ORIGIN - How To Train Your Feral Vampire Child

Lurking amongst the crags, hidden within mist, lurked a creature. This creature was humanoid, at a first glance. They looked vaguely like a young teenager, newly hatched as they were, being all lanky and awkward. Their light gold hair was away from their face, revealing their viper like slit pupils within a sharp green gaze.

They were newly hatched, and they were hungry. But as they continuously scented the air, nothing struck them as right. Everything was overwhelming to their senses, but there was not a hint of food. Nothing until a metallic smell drifted over from a distance. All other scents paled in comparison to this one. Their focus narrowed in on the scent, and they followed it.

And, much to their surprise, they found a creature shaped vaguely like them. But that was not the smell either. Not quite, at least. There was some of the smell on the being.

It was enough to draw the vampire closer and closer. This being had what they wanted, and they did not know exactly what it was they wanted, but they knew they did. So, in an attempt to seem intimidating, the vampire bared sharp teeth and let out a hiss.

But rather than be reminiscent of anything resembling terrifying, they sounded closer to a feral kitten.

@Renasci

Focusing intently on the task at hand, Renasci aims for yet another metallic and shining silver-white fish within the water, this time slightly above it and they lean back, arm arcing-

Then there's footsteps, and a hiss.

Which, of course, prompts the small harpy to flare both ears and crest of feathers to the sides, angle their whole body to the noise, and bring the spear to their hip, wings opening behind and over them with a snap.

Blink blink.

Is that...

"A... child?" The mutter, tilting their head and blinking large, golden cat-like eyes twice more. Feathers and wings still mantled out at all angles, they study the lanky, clearly immature Other. So. An upright like them. No feathers, no fur, no insulation to speak of... but they hissed. So. Hunter, then. Either hungry, or territorial.

In either case, Renasci isn't looking for a fight. So, tilting their head in the other direction with a soft, Chrrrrrrup? They gesture with their free hand at the pile of their catch.

It's... honestly sad so far, one small Whiteling and that's it. But the Other is allowed to have it, as Renasci lets their wings settle with wrists on the floor, and turns to eye the water again, and aims up for a fish. They miss with a large splash, and they pout out from under their now soaked hair and feathers.

"When I speak"
When I think

@Erasmus

Perhaps another child might have stepped back at the initial display, but this vampire child only hissed louder. It was not that they were unintimidated, for as the other visually scanned them they felt fear. But they would not let themself show that fear.

The vampire was better than that. In fact, they were just plain better than any being in all aspects, their mind had decided. The child expected a fight, was prepared for it, tension visible throughout their body. What they were not prepared for was the soft unthreatening noise and the gesture towards...

Finally, they had found the scent. They wished to ravenously descend upon the fish, and yet... They warily watched the other being, even as the other turned back to the water.

After deciding the being was sufficiently distracted, they darted over, grabbed the fish, and then backed away. Their gaze watched, half-expecting retaliation still, yet when there was none, the child bit into the fish. And then promptly spat out the flesh with distaste. Flesh felt wrong.

Yet, something was right here. Their head tilted. What was the scent, if not the flesh? They studied the fish, sniffing the air to pinpoint the scent.

It took a moment, but the child brought the fish up again. This time, instead of simply biting, the vampire sought out the blood within the fish. A small satisfied rumble came from their throat as they tore apart the fish in order to get the delicious sustenance within its veins. The noise turned into a grumble when the fish was demolished. It was right, but it was not enough.

Slowly, thoughtfully, the child looked at the other being. Viper eyes regarded the other as they inched a little bit closer. And then... The vampire chirped. It didn't sound like a proper chirp, mind, more an attempt at mimicry of the noise the other had made before.

Clearly that noise meant food, after all. And they were still hungry and this being was a provider of sustenance.

@Renasci

A pleased rumble at the small Other when they try and replicate their noise- and then they follow it with a small giggle.

Having watched the younger... blood drinker out of the side of their eyes, they mentally take note of the other's diet. Fish blood isn't much, but it's what they can get right now.

So, opening a wing to protect the child from any wayward splashes, they try and snag a fish again.

Spearing another Whiteling, they pull it from their spear and instantly offer it in their palm to the child.

"When I speak"
When I think

@Erasmus

The being made sounds, and though they were not aggressive-seeming, the child still eyed the provider of sustenance with wariness. Green viper-like eyes watched the other being carefully from behind disheveled hair of pale gold.

Another fish was caught, but it was not placed on the ground as the other had been. Instead, it sat within the other's palm. While the child waited a moment, expecting it to be dropped, they realized quickly enough that such was not the case.

They prowled back and forth, a predator pacing. However, they were a baby predator and the idea of being provided for appealed, even if the child was wary of the others' hands, since their own hands possessed sharp claws. Instinctively, they knew their own claws made them strong.

But they did not debate as long as they could have while they paced. Hungry still stabbed at them.

Abruptly, the child darted for the fish, snatched it up, and then backed off again, watching the being warily all the while.

They did not eat yet. If they had not been given permission to take as they thought, then they would need to run with their prize.

So they watched the other and held the fish close, wanting to eat but not yet daring yet.

@Renasci

Renasci still is not quite sure what to make of the Other... obviously young and wary, part of them approves while another wants to laugh.

Their own talons clicking as they pick up their spear, having dropped it during Erasmus's lunge for the food, they take aim at the water again, one ear frilled out towards the young Other. It's clear from body language now that the harpy doesn't consider Erasmus a threat per se, but not something to be ignored- hence one ear pointed in their direction and wing still half open to block the water.

"Fish." Renasci finally hums, and then lunges once more with the spear.

Of course, they sem to overshoot- or undershoot, they don't have time to notice - because whatever they did causes their spear to snap along the staff, the front half slingshotting itself back over Renasci's head and the one in their hand coming with them as the bird eats dirt.

Well.

Water.

You know what I mean.

"When I speak"
When I think

@Erasmus