ORIGIN - But I know we've made it this far

Imperia They'll call our crimes a work of art

Imperia walked through the place they had hatched in. They hadn't been here since then, and decided to take a quick trip there. Sure, they had a chrysalis in Orion to watch, but just going here briefly couldn't hurt. They began to walk through the misty forest, eyes darting every which way as they looked to see if someone was nearby. They may end up just going here and not even seeing anyone, but they had to admit they were quite bored. Just talking to someone couldn't hurt, right? Of course, if anyone wanted a fight, they'd be happy to help.

Imperia continued walking, walking in mud with every step. They growled in distaste; it would take a while to get it out of their fur. And it only slowed them down, too. They grumbled, but continued on. They could hardly remember a single thing about this place, aside from the mist. They had changed quite a bit since they first hatched, having done 5 fights, and even killing someone. They began to grin at the thought. Sure, it had been a very, very easy fight, and they had been to weak to even struggle, but it was still a kill nonetheless. And they had given life to their stone, so maybe one day they'd have someone to fight alongside them.

They continued walking, content to just walk until they heard or saw someone. But they were starting to get impatient. They decided to call out and see if anyone was nearby. Maybe someone would answer. "Hello? Is anyone nearby?"

"Listen to me."

table by lisa

@Dragon

He had been lurking, slipping below the black waters of the swamp in slow, unhurried pursuit of the feline above. He was uncertain if it were sentient, or not; he tended to kill either way, but often refrained in order to speak to the speaking ones first. Sometimes they were useful; sometimes they were survivors, and simply--in his mind--deserved to live. To carry on.

To his surprise, the creature actually called out. It did not seem distressed, nor afraid, but simply matter-of-fact. With a soft growl, Dragon rose up in the water until his head and ridged back protruded, and slipped up alongside the caracal, a few feet away and lower down in the channel of water.

"There are many nearby," he rumbled, loud enough to be heard. Dark eyes regarded the cat calculatively. What did it want? What was it seeking?

"The question is--why do you seek them?"

{ art by dark } ~ { table by aura . edited by banshee and dark }

@Imperia

Imperia They'll call our crimes a work of art

Imperia looked over as someone appeared nearby. They were a species that they had never seen before, although they could only see a part of him. As he spoke, they listened while observing him. From what they could see, he appeared to be covered in scales, and his muzzle was faintly scarred.

"What do I seek? Can one not just seek someone to talk to?" They brought a paw up to their chest and spoke in a tone that suggested they were simply only mocking shock. "How surprising, that one can not talk to hear their own voice." Their claws were out, and if one were to look closely at the paw on their chest, they would see the pink claws that gave away where their stone resided.

"I have not been in this place in many cycles. I wanted to come to the place I hatched in and see if anyone was nearby. Is that a bad thing?" they asked. He was clearly much older than Imperia, and undoubtedly knew this place better than them, but they couldn't help the challenging tone that slipped into their voice.

"Listen to me."

table by lisa

@Dragon

Dragon lifted his head, listening. Abruptly, explosively, he snorted with deep laughter.

"You call for company, and when it asks what it is you wish, you greet it with defensiveness? What insecurities do you bear, cat? This swamp belongs to the strong. To the survivors. Not to the weak. If you are afraid, then perhaps that is good: those who flee, live another day. But your mockery bares you to the bones. Your claws--aggression uncalled for reeks of fear. Perhaps we can try again."

Dragon, amusement glinting in his dark eyes, inhaled deeply. For a moment he simply lay there, eyeing Imperia, and then he parted his jaws in a faint imitation of a grin.

"Rather than sarcasm and fear, then--perhaps you will find an honest answer benefits you. What is it, furred one, that you seek?"

Dragon lay quiet, amused by the cat's lack of a straightforward response, at its apparent fear, or reluctance to speak. There was an aggression about it, a fire, that somewhat piqued his interest--but other than that he was more amused. The swamps were often quiet, and silent, and someone to speak to for a short time--as the cat said--was not such a terrible thing.

{ art by dark } ~ { table by aura . edited by banshee and dark }

@Imperia

Imperia They'll call our crimes a work of art

When Imperia heard the alligator begin to laugh, their fur bristled. Why was he laughing? As he started to speak, their eyes narrowed. "Insecurities? I don't have any insecurities! And I am strong! I am a surviver! And I am most certainly not weak! I do not fear anything. I'll have you know that I've done 5 battles, and have even killed someone!" By the end of their outburst, Imperia's fur was completely bushed out and their eyes were ablaze with anger. Thinking back to what they had said, they wondered if 5 battles was even an accomplishment. It wasn't like they had won all of those battles. They had only won a couple of them. And was killing someone really...all that of an accomplishment? It was, after all, just one kill.

When he spoke again, they struggled to put their fur down. Their eyes were still narrow, and they were still clearly angry, but cleared their throat in an effort to not make this shown in their voice. "Fine, if you insist, oh great one," they snorted. "What do I seek? Not much. I, as I said, came here to check out the place I used to live, some cycles ago. It was mainly boredom that made me call out for someone," they grunted. By this point, they had calmed down considerably.

"What made you respond?"

"Listen to me."

table by lisa

@Dragon

The alligator found himself amused, but he simply lay there, silent, for a time. He listened, and when the cat finally calmed--and fired off its own question in response--Dragon at last spoke.

"I answered because I was curious, little one. There are always things that even the smallest and the weakest may teach us. I would say that you know nothing of strength, in your arrogance--you are small. I would show it to you, perhaps: true strength. But it makes me wonder if your magic is what is strong? Tell me, then, of the fights you have won. Brag of them. Spin a tale; let the monsters of the marsh listen to your victories.

Who was it you have beaten? Who was it you have slain? Why, and how? What did you feel, when its life ran slipping away...?"

Dragon bobbed lightly in the water, eyes dark with malicious mischief. He wondered if the caracal would simply have enough of him, and flee; or if it would continue to puff itself up, to face him down, to answer for itself in angry defense.

And I do wonder what its reasons were--and if it is nearly as powerful as it thinks it is.

{ art by dark } ~ { table by aura . edited by banshee and dark }

@Imperia

Imperia They'll call our crimes a work of art

As the alligator spoke, Imperia let out a low growl. "I am plenty strong, even without my magic!" Thinking back on it, they realized they had most likely used their magic at one point in each battle. "My magic, fire, also helps," they grunted.

"My fights? I've done 5, although I have not...won every single one. I am still young, and that will change! I'll one day be able to win every fight!" Saying all of this out loud, it definitely didn't seem like an accomplishment. They had only won a few fights, after all. "On one of the fights, I made someone partially blind! And the one right after that, I even ripped someone's eye out!" Imperia grinned at the thought. They were still pretty proud of that one. "You should have seen her face, it was all bloody and she was clearly in a lot of pain. She was absolutely terrified!"

"And the one I killed...I don't know what their name was. I never even talked to them! Just went right in for the kill!" They looked proud for a moment, before letting out a cough. "They were also...rather weak. I'm not even sure if they would have had the strength to fight back, or even talk. But I still killed them! And the feeling..." They began to recall the feeling that had come over them. Their eyes began to shine as they thought about it.

"It made me feel...Alive. Like I could do anything I put my mind to. As the blood pooled around my paws, I felt so...satisfied, knowing that I was the one who had made their life end."

"Listen to me."

table by lisa

@Dragon

Dragon listened, blowing bubbles idly with his snout just beneath the surface.

Sadistic. Power-hungry. Arrogant. It could be honed, it could be put to use. Fire is good. How to reel it in?

"Your fire burns bright, and hot, and this is good. But without refinement it will burn out. You must pair and temper your ferocity with wisdom. With knowledge. I know of life, and death. I know of strength you cannot comprehend."

The alligator tilted back his head abruptly, opening his jaws. He inhaled deeply, and the blinding glare of embers sputtering and flaring deep in his throat suddenly lit the dark water with bright flameglow. A moment later smoke coiled from his nostrils, twinned streams drifting back and away--and then he exhaled, a vast blasted of torching flames guttering over the caracal, massive and bright. Heatwaves shimmered in the air, and then the alligator's jaws clapped shut once again, dipping below the water in a loud blast of steam. He had not aimed at the cat--merely to make an impression.

After a moment, he lifted his head from the surface again.

"You know of strength, weakness and survival, but do not let it make you arrogant. There is always another stronger--and that is why we must all have allies. Those that are foolish, will fall. Those that fall are merely food for those who do not."

The alligator paused, staring at Imperia with dark eyes.

"If your pride allows it, perhaps you will ask to learn more."

{ art by dark } ~ { table by aura . edited by banshee and dark }

@Imperia

Imperia They'll call our crimes a work of art

Imperia scowled as the alligator spoke. Wisdom? Knowledge? They didn't need those! They just needed strength! They'd win every battle with strength! As he continued though, they paused. Maybe some knowledge could come in handy. Perhaps it could help them win, having a specific battle tactic instead of just going in and fighting?

Imperia watched the alligator as he tilted his head back and opened his jaws, inhaling deeply. They watched with a look of mild curiosity. When he exhaled, a blast of flames escaped, and their eyes widened. It was much, much better than their own spell. When it was over, they looked back at the alligator, their eyes shining. "How did you do that? Will I be able to do that one day?"

After having seen that, the caracal was far more inclined to listen to the other. They listened to every word of the alligator. They weren't too sure if they wanted to have allies though. Then again, they were going to have someone to fight with them eventually. They did have a chrysalis back in Orion, after all. When he was finished, they felt slightly disappointed. At their next words, however, they were quick to speak. "Yes, tell me more!" they burst out, eyes shining. Upon realizing what they had said, and the excitement with which they had said it, they coughed. "I mean...It would be nice to hear more."

"Listen to me."

table by lisa

@Dragon