Quick was the creature made for water. He went for the kill, but silence in the water was different from on land. She knew she wouldn't have the speed, but the luck was there. One of the fish that escaped him swam right for her, the snake invisible to it's vision. As she struck out, her paleness brightened up the murk, blood clouding around her with a hint of venom that dissolved like sugar. Egahi held to the fish as it struggled, the flailing tail causing her head to jerk and body flail. Thankfully, her venom was quite effective and did the job so she wouldn't have to. It was hard to know if she was grateful, lazy, or vain about it. Egahi looked toward Imp with the fish firmly held in her mouth, an air of cockiness in her. She swam a large circle around Imp, then swam to the surface, finding a log to perch against so she could properly engulf the slimy thing. It felt weird compared to mice, snakes, and lizards. Tasted weird, too. She wasn't sure she'd be catching anymore fish anytime soon, quite honestly, but it felt good be a bit of a show off. She needn't make it a habit, however. She was full of food and ego, now. Two things she wasn't sure how to handle, particularly at the same time. —————— "Speech." Thoughts. OOC: out of character Tag: @Imp

To say that Imp had the shit scared out of him would be an understatement. He did--unfortunately literally, though hopefully the white snake wouldn't notice the little brown cloud that plumed off into the water. But he had a sudden and horrific realization, nonetheless.

SHE IS A GHOST.

It was the only thing that explained it, really. She could follow him, she was white--spirits were probably white, after all--and she was appearing out of nowhere, invisible then visible, eating HIS FISH! ...HIS. FISH.

But Imp was not stupid--foolish, maybe, but clever, and cunning. So his immediate reaction was to try and quickly manipulate the situation to his advantage. He spun in the water, wing-arms spreading to buoy him.

"Oh, you got it! See, aren't they the best? But--you didn't let me COOK it. They're better cooked! Let me cook one! You will love it, I promise."

((ooc -- @Egahi ))

It was doubtless that he was a coy little thing. There he drifted, commenting on cooking food for her, now. What was cooking, anyway? She lifted herself further from the water, but half her body remained submerged. A growl erupted from her maw, but was short-lived before she settled back down and stared at Imp with a healthy dose of suspicion. "I have eaten too much already," she said, "What is your... ploy?" Seemed quite fair to ask. Perfectly fair. Black tongue lolled out, slowly flicking up, then down. No more run-arounds for this legless creature! She wanted answers. She wanted to know more. She didn't want to take anymore risks because of curiosity. Twice was two times too many. Still, she sat, waiting. Would he become honest or would he continue his game? —————— "Speech." Thoughts. OOC: out of character Tag: @Imp

Imp stared blankly, treading water with his wing-arms, fear already forgotten as he stared at her.

"You're a ghost and you don't even know about the fish? You have to COOK those, stupid! Cook them! You ate it RAW, yuck! I said I would SHOW YOU the fish! They're the best thing but you have to COOK them first! Like this!"

The batgator dipped down, under the water, propelling himself smoothly to shore. He dragged himself up into the muddy reeds, shaking himself out like a dog, and turned to face Egahi.

It took some focus: he concentrated on fire, on the idea of it, on the glorious pain that would lash through his limbs when he summoned it properly. Most of all, he imagined the mouth-watering taste of cooked cave fish.

Then he found himself peering up at something Egahi had said, entirely forgetting the magic he had summoned.

"What's a--PLOY?"he asked. For a moment he stared, then he realized--slowly, and with dawning horror--that his feet were, in fact, entirely on fire.

"AHHHHHH!" Imp squealed. A moment later he was back in the water, a roaring hiss signalling his retreat as plumes of steam rose from his wounded claw-feet, the water extinguishing his fire.

He treaded water, wide-eyed and gulping as he came back up, for now just trying to figure out how he'd managed to ruin his spellcast quite so badly.

He'd meant to show Egahi how he cooked fish, not-... demonstrate on himself.

((ooc -- @Egahi ))

As he vanished under the water, the only thing she lingered on was being called a ghost. A hyena once named her a bone. These things she was called left her curious and intrigued. The perspectives of the world kept her hungry for more knowledge and socialization. As he surfaced again and shook off his water, she stifled a bit of a giggle. A look of determination was plastered onto his face, all the way until she said "ploy." Suddenly, he was shouting at her, then screaming in pain. Egahi released laughter for the first time in her laugh, thoroughly amused at the outlandish reaction. Never had she seen someone fail their own spell in the way he had, the pain he might actually be feeling evading her completely. Egahi stood up and tilted her head at him, examining his ever-changing expressions with an interested gaze. "I do not know what cooked is. I assume that what just happened... was not what you aimed for," she said. "Imp, Child of Rot... a ploy is... A plan, plot, ruse, gambit, move, scheme... cunning plan, a cunning action." —————— "Speech." Thoughts. OOC: out of character Tag: @Imp

Imp snorted, peering at the snake with bemusement. She'd laughed at him. LAUGHED. He was already forgetting the burns on his feet, instead running the idea of 'ploys' over in his mind.

Plots! Ruses! Plans! CUNNING SCHEMES! Yes! He liked ploys. He let out a sharp laugh, more a grating cackle, really, and tilted his head in a birdlike fashion.

"Oh! I like those. And COOKING, dummy! Making it hot and hot and hot and then it burrrrns. I'll show you but I NEED A FISH!"

He turned, looking around at the water, any idea of tricking Egahi casually lost. He hadn't given up--he'd simply forgotten about it, for now. Instead he waited until another fish flicked by--possibly drawn by the odor of cooking flesh--and pounced, trying to cook it right where it swam, to clutch it in burning claws until it was seared to death.

YESSS! THERE we go!

There was a flick, a squirm, a frantic thrashing quickly going still. Imp ducked down his head, snatching the dead, flash-fried fish into his jaws, then emerged. He kept his distance, still, and now just treaded water--but flicked the fish over toward Egahi.

"Cooked. Eat it! Not a ploy. Not a trap-trick-cunning-plan. COOKED!"

The little hybrid let out another raucous squawk, head tilted back and sharp teeth glinting, quite excited about--well, about just about everything.

((ooc -- @Egahi ; I will be gone until July 5th/6th in all likelihood, but I have not quit! Also--I can't for the life of me remember where the NPC prey list is for Origin, but I'm running off the vague memory that the slimy albino cavefish are delicious when cooked!))

Egahi watched him carefully as the scale-fur fished again. It seemed clear he would be persistent, leaving the snake hoping one more fish wouldn't be too much for her gut to handle. She'd never feasted before, usually hunting one or two smaller snakes when necessary. She felt gorged. A snake and a fish, but a snake and two fish? The Imp was much more successful in cooking, this time... the fish, rather than himself. Tongue flicked over the offering, curious to taste and smell and taste. No taste buds like other creatures. Taste came in a different way. She would eat soon, but this tasted pleasant. So several quick flickers later, she grabbed the face of the fish and pulled it into proper position. Her jaw carefully adjusted, dislocating. Her muscles and teeth took in the cooked meat, the warmth of it relaxing her. The snake laid flat on the ground, watching Imp again with much more contentment. She wouldn't need to eat for weeks, now! —————— "Speech." Thoughts. OOC: out of character Tag: @Imp

The hybrid stared, nostrils flaring and eyes bright, as Egahi ate. He nodded enthusiastically. And then, in an impatient, shrill voice, he spoke.

"...Well?! It's good, isn't it? I told you I could get the BEST food. It's the best! The best food. Well? ...Say it's good! And say thank you, that's polite, is it good?!"

For a moment he practically hopped up and down even in the water--and then sprang out, stumbling with a hiss and a wince as his burned feet struck solid mud. Then he seemed to immediately forget his pain again, springing about in the reeds, squeaking.

"I could show you Dad. I could show you Grandfather's pile. I could show you the Giant Evil Tree! Dad says never to go there. Or the Magic Map!"

Or he could take her nowhere. Or try to DROWN her or set her on fire but for now, maybe she'd want to do something more interesting? And anyway he didn't think his--what was it? Ploys? Had worked out too well so far anyway. Maybe the long white snake was one of them--a Survivor!

((ooc -- @Egahi ))

The vibrations his voice made caused the snake to flinch just a little, tongue following up on the cause. His request was demanding, but she decided to sate him anyway. Why not? "Yes, it was good... thank you." Polite was the phrase, maybe, but the spastic hybrid was certainly not. Still, she had no inclination to comment on it. Nothing good would come of it. "Your dad? Sure... I'll meet your dad," she said, perking up a bit. She wasn't sure what a "dad" was, but it was something new and curious and she wanted to know all about it. What was a dad and what amazing knowledge would it bestow her? She needed to know. Like a hunger that overcame after weeks of not eating, she desperately needed to know. —————— "Speech." Thoughts. OOC: out of character Tag: @Imp

Imp positively SQUEAKED in response, not excitement, just a sort of general shrieking bat-squawk. Then he turned, bounding off into the dark and misty swamp, breaking the eerie silence with loud splashing.

What will Dad think?! Maybe HE'LL eat her! Yes, yes, and food for both. Dad's strong! Or maybe he'll tell her SECRETS and I can listen! I like secrets, Dad's good at secrets and I wonder where Granddad is?!

Imp's mind ran scattered, young and hyperactive, as he splashed his way along. He didn't even think to look back, to ensure that Egahi was following; instead he went as fast as he could, leaping from short, muddy tussocks of reed and spreading wing-arms to glide ahead a few extra feet, just a little faster. Then he'd bound on ahead again, so that by the time they reached a seemingly empty patch of black water, Imp was quite out of breath.

Upon arrival he spun, calling out while hopping in circles, looking around him. His long, ridged tail made him look like a spined little whirlwind, his wide eyes glinting.

"DAAAAAAAAAAD! ...DAAAAAAD!!"

Even if Egahi had completely lost him in his race, it'd be hard not to hear the hybrid's shrill voice piercing through the silence. Or, at least, the vibrations of it.

((ooc -- @Egahi ))