ORIGIN - Fighting Fire with Fire

Canis was darker than Septiezal had ever thought possible. Even when he shed and his eyes clouded over, he could still see. Albeit, his vision was reduced to reading shadows but with the lights gone, Septiezal could not even register his tongue flicking in in front of his face.

The serpent's belly budged from a large feast of cave deer. The lesser creatures never knew what hit them, but more importantly, his strong, reptilian desire to consume anything he could swallow had been sated. No sapient Gembound would be in danger from the giant snake's hunger for a long time, as long as it was allowed to digest. Despite the feeling of comfort that a satisfied stomach brought to him, Septiezal still felt uneasy in such darkness. He knew not of the history of the lights, or if they would ever turn on again, but Septiezal slithered over the bones he was born in, tasting the scent wafting around him. For now, he had to rely on his other senses.

"Listen"
Thoughts...

tags: @Imperia
notes: sorry this is pretty crappy

After having met the young wolf in Cetus, Imperia moved on. They soon found themselves in Canis, though how they got here with the lights off, they didn't know. With the lights off, all they could think about was Aaliyah, and how it had been just like this when they fought. Just like this when she left them, all alone for the first time in cycles.

They let a growl slip out, shaking their head to clear any thoughts of the hybrid. That was a long time ago. They were done thinking about her. They continued walking, albeit doing so slowly. It was dark, so dark. Should she cast a spell to bring some light? That probably wouldn't help. They only knew fire, and while it would bring light, they might also end up burning more things than necessary. For now, they would just have to make do.

Looking carefully around, Imperia could maybe make out a few figures moving around. One was...very low to the ground. Weirdly low. Or maybe their eyes were playing tricks? They couldn't tell. It was too dark, and they flicked their tiny tail. Should they say something? They had to make sure they sounded threatening though. After clearing their throat, they spoke. "Who goes there?"

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Septiezal
notes: my posts will be even crappier

There was someone else out there. Their body heat stood out against the cold air of Canis like a gaping wound on white fur. With his stomach full, he was not in the mood to interact with anyone. But all hope of avoiding them flew out the cavern when the Gembound addressed him

To make matters worse, they did not sound friendly.

Septiezal hissed in response, and drew back his head. "I could ask you the same thing." He rasped through the darkness. The serpent flicked his tongue. He tasted the scent of a feline he had never smelled before, along a whiff of charred skin. He was all to familiar with that odor. It reminded of his youth, when he practiced his magick feverishly.

"But your ssscent tells me everything." Septiezal continued, carefully easing his way down a mound of loose bones.

"Listen"
Thoughts...

tags: @Imperia
notes:

Imperia grunted as someone responded. By the sound of it, they were nearby. They sat down, sniffing the air slightly as the other spoke again. The creature smelled like something they had never smelled before. They couldn't even describe the scent. It was different than anything they had smelled before.

They paused, unsure of what to do now. Neither were likely to be able to see. Should they say more? Should they leave leave? No, they wouldn't leave. That would just make it seem like they were a coward. And they were not a coward. Raising their head, they spoke again. "I am Imperia." They opened their mouth to continue, but stopped. What more could be said? Maybe once they had a title. Something to cause others to fear them. But now? They hadn't even hurt anyone, not for a long time. Just thinking about it made their paws itch for a fight.

So they closed their mouth, hoping the other hadn't noticed the moment.

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Septiezal
notes: here

Imperia

That named sounded familiar. Septiezal paused and slid his tongue out, contemplating if he knew any of the one named Imperia. He had heard it through whisperings of older Gembounds, but the reason for such gossip was as fleeting of the wind.

"Imperia..." he repeated, studying how the vibrations felt on his jaw. Septiezal lifted his up. His amber eyes glinted in the dark from whatever little light had poured in. "That's awfully quick of you to give your name to a ssstranger in the dark."

He chuckled in amusement. "It's nice to meet you Imperia, sssince we are exchanging pleasantries, I am Sssseptiezal, if you mussst know. "

"Listen"
Thoughts...

tags: @Imperia
notes:

Imperia snorted at the other's words. "Plenty already know my name. I'm sure one more won't hurt," they said smoothly, head rising. They wanted everyone to know their name. For everyone to fear them. It would happen one day, they were sure of it. And surely a battle would help that...

"Septiezal..." they murmured, testing how it felt on their tongue. They didn't particularly care about the other's name, but they could humor them at least. It surely wouldn't hurt. "So, Septiezal. What brings you to a place like this?" They wouldn't outright ask the other to fight them. They could lead up to it, and then, when the right moment comes, they'd fight Septiezal. They could hardly wait any longer though, their paws just itching to fight something.

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Septiezal
notes: here

It was mighty arrogant Imperia to claim that many knew their name, however the serpent found it difficult to sense their bluff, if it was one. After all, he had just come out of a long hibernation. He was bound to have missed out on a few things, but there was something off about this Imperia. Septiezal slid his tongue out, suspicious about the intentions of the blur of heat in the cold darkness. All they did was attempt small talk, not that he was fan of it, but that wasn't reason they made him feel a bit uneasy. Septiezal didn't need to read body language to sense they were craving something unpleasant, the vibrations in their voice gave him all the subtle hints he needed. It reminded him all to well of the mad canine ceature, Mosi. That was what really unsettled him.

For once in a long time, he felt like prey again.

A soft hiss escaped his throat. Then, the serpent spoke up. "I'm just passing through." Septiezal began creeping around to Imperia's side, attempting to keep a wide birth between him and the blotch of heat.

Whatever this Imperia is famous for, it can't be good.

"Listen"
Thoughts...

tags: @Imperia
notes:

Imperia flicked their tail, wondering where exactly the snake was. It would be hard to fight them in the dark, but they'd find a way. Surely when they started using their fire, they'd be able to see better. Or maybe the lights would just randomly turn back on. Their thoughts once more drifted back to the last time they got in a fight in the dark. It had been with Aaliyah, and was the final battle before she left. They quickly shook their head, getting rid of any thoughts of the hybrid. They'd already decided to stop thinking about her. Who knew if they'd ever see her again? They hoped they wouldn't.

As Septiezal spoke, they turned their attention back to him. "Just passing through, hm?" They hummed slightly, sitting down and licking a paw to run between their ears. "Why leaving so soon? Why not stay a while?" The licking seemed to soothe the permanent burns on their paw slightly, though they knew the pain that came when they put weight on it would never go away. It was a constant reminder of what they could do, and they rather liked it.

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Septiezal
notes: here

A loud, angry hiss escaped his throat when Imperia pushed him further, and Septiezal immediately regretted it. He had no idea if they could see through the gloom, but he did know their ears worked. For once, Septiezal cursed his impulsive temper. He realized that he would never be able to out slither this Imperia. Only one thing to do, He admitted to himself. Stay put and fight.

It had been awhile since Septiezal actually scrapped with anybody. Last time, he lost to Mosi, but now he was much bigger, and much stronger. By the looks of Imperia's body heat, he was fairly certain he could crush them under his coils, but hopefully, it wouldn't come to that. His stomach was stuffed with cave deer, and he would have to loose his lunch in order to strangle them. Am I being paranoid? He suddenly thought. He shook away those feelings. Better safe than sorry.

"Isss there something you want from me?" He rasped. "Surely, you just don't intend to ssstand around in the dark and talk. "

In the dark, Septiezal's scales scrapped over bone as he slid his coils close to him and tucked his head into a striking posture. He flicked his tongue, smelling the burnt skin on Imperia's paws. He kept focused on the heat blip in front of him, watching for any sudden movements.

"Listen"
Thoughts...

tags: @Imperia
notes: come at me bro >:D

Defense: Coiled into striking position