That cave, changed her. It made her realize something about herself that, until now had been nothing more than a mere idea. The idea that she too, could live in the light. As other walked around and conducted themselves among others, among the light granted to these caverns, so too would she. The only blackness she would endure was the blackness of her pelt, the pitch of the smoke of her fires, and ebony of burn marks left only to announce that once…she’d been there. Boldly the young gembound strolled through the tunnel after cavern, caring not who saw her or her deformities, for what they thought of her no longer mattered. It was the key in which lie in her own perception. That anxiety, that loathing, it manifested itself through their disgust of her and she had allowed it to nearly break her. To many times she stood on the edge of the abyss and contemplated diving in, only to pull back because of her own fear of the unknown. Her weakness lie in her inability to stand up for herself, not in anything physical. Her markings may scar her flesh, but under the skin she was the same as anyone else and Aleera for one, was willing to skin all gembounds to prove it.

So to those who had been willing to spark controversy with the young female, she had been more than willing to reciprocate their hostility with her own. It ended in several cuts along her side and one over her muzzle, but the other was left with severe burn marks to remember her bye. Her cuts would heal and the mark would fade, but they would forever remember who gave them their newest scar…and she, took pride in that. She had wanted him to suffer. To throw upon him even an iota of her suffering. There was so much more she had wanted to do to him too, but he’d ran off after the first burn she’d given him and so it left the pup to wandering once more until the tunnel widened out and mist rolled up to meet her. Aleera entered the whiteness with little fear, for nothing could conquer her so long as she knew herself. For a long time she wandered aimlessly until tree’s began to spring up and she became lost in the confines of the misted forest. It didn’t bother her so much though. Home was wherever she chose to be, and for now, it would have to be this wood.

The familiar sound of dripping echoed past the trees, and gangly limbs propelled the young woman forward until her paws rested at the edge of a murky pool of water. Luminous orange eyes peered down at the water, her reflection barely visible save for those half blinded orbs that stared back at her coldly. With a dismissive flick of the tail the wolf pup lowered herself to a laying position, letting her paws soak in the water and ease the soreness of them. Still yet they were healing from her first attempts with what she’d come to call smolder step, and this water, no matter how dark, was a welcome thing.

table by Sara

@Ghanyarah

The komodo had plunged into the water, hunger driving him beneath its murky surface. As he broke the still, grimy topcoat, a cloud of mud rolled up around his body, flaring out beneath the force of his limbs casting pressure into the liquid. He sunk down to the loose, slick floor of the marsh before pushing forward and up with his hind limbs, clawing through the water. He ended up gliding just a couple feet above the muddy bottom, gently wiggling his body as he made his way through. Sunset eyes peeled open to probe the dirty waters for signs of life or scavengeable decay. He had been using his magic to spend more and more time underwater, but it took quite a bit of concentration to stay beneath the surface. His focus was split between his magic and his search for food.

As he swam, he realized that this time around, the mucus membrane that facilitated his underwater excursions was lacking. He'd failed to cast it well enough, rendering his dive short. This realization came to him as he prodded around the mud with his snout, feelings his lungs grow tight with a lack of air. Knitting his brows, the lizard exhaled a few bubbles from his nostrils in frustration. The rest of the air came shortly after as he emptied his lungs of stale air. Without his buoyancy, the dragon dropped back to the bottom. He then launched off of it and exploded through the surface with a gasp of air.

Ghanyarah floated for a moment, blinking the water out of his eyes. Slowly, the image of a canine at the edge of the water came into focus. Before long, he recognized it as another Gembound and chirped his shock, thrashing away from her.

@Aleera

When long you look into the abyss, the abyss looks into you. And Aleera had certainly seen it. Had peered into the infinite nothing and came back stronger for it. Darkness, rage, hatred, loneliness, these were the things that made her better than herself and that had always been the case. To be like others had never been her goal, after all, it did not do to try and be better than your contemporizes or predecessors. Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those whom they could never resemble. It all became undone in the shadows of that tunnel, undone, unthreaded, and laid bare for her to see. Clarity beyond all measure came when her mind nearly broke. Sinking to her lowest level was what was required to open her to the greatest of changes, both in herself and in her perception. No longer did that nerve wracking anxiety haunt her every step and confidence took it’s place. No one could do no worse to her than she had already done unto herself and death? That was but a natural part of life. If it was her time to leave this world behind, she would make sure to leave her mark on it before she went.

The young wolves train of thought was broken as the surface of the water roared to life some feet away. Orange eyes turned upward from the water, but she did not move from her spot. In fact, beyond a slight flinch she gave no indication that the sudden noise was even acknowledged. From the murky depths rose a scaled head and those luminous eyes narrowed just slightly, a lizard was it? Big one too from the size of the head. The other creature with eyes that mirrored her own looked upon Aleera and again, she didn’t move from her position, but she did reach into herself, looking for that source of power. It came forth with a slight effort and with it the glow of her paws became apparent in the dark waters, only to cause that water moments later to begin to bubble and steam up in a threatening manner. Though the creature was quick to back away from her she wasn't taking chances. As the two of them stared down each other for a moment Aleera rose her head, even in the dim light her deformities were apparent. "What?" She asked, her voice stern for someone of her young age.

table by Sara

@Ghanyarah

The komodo couldn't help but stare, obviously startled by the sudden appearance of another Gembound where he wasn't prepared to see one. He'd only been hunting, hoping to scavenge something dead off the floor of the marsh. His fore-limbs scoured the water as he attempted to remain aloft, noticing the bubbles coming up from around her skin. The reptile's brows knitted together in confusion, then she spoke - sharp and commanding of his attention. Ghanyarah focused on her again before deciding to head ashore. He said nothing as he swam to a nearby tree and latched onto its twisting, submerged roots, pulling himself up.

The lizard flicked his tongue and dropped from the roots into the mud, walking in an arc around her. Had she been smaller, maybe he could've made a meal out of her. But she was grown and had a mouthful of rather sharp teeth - he wasn't gonna take that chance. Besides, she made the water bubble - what was that all about? "What are you?" He asked, failing to make clear the context of his question but he couldn't help but wonder: water? Or did she make it bubble and steam like fire? Was she something else? And why did she do that in the first place? The komodo stopped behind her, making no effort to look intimidating - now, he just wanted to know.

@Aleera

He stared at her just as she did him. He was either startled by her presence, or her disfigurements held his gaze longer than perhaps was intended. Regardless, she could care less for either reason. So long as this new gembound went on his way there would be no problems, but such did not seem to be the case. Instead when he finally decided to wade his way out of the murky pool he looked upon her, silently still. Black lips curled back again to reveal that some of her teeth were missing, the tips of her adult fangs coming in that signified she was still young but well on her way to adult hood. The display of teeth and the growl was warning enough for anyone, she was willing to defend herself violently if necessary. The lizard was easily larger than her, but it wouldn’t stop her from tearing into his scaly hide if she had to. The fear that would normally grip her wasn’t there anymore, just anger. Anger that he lingered and stared without so much as a word, adding on to the fire that already burned in her for the hide of everyone else who had been so unkind.

The bubbling at her feet did not cease, but neither did it hurt as it usually would. Perhaps this was due to the waters presence, or maybe it was because she gained control over it. Regardless of these warnings, the lizard who failed to give his name, but also to impose threatening behavior stepped ever closer to her. This only served to make Aleera’s snarl all the more the savage. When the other was finally so close that she could not accurately keep an eye on him due to positioning she got to her feet, the mud around her feet sizzling for a moment at her touch but eventually died down when the magic for the cast wore off. Finally a question sprung from the mouth of the creature, asking curtly ‘what she was’. Amber eyes bore into the scaled beast, her marred features not entirely unlike his own hide, yet his question was completely unclear. She was a wolf. She was a female. She was fire. She was savage. She was all this and more but one answer stood out among all others, like a whisper of whisper in the back of her mind. ”I am fire.” She hissed, voice low and full of a malicious intent to defend herself. The creature may not desire to attack her, but just because he did not mean harm did not mean he would not harm her.

table by Sara

@Ghanyarah

He kept a wary eye on the canine, noting her furious and vicious snarl - and yet she wasn't the one imposing, she wasn't the one lumbering up to him and threatening to tear off his hide. Frankly, Ghanyarah was a little confused since he was making no effort to threaten her, but he didn't touch on the matter. He responded to her threatening display by raising his head and staring down his snout at her, silently expressing that he didn't intend to reciprocate her aggression, and yet his cheek tilted slightly to the side to deliver further that he didn't understand her actions in the first place. That very same cheek held the scar of disfigured scales, once the punishment of a fungi-ridden monkey who had tried to steal his morganite crest. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he remained silent, waiting.

Fire.

The lizard blinked and righted his head, rumbling his satisfaction at her answer. Fire - like his brother. Fire was an admirable trait. Gaze shifted down to her paws, still warm and heating the water in which they were submerged, producing a cloud of frothy bubbles that popped at the surface. He looked back at her, ignoring the snarl on her maw. "I am Ice." Ghanyarah answered simply. She wasn't like him - instead she was like Dragon, but that was good enough. He snorted through his nostrils and continued on the arc around her until he found his way to the water's edge, once again slipping into the grip of the murk.

Launching into the water, he glided across the surface before turning his head to look at her. "You look small - young, maybe?" He spoke, more of an outward muse than anything. "You know, Fire and Ice are opposites. But they complement each other quite seamlessly. I have a Fire... Do you have an Ice?" Ghanyarah asked as he swam rather nonchalantly through the water, only curious about the predator on the shore. His usual reservations towards mammals was suspended for now in favor of having found another fire, like his brother.

table and code © chelsea of ORIGIN

He kept staring at her. She wanted to tear the eyes from his head so he could never look at her again, but knew to do so, would probably be unwise. Her anger did dictate a lot of her actions yet she was not completely without a discerning nature. This unnamed lizard was easily twice her size, perhaps even better skilled at his magic than she was. Regardless, she maintained her appearance of self assertion. To back down would be weakness, and she was not weak! And in spite of this display, the lizard remained indifferent to her declerations. Either because he was sure of himself, sure of the fact that she posed no threat to him, or simply that he saw no reason to. In any case, Aleera would remain on guard. Prepared for anything. As the lumbering creature moved, so did she, turning as he arched around her. She knew what he was doing. Sizing her up, looking for a weakness to exploit. She would not give it to him.

When her answer passed through her lips to the slow moving creature, he righted his head and a noise roiled up from the depths of his scaly form. Was this a pleasurable sound or something that meant he did not like what she had to say? In either case, Aleera did not like it and it only served to deepen her immature snarl. Silence danced between them like electricity, numbed only by the heinous sound of Aleera’s aggression toward a creature who was otherwise unconcerned with her display nor intent. A belief was not mere an idea the mind possessed, but an idea that possessed the mind and for Aleera that meant trusting no one with anything, anywhere, at any time. Everyone was out to get her, even those who seemed all to content to live and let live. Everything was a trick, everything was two way mirror, and the only response she could possibly conceive in her young mind was to defend herself in any manner she had to. If this lizard attacked then she would fight, if he said one wrong thing, she would attack. The lizard could not play into her delusion until he understood it, but even Aleera barely understood her own motivations at times. The quiet demeanor the lizard held was broken only when he revealed what he was. Ice. The pup gave him no commentary and instead listened should he choose to speak further.

A sharp flinch ran through the obsidian creature when the lizard began to move again, continuing his arc full circle around her to reach the shore of the murky waters. Her positioning followed him, never leaving her side or back open to him in any manner as soon he glided back out into the waters depths. He thought he was either safe in the water or that Aleera being so close to it’s edge provided another opportunity. This hyper awareness drove the wolf to step backward several feet but still within earshot of the creature, watching as it waded gracefully through the waters. He remarked on her size, assuming she was young, which was not wrong at all. Little Aleera was nearing her third cycle and the appearance of adult features were becoming evident, but much of her body was still gangly or to big. She gave the beast no answer, merely watched from the safety of the shore and listened as he went on about how fire and ice were opposites yet complimented each other in some form or manner. He even went on to divulge that he ‘had a fire’ and asked in turn if she had an ice. Aleera could only assume he meant a friend or someone close to her who possessed the abilities for ice or water magic. ”I don’t need one.” She growled, knowing full well just how alone she truly was…And why it needed to stay that way.

table by Sara

@Ghanyarah

The cool of the water was soothing against his hide. The komodo was a fiend of the ice and the cold, and though his physiology felt most comfortable in the warm humidity of the jungle, his heart felt at home in the water. With the wolf behind him, he didn't really spare her a second thought as he returned to his comfort zone, immersing himself in the lapping murk. His thick form slid in through its surface, ripples emanating from him as he swam, gently wriggling his body in subtle S curves. However, he hadn't forgotten about her. Now in the water, he did occasionally send her a glance, most curious about the canine. She answered before long that she didn't have a fire - at least, that was the assumption after stating that she didn't need one. He frowned slightly and swam back towards her.

"Perhaps." He stated, raising his head above the surface and staring at the wolf. "Would you like to see what I can do?" Maybe he'd prove her wrong. Maybe he'd pique her curiosity. He didn't know, really, but he was moved to show her just how powerful they could be. Perhaps it was a product of his own arrogance.

table and code © chelsea of ORIGIN


@Aleera

He moved through the water more delicately than he could ever do on land. The water moved out from him, creating delicate ripples that upset the surface of the once calm waters. To and fro he went, his eyes upon Aleera for a long time though he did not seem intent to speak until she had. Once she’d given him that answer he paused momentarily, frowning at her even before coming back toward the land. Ebony tail rose in a display of dominance as the lizard came forward, head low with exposed teeth. The closer he became the more hostile she was, but this did not end in a violent display of who was more powerful because the unnamed creature ceased upon the shallows and spoke.

His word suggested that he did know if she did or did not need an ‘ice’. However, to show her what she meant he asked if she would care to see what he could do. The wolf could only assume the lizard meant his own magic’s and right away it set off a giant red flag in the pup’s mind. ”It’s a ruse. He will kill you.” Aleera unwillingly took a step back, her face still contorted in a defensive snarl that did not seem as though it was likely to go away any time soon. ”I don’t care what you can do. I said, I don’t need one.”

table by Sara

@Ghanyarah

He didn't understand her. He couldn't wrap his head around her behavior - he had demonstrated to her before that he wasn't a threat. His words were extended with the air of acquaintanceship, not challenge. Yet she persisted as if he endangered her somehow. He was content here in the water, he wasn't going to chase her down if she turned her back. Perhaps the reptile's mind was too simple to understand paranoia. He expected her to reciprocate his body language with acknowledgment that he meant her no harm. In fact, he wanted to know more about her, given his respect for fire.

But she threw that away, staunchly insisting that she didn't need him. Well. The dragon couldn't help but take offense - he was a powerful creature after all, shouldn't she at least entertain him? This was the mindset of the komodo dragon, who felt she should be obliged to at least witness his skills. He lowered his snout into the water, pushing bubbles from his nostrils with deep thought. Then, he cast his reach out to the water around him. If she didn't want to entertain him, he'd made her see what he could do. Yes. Because that was how you made friends.

Except when he reached out to the water, he found himself grasping as nothing. Confused, Ghanyarah twisted his head to make sure he was still in the water. Well he was, kind of. What was an attempt to diffuse the water into mist instead pushed it away from his body, forging a bubble of air around him for half a second. Then gravity caught up, and the komodo splashed into the water - the bubble vanished as water filled the space back in, consuming him for a moment. Ghanyarah, however, was left comically pawing at the surface. "Not what I meant to do!!" The lizard scowled as he pushed his snout out of the water, gasping for a breath.

@Aleera