The male walked into through the streets of Cairo, watching the amazing array of colors and people swarming around him and past. This was a brand new experience for him, he had never been to Egypt. Expect maybe a pit stop on an airplane which he had never gotten off. He shook his head, grinning. That was nothing, and did not count compared to this. The architecture alone was amazing, and the people even more so. He simply stood in the street, watching as the flow of traffic and humanity swirled around him. His thoughts wondered, and his smile slowly melted away, replaced with a look of regret upon his face. So many people, yet he still felt so alone. He watched as a couple passed by, hand in hand, laughing and they even kissed. He clenched his fist, staring. He jerked his away from the sight, and focused upon his goal.
He had come here to hunt. It was after all what he was good at. When rumors of a magnificent and brutal beast with a woman's head, a lions body, and the wings of an eagle hand reached his ears, he leap at the chance to get away. This was his chance to exercise, to use his well honed combat skills. He didn't need anybody else. It wasn't important to him. Life and death, he had not told a soul of his plans, or where he was even going. It didn't matter, who would he have told them to anyways? His pet snake? No, it was better this way. If he lived, he would have had a wonderful battle, and probably something to show for it later. A small souvenir later perhaps from the body. Or maybe just a trinket bought in a market place along the way. It didn't matter either way to him.
He rolled his head slowly, loosening the muscles that had tensed slightly at the return of old memories. He bent and picked up his black duffel that contained some clothing and most off all, wrapped and hidden deep inside, his weapons. His katana and two sai where wrapped amongst the cloths, hidden well. His two throwing stars where actually hidden his black leather vest now. Getting them through customs had been a nightmare. He had essentially used his own shape shifting ability and created two pockets on each arm, hiding them there and growing skin back over the spots. When the alarms went off, he claimed old war wounds and plates there.
He headed off towards a nearby dock, hoping against hope that it was not to late to catch a ship down the Nile to the town near where the beast had been seen called Luxor. A sphinx, by the sounds of it actually was what it sounded like he was hunting. All the more interesting then, for this would not only be test of courage, strength and bravery, but intelligence as well. The thought of intelligence brought to mind his old acquaintance, Joseph. He grinned as he thought about how the old man would be groaning and complaining now, about the heat and his leg. He sighed and finally reached the docks. He began calling out in English for anybody who could understand him. A small, sun wrinkled man came towards him and asked him what he wanted. "I am looking for a ride down the river. To a town named Luxor?" The guy babbled away in a wheezy voice, telling him not many boats went that way anymore, because of a horrible beast attacking the country side and that the male should stay away. Waving his hand, Ca'guuror waved the words away. "I am not staying long or wandering far. Don't worry about it. When does the boat leave, sir?" The old man thought, then called to another man and began babbling in a language Cag didn't know or understand. He waited impatiently, and finally the man turned back to him. "Tomorrow, before the sun rise. Okay for you?" Cag sighed deeply and nodded. "Yea, I guess. How much? I will pay you in advance." He passed over the sum the little man asked and turned around.
He stood, contemplating. Tomorrow, huh? He supposed he would have to find accommodations for the evening. Preferably one close by, for it would be a very early trip. Seeing a hotel and bar just a few meters away, and nodded and headed for it. The night was still young, and perhaps he would meet some interesting people there. He didn't drink himself, but you never knew what might happen or who you would find in a seedy place like this. He pushed the door open and stared around at the filthy place and sighed. "Well, at least he wouldn't be wasting a lot of money here," he thought to himself as he made his way towards a a table in the corner where he could clearly see the entrance to the pub and the stairway leading upstairs to the rooms.
Last Edit: Aug 3, 2011 18:08:17 GMT -5 by caguuror
Post by Daniela Demarco on Aug 3, 2011 19:41:31 GMT -5
The tourists’ white skin and blonde hair stood in sharp contrast to the brown tones of the native people. A group stood on bricks around a golden monument, taking pictures. Daniela’s mother had never been to Africa, and she suggested Dani go with the extra money they inherited from her father. The plane ride was long, but Daniela thought it was well worth it. She looked around as a tourist does, absorbing the scene of this village like a sponge. The air smelt hot and ripe. She looked around at the people, all doing something important to their wellbeing. These people were hard working, not spoiled like all the tourist who paid thousands of dollars to come watch them.
Even so, Daniela clicked a picture of the golden monument. It was good to be away from everything for a while. She could put up with the weather; it just gave her a good reason to wear new heels and sun dresses.
She observed the monument more closely. The statue was of an elephant. On certain parts of the golden animal were smaller jewels, around it’s hooves and on some places on it’s face. The elephant looked peaceful as it bowed down to get a drink from the water below it. Dani crouched down in front of the beast and looked up at it. It was really amazing, she wished she could have something like this in her town. She touched the water with her fingers and began thinking about life in England, and how her father would have liked the statue too.
A few minutes of daydreaming later, Dani looked up not to see the white tourists, but only the brown residents going about their business routinely. A short wave of panic surged through her, but she calmed down quickly. Dani looked around to see if she could spot the group anywhere, but by the looks of it they were long gone. Daniela stood up again and continued looking. She shouldn’t bother to ask any of the native people where the group went because she wouldn’t be able to understand anyway. After a few seconds of deliberating, Daniela spotted a hotel and walked towards it, on the idea that maybe they were settling in somewhere.
The woman pushed open the door and realized the place was more dingy than she thought. The room had a grey atmosphere to it, and everything looked used and sad. The woman behind the counter was African, too, and Dani didn’t want to risk making herself look like a moron in front of people she didn’t know. She pulled off her sunglasses, and with a quick glance around the room she spotted another white skinned person, and started to walk towards him. Maybe he spoke english.
“Hi,” Dani said as she stopped in front of the table the man was sitting at. “Do you speak English?” She paused and looked out one of the windows, then back at the man. “Have you seen a big tourist group anywhere? I got lost,”
He watched the door open and blinked as a young, fair skinned female walked through the threshold. Another American perhaps, or perhaps a Brit from her very pale skin. It didn't matter really. He was shocked even more as she walked up to him instead of to the bar. He blinked stupidly up at her, his pupiless solid gold eyes looking into her own eyes. "Uh...." He struggled to find words. Not many humans, for that would was what she undeniably was based upon her scent, would just so brazenly walk up to him. "No, I have not seen them. I am extremely sorry." He looked around the area, trying to figure out what to do next. His eyes fell upon the window, that was slowly darkening as the sun fell. "Are you going to continue searching for them though? It is getting rather dark and it is unwise to be wandering the streets at night. Especially for a young...uh...pleasant looking lady such as yourself." He pointed at the window as he spoke, biting his lip.
He dropped his hand and motioned to the seat across from him. "Would you like to have a seat? Although this isn't the best place, it is pretty cheap. You could stay the night at least and hunt for your group in the morning. That would be the most advisable thing to do." He smiled but not to wide, trying to hide his four sharp canines. He stood up and moved around her, pulling the seat out gently to help her to the table.
Post by Daniela Demarco on Aug 3, 2011 20:38:59 GMT -5
“Oh,” Dani said under her breath, noticing now his strange looking eyes. She wondered if maybe he didn’t speak English. Something about him was foreign, maybe it was the eyes but... Maybe she shouldn’t have asked this guy at all. Still, she kept her confidence, and listened to his response, feeling a bit relieved when he began to speak, (in English). She followed the man’s gaze out the window, watching the sun begin to set on the African horizon. Her head turned back to look at him as he complimented her, then he pointed back to the window, which she again looked out of.
“Yeah...” She agreed, feeling flattered and a little unsure at the same time. This guy probably meant no harm, but it was never bad to be a little wary, especially in a situation like this one. She wondered where all her luggage was and hoped it wasn’t stolen or lost. The man advised her to stay at the hotel they were at, and she agreed with the idea. Dani didn’t know what went on at night in a village like this one, but she didn’t want to find out alone and get into trouble. Her expression mirrored her stress and anxiety, but shortly that disappeared as the man smiled and pulled a seat out for her.
Daniela took her seat and crossed her legs, feeling like a lady in her light blue dress. The man look a little older than her, but she though his smile was charming. “I just don’t want to lose all my stuff,” She explained, distracted by his inhuman eyes. The colored contacts that people get these days... “They have all my luggage. Im sure they’ll realize I’m missing sooner of later,” She said, realizing finally how much her British accent alienated her from the culture here. It alienated her in the US, but she felt it all over again in Africa. She started looking around the lobby of the hotel, feeling a little foolishl.
Dani placed her sunglasses on her head as a headband. “Whatever,” She muttered. Things would work out in the end. “So where’d you get those?” She asked with a little smile, attempting to be friendly. “Contacts, I mean. Those are pretty neat.”
He listened to her as he gently scooted her up to the table, then went back around and sat down. He smiled, struggling to keep his canines from lengthening and sharpening. It was very hard, especially after you had been like that for years and years. He sighed at the urge to release them, but still did not. "Well, if you really wish, I guess I could go find them and bring your luggage back if you really need it. It would not be a problem at all. In fact, I am sure I could have them back with in, oh say thirty or forty minutes. After all, how far could they have gotten if you where just with them?"
He laughed to himself inside. Thirty or forty minutes? With his skills he could have them back in ten or fifteen minutes. But no need to pique her interest as to why he would be able to do that so quickly after having warned her about going out at night. He was feeling rather protective of her. A lost female, in a strange place, with apparently nobody there for her. He nibbled the inside of his lip, contemplating. Should he really be helping her? It wasn't any of his business what happened. He threw the thought away as quickly as he had thought it. He couldn't, and WOULD'NT leave her by herself. Guess he was stuck with her for the evening at least.
He motioned for the lady at the bar to come over, and as the plump, dark skinned lady came around he smiled at her. "Do you understand any english?" The lady help up two plump fingers, a little bit apart. "A little. Good enough. Water? Please?" The lady nodded and looked at the female seated with him. Her face was motherly and kind, and she winked at the girl and nodded towards the guy seated with her. Cag ignored the movement and looked at her. "Would you like something to drink? Perhaps something slightly stronger then water?" He grinned, and quickly stopped. Damn, that was close? Had she seen? His canines and finally slipped, becoming long and pointed. He forced them back to normal, and hid the lose of the smile with skill, simply hoping she hadn't notice. "My friend will have a.....you know, I just realized, I don't even know your name? Well, what would you have, oh Nameless One?" He laughed, joking lightly with her.
Ah, Cairo. As she breathed in the desert air, Tamreta felt a sense of security befall her. This city was ancient and filled with mysteries that not even the modern world could disguise. It was a feeling similar to her own home so far away. Intriguing how a desert in Egypt could remind her of the remind her of the rainforests of the Amazon. Perhaps it was just the intense feeling of secret knowledge whispering just at the edge of hearing that was the same. That could certainly explain why she loved the city so. The people were also very friendly, though she was worried about how reckless the taxi drivers had become. Careening around corners at high speeds was something to be done in American movies, not narrow streets crowded with people. Thinking of which she glanced around at the steadily decreasing number of said people. Most of those left outside were working men our tourists eager to explore the night life. Local women were fast becoming scarce.
Thinking about her own clothing, she adjusted the gauzy black scarf over her face and began to walk as if she were going somewhere specific. Her choice to wear an abaya in order to blend in had been wise, but it limited her in terms of night movement. Not that she regretted it, though. She rather liked the cool feel of the light silk garment and the silver embroidery along the hems and neckline were sewn beautifully. A thanks would have to be given to Mala when she got the chance. The elemental loved gems, so a good bloodstone would probably satisfy her.
But that was beside the point. Tamreta brushed that thought to the back of her mind for later consideration so that she could concentrate better on the problem at hand. If memory served her right the place should be only another couple of blocks away, and if she was wrong that would be easy enough to determine. There had been an ornate fountain in the same square as the hotel, and she doubted the city would have torn it down. Cairo was very proud of its history afterall.
As she strolled down the streets, she let the magic of the coming night soak into her. The light cast by the setting sun set the buildings aglow with delicate shades of orange and pink, and some of the night birds were already beginning to sing. Combined with the cooling air, the overall effect was enough to make the walk seem shorter. Before she knew it the golden elephant fountain was before her. Was it just her, or did the statue look shinier than the last time she had seen it? Memory could play tricks very easily when left to wonder about the past. She only hoped that the former owner of the nearby hotel was still alive. It wasn't neccessary persay - she had currency with which to buy a room - but the feeling would not be the same without the spirited old woman around. Also, the woman knew more of what went on than a newspaper, and she could certainly tell her more about the recent rumors of the sphinx spotted around Luxor.
Wishing to avoid the common room for now, the reaper went to the narrow alley between the old hotel and the building next to it. She smiled faintly when she tested the door there and found it open. Still as trusting as ever this place was, confident that no one would dare cross the old woman living here. That meant she was still alive. The thought gladdened Tamreta, and she stepped inside. The moment she entered she felt the strong presence of someone else with her. She turned slowly so as not to startle whoever they were. An old woman was there, her skin as brown and tough as old leather with deep wrinkles worn around the mouth and eyes. Though she looked frail she stood tall, and glared at the intruder. She had not changed a bit in thirty years.
"Ama!" Tamreta exclaimed joyfully. The old woman stared hard at her before the voice clicked and instantly her glare turned into a smile. "Child, did you have to wait so long to come visit me? I do not care if you live long, but I only have so many years before I expire," the woman scolded gently in Arabic. "My granddaughter has since grown from a babe into a woman in the time you've been away. She's in the other room as we speak. You should meet her, not that she would remember you, but just so you see what you miss when you go off gallavanting across the world." With that, Ama grasped her arm in an iron grip and proceeded to drag her into the common room. Caught up in her pace Tamreta could only laugh quietly to herself. Some people never changed.
The room she was brought into was small and quaint. A bit dusty, but the furniture was well made and authentic, and there were customers in the corner. "Salama, we have another guest," Ama announced loudly. For an old woman her lungs were still as healthy as ever. The other woman looked over her way with a curious smile, and with her out of the way, Tamreta caught sight of the face of the man sitting at the table. "Hello there. Charming yet another lady?" she asked Caguuror.
Post by Daniela Demarco on Aug 5, 2011 10:12:57 GMT -5
Daniela gave a small, uncomfortable smile. “Yeah, I guess so... but if you could find them I might just stay with them and finish the tour,” At this point, Daniela began to be more cautious of this man. Why wouldn’t he have suggested to find the group in the first place? She didn’t completely distrust him, though. Dani knew that there were many people in the world, and every one of them was different somehow. She didn’t understand how this guy’s mind worked, so she didn’t assume it was the same as hers. She did really want her luggage though...
Her fingers moved up to scratch her neck as she watched the dark skinned woman move towards their table. The safari she went on earlier that day was simply astonishing. The only bad parts were the price and the bugs. She’d never seen bugs that big before, and the bites they gave were extraordinary. Even so, Daniela loved being somewhere so foreign. The sights were just amazing, and it reminded her how big the world was. She looked down at her nails out of habit, noticing the dirt underneath and the chipped nail polish. Next paycheck was going to a manicure.
Dani looked up again, listening to the woman speak. She nodded at the man, her expression saying ‘why not?’. She was lost in Africa. If there was a time to have a drink, this would be the time. Anything to cool down at this point would be appreciated, anyways. She noticed the man’s smile quickly vanish, as if something were worrying him, like she saw something she wasn’t supposed to. Dani smile quieted as well. She wondered what this man was hiding, and why he was acting so strangely. Dani was nervous, but her curiosity trumped over it. He asked for her name and laughed, and just as she was smiling and about to answer, she saw pointed teeth. Not teeth like everyone has that might be pointed, but animalistic canines, ones you would see on a dog or a large beast.
Immediately Dani doubted what she just saw and wondered if it was just her eyes playing tricks on her. No one has teeth like that. Either way, it caught her off guard, and all she could say was, “Um,” as she looked at the man across the table.
A woman spoke to the man she was sitting with. Daniela didn’t even notice her come in. The question she asked him was unsettling. Did this guy ‘charm’ women quite a lot? Dani surely didn’t want to be charmed in the situation she was in, alone in a huge foreign country. There was noting much she could do about it, unless she wanted to try to find the tour group by herself. She could handle one man better than she could handle whatever lurked in the village at night. Daniela looked at the women who had spoken, then back to the man, a questioning look on her face. She was not the one to be used, or taken advantage of. Even if she was alone, she wouldn’t be made into a fool.
Hearing his name spoken, he turned slightly, beaming brilliantly at the female Tamreta. He had only meet her once before, but it had been long enough to leave a lasting impression upon his mind.
"Well Tam! How are you this marvelous evening? Well I assume? Why don't you sit with us?" He stood and pulled out a chair for her, taking her by the arm and gently but firmly guiding her into the chair beside himself, not really giving her much of a choice. He slid back into his own seat, now that there was only one empty seat left at this table.
"This is a wonderful surprise. And to answer your question, no I am not "charming yet another lady" as you so eloquently put it. I am attempting to keep her safe. This poor soul has become separated from her group, and was wandering around looking for them. As it was getting dark, I was offering to go find her luggage for her with my..." he coughed slightly "talents and bring them to her, so she at least had something to change into in the morning. It is a very unwise idea for a beautiful lady such as herself to be wondering the streets at night, don't you agree?"
He turned back to the human female seated across from him. "Now, before you start getting any ideas in your mind let me put them to rest. I am NOT," he laid extremely heavy interest upon the word, "attempting to seduce, persuade, or cohearse you into doing anything you would not wish to do." He put up on finger, making a point and raising another finger with each new point.
"First, that is not my style. Second, I would never upon my life take advantage of any female with in this planet. It is just not my style, going back to my first. Third, it is not how I was raised. I was raised by a...." He paused, a dark cloud seeming to pass across his eyes and he froze up. Dark memories swirled up from his childhood, hidden secrets and pains. He remained that way for several seconds before somebody slammed a mug onto a table and he jerked back to reality.
"...I was raised not to do that. It was been instilled into me my entire life. Fourth, I go out of my way to help people like you, ma'am. I find it better then seeing the worst happen to them, and try to deal with my guilt. Nobody deserves that, and if I can, I prevent it. Now, you failed to mention your name, and what you would like to drink." He put his hand down, tapping it impatiently upon the table, awaiting her answer.
"I need your name to ask after your group, please. So don't think I am being all creepy like, ok. Tamreta, would you like something to drink? Its on me tonight." He stood, sliding out of the establishment, forgetting to even wait for her name. He stood in a dark alley, staring at the stone wall before him and shaking his head. Wow, he really botched that one up. He raised his hand and struck out at the wall, but instead of punching it, he let inch long talons dig into the crumbling stone. He scaled the building with ease before reaching the top with a simple back flip over the edge. He stood, shivering with irritation at his own self and shook his head. So stupid, thats what it was.
He decided not to think about it, and sniffed the air. The scents that had been mingled on the female where easy enough to remember. All foreign here, and strange. He smirked, as the scents wafted over to him from approximately three blocks over. He shape shifted with lightning like speed, telling any onlookers, and he really hoped there where none, that this was a extremely well practiced and used shape shift. His tan fur rippled along his body as his cloths melted into his flesh, and he dropped to all fours as his tail sprouted from between his legs, completing his panther form. He stalked along the roof tops, leaping gracefully from one buildings roof to the next as he followed the scent.
He landed ontop of the roof silently, the pads of his paws muffling any noise and he shape shifted again. This time his body shimmered as black scales rippled along him, replacing his fur and his body dropped to the ground. He slithered along, his body rippling as he made his way to a vent pipe in the ceiling. He pressed his nose against it, checking for heat and promptly slithered down it, his cobra body making it easy. He dropped out onto the floor of a small kitchen. He flicked his tongue out, finding the female's scent and slithered through a mouse hole, sending several squeaking and running for cover. He ignored them and came out into the other room, retaking his human form.
He sniffed, smirking again and picked up the female's two luggage bags and walked out. He took on the simple air of a housekeeper, and walked right out the building, waving and smiling at any funny looks he got and walked back to the hotel. He stopped outside the front door, hesitating to go back inside. He had only been gone seven or eight minutes.
Post by Daniela Demarco on Aug 6, 2011 9:58:46 GMT -5
Dani looked at the woman seated next to her. Daniela was tall, but this woman was tall. Her face was covered with a black cloth. Maybe it was the way she moved or just the aura about her, but it made Daniela a bit uneasy. She seemed like she had a kind of extraordinary power, which was slightly frightening. Dani blinked and averted her attention. The man’s speech was slightly reassuring, but Daniela still had her doubts. She opened her mouth to tell him her name, but he continued talking. She crossed her arms and let out a short puff of air through her nose, annoyed with the whole situation.
Her eyes searched all around the room, trying to find something to get her mind off of it. The receptionist was busy with a guest, as they would start pouring in now that the sun was setting. She glanced at the stairs upward, leading to the rooms, then saw the bar next to them. There wasn’t many people. Two men sat alone, looking just like they do in any bar, African or not. One seemed upset, cradling his head in his hands, and the other looked too wasted to be upset. A man and a women sat together, talking about something. A few women sat together. The bar looked inviting at least; there didn’t seem to be any danger to get herself into.
“Well, I’m going to this bar, you can come if you like, or not,” Daniela said to the intimidating woman sitting next to her. She forced a smile for a millisecond then stood up, her pure white heels clicking on the ground as she walked. The sundress was a bit poofy for her at this time of night, but it was still flattering. The dress hugged her chest and waist, then fell over her hips until it reached a bit below her knees. The light blue color made her stand out against the grays and browns of the bar. She sat on a rusty stool and waited for the bartender, who was having a good time talking with the ladies.
Finally he walked over, a grand smile on his face. “What can I get for you?” He asked with a thick African accent, leaning on the counter with his hands. “I’ll just have a beer please,” Dani answer with her own thick accent, only hers was quite different than his. It was interesting to listen to them both and figure out the differences. The man nodded and gave her the beer in a brown glass bottle. Dani thanked him and pulled the money out of her bra to pay for it. She sipped on the drink, leaning on the counter with her elbows. It was like she’d never tasted beer in her life. The drink was very refreshing, and a little smile returned to her face. All she needed was to relax.
She ended up thinking about her band. The last show they played was a good one, and she daydreamed about the bass line she was playing. She pressed her fingers on her left hand down on the glass bottle in her right, as if she was holding down the strings on the bass. If only she could play a show here in Africa, she thought, with another little grin. That would be something crazy. She sipped on the beer again, almost ready to order another.
Post by Vladamir Aerion on Aug 8, 2011 0:02:52 GMT -5
~~~~Vladamir and Draecion soared over the Nile River, they had come from the ocean, where the Nile opened to the ocean. Draecions nose had picked up on the scents of a settlement upstream, Draecions nose could pick up the faintest of scents from over four miles, when the wind blows in his direction twelve miles. The only way to judge the distance between them and the settlement is when Vladamir picked up on the scent himself. The gentle sway of Draecion was soothing, allowing Vladamir time to think, and relax. Vladamir had heard of rumors of another great beast, it's mass, strength, and agility rivaled that of a dragon. It was supposed to have the head of a woman, the body of a lion, and the wings and talons of a eagle, truly a beast. He had heard villagers around the Nile had been reporting seeing this beast. The most recent was a small village named Cairo, villagers have been encountering this beast they call the Sphinx, and lived to tell about it. ~~~~Draecion dipped, and allowed his massive form to lower in the air, regaining control of his movements, Draecion now soared feet above the tree tops. Draecion bent the tops of the trees with each beat of his wings, causing the birds and other small animals to scatter. Smoke in the distance gave them a good estimation of how far they were now, melding into the skyline as it reached the tops of the trees. Holding the Yumi bow, Vladamir leaned to the left, allowing his body to hang off Draecion. Scanning the ground Vladamir straightened back in his perch on Draecion. "Hmmm, this is taking longer then I expected. You could of told me that it was this far from us, I was hoping to get there before dark, and see about finding a stable for us to sleep." Draecion ignored Vladamir, beating his wings, he cause them to lurch high into the air, causing Vladamir to cringe before regaining his posture. Draecion beat his wings several more times, more gentle then the first causing them to rise high into the setting sun. ~~~~With the sun getting lower in the sky, Draecion increased his rate of flight. Draecions massive form silhouetted by the sun, caste a large shadow of a winged beast upon the ground. Most animals have a primal fear implanted in the back of their mind. This primal fear is the fear of large flying predator, swooping down upon them and taking them for food. Draecion pushed on, his massive wings beating the air ever few minutes to propel them forwards. The light from the settlement shown brightly in the darkness, giving them a direct line of flight to where it was. Draecion sped towards their destination, dipping his form downwards at a angle, and tucking his wings. Vladamir tucked himself behind a few of Draecions spikes, allowing the draft of wind to pass over him as Draecion dove. Draecion chose a spot to land near the towns square, the center had a large fountain, and plenty of room to allow his wings plenty of room to fold. ~~~~Draecions wings unfolded, catching the drafts raising upwards from the towns streets, causing them to unfurl and slow his massive form. Gliding around the are he had chose, Draecion was allowing his speed and moment to drop as he slowly closes the gap between him and the ground. Draecions legs extended fully, the claws spreading apart and grip the ground as he landed, Vladamir suspecting the impact to come soon braced himself, tightening the grip on the Yumi Bow. The impact came quickly, Draecions legs coiling to take the impact and brace himself, wings folding inwards, and tucking to his body. Vladamir slid from the perch on Draecions back, and landed on the ground. Moving towards the fountain, Vladamir uncorking his water skin and taking a drink. Draecion stuck his mouth in the fountain and drank a few large swallows. Corking the water skin he turned and walked towards a bench, sitting he made a notion for Draecion to come towards him. " Get comfortable, and relax we may be waiting a minute for someone to come around us. It's hard to say how many have encountered a dragon." Vladamir stood, as Draecion curled in a patch of tall grass near the inn. Moving to Draecion, Vladamir set beside him, Draecions large spiked tail curled around Vladamirs body, with enough accuracy that every spike missed his body. " I guess we shall rest here for now."
Tamreta smiled as she listened to Caguuror talk, almost to himself. It would seem even the young ones did not change much either. He still had that same habit of going off by himself with very little consideration to the thoughts of others, or of how he could expose his secret. The girl obviously knew nothing, which was a miracle in itself since she had been talking to him for who knew how long, but as Ama had left them, Tamreta could tell that the old lady was already wise to him. That was probably her fault, though, for greeting him like that. And when he suddenly left the reaper was left alone to watch the girl.
She had to keep from laughing at the look on the girl's face. For some reason the human did not trust her. Still, she had asked her to join her at the bar so she took the offer. Gliding smoothly from her chair to the bar stool Tamreta settled in silently beside the girl. She watched as she ordered a beer, but got nothing for herself. The craving for alcohol others had to ease tensions was not for her. It provided her with very little sustanence, and unless she could drain a bottle in a single swig the beer would end up tasting subtly of dust. Not pleasant at all. However, the girl seemed to loosen up as she drank. Already she was smiling and holding her bottle as if fingering some sort of instrument. It was like she had forgotten the black clothed figure there beside her.
"Are you in a band?" asked Tamreta. She nodded at the girl's fingers with a friendly sparkle in her eyes. "My name is Tamreta, by the way, and the young man you were talking with is named Caguuror. I know he asked you before, but since he hardly let you talk, would you mind telling me your name?"
Sighing to himself, Cag pushed the door open and slid back into the tavern. He glanced at the table, blinking as he saw nobody sitting there anymore. He glanced around the room, and spotted both ladies seated at the bar and nodded to himself. He shook his head and walked to the table and placed the bags upon it gently, just in case she had anything of value in them which could possible break. He stared at the bags, chewing on his lips for several seconds and finally tried to relax and turned, walking to the bar with sure strides, burying his thoughts and feelings deep with in himself to hide them. No need to let anything bother him for the evening. He had to get ready for the next day.
Sliding onto a stool on the opposite side of the still un-named female, he nodded at Tam. He sat at the table, watching the man serving drinks for a second before parting his lips and speaking softly.
"Your bags are on the table, Ma'am. No problem. Your group is three blocks down the road if you turn left, in a hotel. If you want, I will be happy to take you there if you would be more comfortable. If not, I will pay for a room here for you." He reached behind himself and in to his back pocket. He pulled out several bills and glanced at Tam. "Are you going to stay to, Tams? If so, I can pay for a room for you as well. Or if you ladies prefer, you can stay together if it makes you both more comfortable." He smiled slightly, trying his best to appease them. "I have to get up pretty damn early in the morning. Got a boat to catch to Luxor when the sun rises."
Although this was true, he probably wouldn't sleep that night at all. His mind was swirling, and he needed to walk or do something physical to dispel the disturbing memories and thoughts still swirling around in his cortex. Maybe he should see a shrink. He snorted at the very thought of it. A shrink would end up needing help himself if he delved to deeply into his mind. But it was an amusing idea and a smile slowly played at the corners of his lips as it flashed through his head.
Post by Daniela Demarco on Aug 9, 2011 18:37:21 GMT -5
Daniela turned her head to look at the woman next to her, somewhat surprised at what she said. She seemed friendly enough. Most people didn’t notice that kind of thing. “I’m Daniela,” She replied, then looked at her fingers on the bottle. “Yeah, I play bass.” The calluses on the tips on her fingers were noticeable even pressed against the glass. She felt proud of her skills. It took a while to build up skin like that.
“So how do you know Caguuror? Is he quite the charmer or something like that?” Asked Dani, taking another sip from the bottle. She was familiar with the ‘charmer’ kinds of guys, and knew how to handle them. She was no giddy school girl that drooled over boys. Most men had the same motivation, and that was to get laid. She’d seen it so many times, being ‘one of the guys’ in the band, that she could teach all the tricks to teenage boys to give them a head start.
Dani noticed Caguuror sit next to her at the bar, and she listened as he spoke. She shrugged, wondering if it was worth it to walk back to the group. If they were staying there for the night, she could just catch up with them tomorrow. This was the true foreign experience, being in a totally alien place. The anxious burning in the pit of your stomach was the feeling of being totally on your own. Everyone had to be a little scared sometimes. It was good for you.
“I dunno,” Dani said. “I’m comfortable wherever I guess,” She finished the beer and set it on the counter. “My name’s Dani by the way,” She said to Caguuror. “You know Africa well then? Anything a tourist like me might enjoy?” She asked, jokingly inviting herself along to whatever he was doing.
Chuckling, Tamreta shook her head at the girl's questions. It was apparent that Daniela was suspicious of the young man in question. Coincidentally, he had just joined them at the bar as well. As she looked over them both, she could not help but think of them as children. Both may be adults now in their own minds, but they still had so much to learn about the world. Perhaps they could start by making friends. She smiled behind her veil as she spoke. "I have met Caguuror once before in a very different place from here where he aided me with a problem I had. He was quite enthusiastic about the work, if naive. More like a child really."
"As for your real question...No, he is not that type of man. I call him a charmer because of his speech and his easy acceptance of people. When it comes to women he is a true gentleman who helps because he sincerely wants to, and not for ulterior motives." She glanced over at Caguuror for a moment to see how he reacted to the flattery. He would have to enjoy it while it lasted for this girl would most likely believe she was being tricked if all she heard was good about him. "However, his jokes are terrible, and he rarely ever thinks before he plunges into a new endeavor. He also has trouble keeping secrets that should remain secret."
It was a warning she gave the young shapeshifter, one meant to caution him. He was reckless in shifting, and with humans about Caguuror would have to be diligent not to let any see or else risk being hunted. It was a burden all non-human beings had to carry. Rarely did a human appear that could be let in on the secret, Ama being the last one Tamreta had told, and only then because the old woman had an exceptionally sharp mind. Depending on what she observed later, maybe Daniela would become Caguuror's confidante.
She breathed a light sigh that did not even escape her veil. Dealing with young ones was always unpredictable, but at least their hearts were usually in the right place. "Thank you for the offer, Caguuror, but I will pay for my own room." When the name Luxor came up, she shot a sharp look at the boy. He was not truly going to attempt to take on the sphinx on his own was he? The beasts possessed a cunning that rivaled that of the fae folk, and were larger and wiser to boot. She would need to talk with him in private later. Better still...
"Daniela," Tamreta said, "would you be interested in having the two of us as tour guides? I have been to the area many times so I can be a sort of narrator if you wish, and Caguuror has already chosen a boat that I believe he would be more than generous enough to share with the both of us. You would be doing us a favor if you agree. It is more entertaining when there are more people."
'I also doubt this young shapeshifter would do anything foolish if we brought her with us,' she added silently to herself.
Post by Vladamir Aerion on Aug 9, 2011 23:51:11 GMT -5
~~~~Noises caused Vladamir to wake, the moon was still high, it seems that only a hour or so has passed by. Standing, Vladamir had to lift Draecion's tail off himself. Draecion was snoring, out cold the big behemoth of a creature shuddered with every breath. It wasn't hard for Draecion to sleep, no creatures would come near him, the mere scent of him kept them at bay. Vladamir used this to his advantage, moving through the streets he was looking for somewhere to get a drink, and maybe something to eat. A large building, lit up from base level to the highest showed itself to be a inn of sorts. ~~~~Pushing the door open his ears flickered, and eyes adjusted. Quickly entering, he allowed the door to swing shut behind him. Making his way through the tables and people, and set at the bar. As the tender behind the counter move to him and asked. " What would you have?" Vladamir thought for a minute then finally decided, " Blood wine, a bottle would be fine. How much do I owe you?" Turning from Vladamir the tender paced for a moment, then removed a bottle from the shelves. " For the bottle, eight dollars." Vladamir looked confused for a moment, and pulled out a small pouch. As the bag came forwards, he allowed the strings to loosen and the pouch opened. Vladamir reached into the pouch, and removed eight large golden coins, " I don't know what this dollar is, but this is the currency I know." Laying the eight golden coins on the counter top, he reached for the bottle and slid it towards himself. ~~~~Moments passed as the tender stood there testing the coins, making sure they were not some fake, counter production of the origionals. The village Vladamir was from, mined, and forged their own gold coins for trading, gold was one of the major currencies, other then silver. Seeming satisfied the tender moved off, and tucked the coins away. Vladamir uncapped the bottle, and took a drink from it, turning on his bar stool to watch the commotion of the room.
