time. But also his last encounter with a certian lizard girl hadn't helped. What if they didn’t like him either? Shouted at him? So this was really a confidence builder for him and a event where it forced social interaction without having all attention focused on him all the time. And he’d get to hear more ghost stories which was the main draw of course. His mother would leave when the others children got here but she would not be far away. Probably smoking and working in the car which was parked up in the parks lot.

“Tarrie! Those are for tonight!” The boys guardian scolded him in affectionate but exasperated tones. Taren stopped chewing for a moment eyeing his adoptive mother before hastily swallowing and shoving the bag behind his back. “Taren, no more.” She scolded shaking her finger at him. “It really is a good thing we brought plenty.” Taren looked at her with those wide liquid eyes and put the half empty bag back with the others. His guardian sighed. It really was impossible to keep up any level of annoyance or anger at him when he looked at her with those eyes. “It’s okay Tarrie just don’t eat anymore til the others come okay?” Since the fire was up and blazing now she sat down beside her charge letting him lean in against her while they waited. “do you think people will come?” the mole boy asked getting comfortable. “I hope so Tarrie, you’d like to hear some more new ghost stories wouldn’t you.” Taren paused and then nodded. “I’ve heard all of yours lost of times.” Silen laughed and hugged him. “so you have. Think you’ll be telling any yourself?” Taren blinked and seemed to pause and consider. “Maybe.” He replied. “Oh My boys getting brave.” Silen answered with a light laugh. Taren just smiled shyly blushing a little always enjoying any praise that was given. Now they just had to wait.

Shilling was frolicing along behind them quite merrily. Cleo was getting better at ignoring him when she wanted to, and he never really cared. He was there! Azucar wasn't trying to hurt him! Life was good.

AND.

There was a NEW PERSON. He gave a sharp noise of glee at seeing that BRAND NEW PERSON, and jumped around the flames in order to come up to Taren. The gold dragon nosed at him merrily and flopped down near the child, his body all but squirming.

"Meep - sorry about him! That's Shilling. He likes people." Cleo didn't sound very sorry. Her voice was as happy and cheerful as ever as she flounced next to her sister. Her hair had been cut for her Halloween costume that she would don later; it was a cute little bob, her curls even fluffier at the new short length. It was to her cheekbones! She was in shorts with a bright orange tank top, knee-length purple and green socks, and cheap bracelets dangling around her wrists. Still, she waved at the child.

"Hi! I'm Cleo. Tyvens sister!"

Tyven promptly moved over to create a space on her left side, Cleo was on her right, and she nodded for Altessa to take the seat. Since her fight with Ala, and her distaste toward Medusa, she'd been meaning to get in contact with her old friend. It was hard to sneak up on Tyven, but then again, she'd been spacing out on the fire, instead.

"Alt..." She actually smiled. "Sit with me." She still called the girl by her old nickname. Not Tessa. Eyeing Cleo's skimpy clothes, she frowned at the chill coming over the night, and unzipped her duffel bag to hand her 'sister' a sweatshirt. "Put this on." Stare.

"Altessa!" Well, Cleos face certianly lit up when she saw the bandersnatch. She didn't sit down to Tyven right away, instead choosing to hop over her and absolutely BEAM at the other girl. "You're here! Since when were you social? Hey! Look! You can see the scar you gave me."

She tilted her head to the side to show the thin scar from ear to nostril, but Cleo was nearly proud of it. After all, she had hit Altessa back! Not that Tyven knew anything about that, or her last conversation with the bandersnatch. She hopped back than, not daring to pounce Altessa into a hug, and sat down heavily next to her sister.

"I'm fine, Tyvvie~~ I'm not cold! Honest." Another smile, this time aimed at her sister, and Cleo snuggled close to Tyven. "This'll be fun!"

Shilling was quite pleased with the attention. He wriggled closer to the boy and nuzzled against whatever he could reach. likemeeelikelikelikemeeeeee ...not that anyone but other dragons could understand him.

"No! But thank you, Taren! Did you set this up?"

Altessa moved to sit beside Tyven, absolutely grinning at the bird. "You kept it. Heh." Her eyes slid to the floor before she closed them, hunching over slightly as her tail curled around her thigh, exhaling softly and looking completely relaxed. It had been a while since she'd actually been social, but Cleo was right -- when had she ever been social?

"I was left alone." Alt murmured softly, glancing to Cleo as she raised her chin. "Even fear incarnate needs company." The last sentence was said softly.

Her eyes slid to regard the dove girl quietly. She knew she was there, but no motion was made to scare the other whatsoever. Just a quiet nod to let the other know that yes, she knew she was there.

"Alora." Taren replied his round face breaking into a wider smile as he scooted along towards her not so subtlety. Plus it seemed the best way to move away from the dragon without upsetting him. By now he thought that the insistent nuzzling was getting so hard that it was likely to bruise. Once he was settled again through he did gently scratch the creatures head with his claws.
Alora was someone he knew, maybe even a friend and she was friendly and warm and her fathers were soft looking. In short she made him feel a lot more comfortable than any of the other d-corp kids that had so far joined them. He peered over her shoulder at the older girl aswell and waved to her.

He blinked past the gloom into the park around them but t seemed that no others would be forth coming, but that was okay, he never liked to many people anyway. Well maybe not. As the husky came bounding to join the group Taren squeaked a little it was an instinctive sound that often escaped him when he was surprised or startled. He couldn’t really help it. But he soon calmed and he waved at the newcomer. “Hello I’m Taren,” he informed him quietly. And as he drifted he heard something crinkle. Oh yea. He pulled out the box of various snacks and set them down near the fire. “ahh..you can help yourself.” He told them and picked out a can for himself stabbing the top with one claw was enough to open it and showed how powerful those claws really were, although he had never used them in a offensive manner. The thought hadn’t even crossed his mind. “oh and when someo...someone tells a story...they have to put this on the fire.” He told them. “and that means it’s your turn then.” He told them pulling out a brown bag of what appeared to be simple silver dust but when he threw a pinch of it onto the fire to demonstrate the fire flared brilliant blue for the briefest of moments.

"You aren't scary, Altessa." She scoffed, leaning so her arms were draped around her brilliantly purple sister, and her chin rested on Tyvens shoulders. The goldcrest cuddled close, a contented smile on her face. "You're just a grumpy butt. Right, Tyvvie?" She leaned closer, comfortable, and peered at Taren curiously.

The bright flash left her giggling madly, fingers snaking down Tyvens arm to her fingers, her own fingertips stroking across the back of her hand.

"Who's gonna go first? Are we drawing straws or offering or.. or what? -And that is SO cool!"

((ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK!!! YES. biggrin biggrin biggrin ))

Liang blinked, looking up from Huang Di, but continued to stroke him, nevertheless. Arith? She knew someone by that name. "I'm Liang." She announced again quietly, mostly for his sake. "And that's Alora."

"How have you been?" Alora asked Taren, her gaze moving away from Altessa.

"That's interesting." She murmured, staring at the flames. Hypnotised by the sudden flare and change in color, the dove didn't register Cleo's exact words. It wasn't as if she knew any ghost stories to tell.