Azazel was curious once again. Something about this place drew the carrion-feeder close, but it wasn't the alluring sparkle and shimmer of the crystals of Orion. It was something else. Like there was someone here waiting to be met. Someone waiting to be taught, But who? Carmine eyes glinted about the landscape of the barren tunnels, ignoring the fac that a thick fog rolled through them. It did clear up near the Room of Star's entrance, however. The Bone King was always grateful for that. "Hello?" Chirping, the bird would descend.

Once talons scraped against smooth stone, the bird found himself perched atop a bleak gray stone like a gargoyle, or perhaps a king upon his throne, or a guard at his post. Similies and metaphors aside, the bird simply would wait. Someone was bound to come by, right? There was a nasty gut feeling in Azazel's... stomach, that he wouldn't like who would come to see him. Not one bit.

{ art by almighty } ~ { table by aura . edited by banshee }

"Speech" Thoughts

Paws glided over the dull stone that made up the tunnel's floor. It was time to head home for the young she-pup. Back to Eridanus where she had first awoken. She had spent a good time wandering around and exploring. She had silently stumbled into an area that was full of bones. Bones she had, naturally, decided to play with for the time being before she felt it necessary to leave the place. Others lingered within the area and Arkrael did not feel the necessity of mingling with them. She just wanted to explore and learn. To find things she had otherwise not seen before. So she had left, making her way down the creepy tunnel once again. It set her fur on edge, but it otherwise did not bother her in the least. She was a brave pup! Nothing would deter her from her adventures.

She had ventured through the room of stars and had only briefly looked around before she had continued. So now the pup would take her time to venture and explore the room of stars and look around. A grin curled at the edges of her muzzle as she picked up her leisure pace to a medium trot. It was exciting as the area had looked like it had so many areas to explore. Arkrael didn't care how long it would take her to explore it, but she was definitely going to be sniffing at every corner and ledge she could find.

A strange smell soon wafted into her sense and Arkrael came to an immediate halt. Her head rose as she pricked her audits forward as if to listen, but she could hear nothing. So she sniffed at the air again and just barely she could catch the faint scent that she had previously picked up back within the room that had all those bones she could play with. Her fur ruffled a bit, bristling down along her spine and rump. She didn't like the smell of whatever it was, but she couldn't really tell what exactly it was. Her eyes narrowed slowly before she began walking again, this time attempting to make her foot steps as silent as could be. She had been practicing her 'hunting' skills for awhile now and it seemed to pay off.

Her foot falls were silent against the floor as she eased her way down the tunnel. Perhaps she would manage to sneak up on whatever had smelled so yucky. As she came to the end of the tunnel where she could see the great yawning doors that led into the star room she came to an immediate halt again. The creature was mildly familiar and she could have sworn she had seen the thing before, but she just couldn't place it. With a huff Arkrael stood up straight and flicked her tail side to side. She could see the gem embedded into it's back and she knew it was a gembound. Obviously, considering she had seen him some where before if only briefly.

So much for her trying to avoid mingling with others. This darned bird was blocking her way. Not that he was much bigger than she was, but it just meant she had to be social. Or did it. Her ears flipped back before pushing forward once more and finally she had made up her mind she would just go around him. Setting her mind on it Arkrael headed towards the bird and went to go around him without so much as a glance towards his feathered hide.

The bird waited a bit tiredly atop his post, carmine eyes drooping a little. What was the point? Why was he here? There was one gut feeling and suddenly The Bone King was just waiting on a rock for someone he never even knew. Well, maybe he did from somewhere, but he wasn't too sure. Nobody could be that sure in these caves. But then there was the quiet sound of footfalls and a hunched over grey smudge approaching. Awakening from his daze, the ave narrowed his eyes, intending to try and see this newcomer better. Even with the lights on, it was still quite hard to see, especially in this tunnel. There were, what, maybe two lights in the whole expanse of the barren and bleak passageway?

Raising an eyebrow, he watched as he saw the smudge approach and seemingly get bigger and bigger. But then again, he could just be imagining something. But it just got closer and closer. Craning his head, the bird tilted his head. The other thing paused, standing up and seemed to contemplate what to do next. Pointed ears and her frame suggested some wolf or canine, but from here, Azazel wasn't sure who it was. It definitely wasn't Saudade, because he was much taller than this figure. This one was built more of for power and strength. A true wolf? He'd seen a few, maybe pups, but he'd seen some at least.

After what felt like forever, the smudge continued to approach, but this time, its ears were gone. How? Fur brushed agains the bird and he shifted a wing in attempt to prod this strange wolf. Regardless if she'd turn around or not, the bird tilted his rufous head and gave a confused look to the canine. It looked so familiar! But where had he seen it before. The dam in Polaris, maybe?

{ art by almighty } ~ { table by aura . edited by banshee }

"Speech" Thoughts

She felt the brush of feathers against her fur and she inwardly groaned with annoyance. It wasn't that she really particularily disliked birds. She just didn't have the energy to interact with anyone right now. She wanted to do her own thing. With no restrictions whatsoever. Yet here she was. She stopped where she was going and finally turned her gaze towards the bird with a flick of her tail. "Hi," She looked the bird over again and she just knew she had seen him somewhere before. Without thinking about it she took a sniff to see if that would remind her of whom he was, but the fowl odor that wafted off the bird made her scrunch her nose up.

"You don't bathe a lot do you" She murmured under her breath. She hadn't even realized she had spoken it aloud instead of in her head like she had first assumed would happen. Now it was too late to take back and Arkrael squared her shoulders as she lifted her head, flicking her ears back a bit. "Erm...are you lost? or have you been here before?" With a sigh she figured she may show some semblance of kindness. She really didn't want to come off as a grumpy stuck up creature. She just wanted to be alone. That's all. Nothing more or less to it than that.

ooc: yay for too lazy for tables

---

The bird felt the canine pup brush against him, sending cool shivers up the bird's spine as he hopped back and away from the child. She'd gotten a whiff of his feathers, and Azazel frowned visibly. "So what if I don't bathe!" Carmine eyes turned off to the Orion entrance mournfully, giving a miserable peep. "Why does everyone tell me that? I feel like I smell just alright." Audibly sighing, the bird tilted his head and looked at the wolf. "I have been here before. Just waiting for someone. I felt like I had to meet someone here..."

Wait a minute...

Was this who he'd felt like he'd have to meet? This grumpy pup? Maybe she took lessons from Cancer and was a member of Maji Walezi. She didn't seem like a lover of water, though. "Who are you? I'm Azazel. The Bone King of Canis." Well, he didn't know that he was both self-proclaimed and smelled super bad and disgusting, somehow.

"Speech" Thoughts

The Bone King. This bird was a king? It was laughable. So laughable in fact that Arkrael could not help the chortle that escaped her throat. She flicked her tail to the side as she lifted her head up, peering down at the bird as he introduced himself. she wasn't really peering 'down' at him per-say, considering they were really at eye level with each other. For now. Rae knew one day she would be much bigger. Far more stronger than any silly bird who called himself king. "I am known as Arkrael of Eridanus," She finally responded when he stopped his squawking.

It wasn't her fault that the bird smelled bad. She narrowed her eyes as she studied him harder. Desperate to figure out why he was so familiar. She stood there silently for a long moment simply pondering over it. And then a flash back hit her. Back in Polaris where she had found Tamelyn with all those other gembounds. SHe had just barely took note of this bird being there. "I've seen you before. You were in Polaris where Tamelyn was," She commented almost thoughtfully. Yet it did not hold any form of excitement. She didn't truly know him. They weren't friends. And unless he started to bathe himself and didn't offend her rather sensitive nose it would probably stay that way.

Azazel chirped sadly, listening to the pup laugh. Either way, she was named Arkrael. A pretty name for a mean pup. Then there was the added fact that they had indirectly met before, in Polaris at the machine. Nodding solemnly, The Bone King squealed. "Yes. Well. I'll be in Canis... if you need anything from a 'smelly bird.'" Waving a wing in farewell, the ave smiled, lifting himself from the rocky perch that he previously stood upon and took off toward his home. The Room of Bones, and nothing less! It was where his family was, indeed. If Arkrael wanted to talk to him some more, she'd have to come right to him.

- exit Azazel -

"Speech" Thoughts

Arkrael watched the bird fly off quietly before giving a heavy sigh. She must have upset him. It left an uneasy feeling in her stomach. One Arkrael was not very fond of. She turned her gaze towards the area that led out to the direction she had previously been heading. She just wanted to go home. With a groan of contempt Arkrael turned on paw and frowned down the hall where she had previously came from. She couldn't just leave the bird all butthurt over whatever it was she had done. Shaking it off she made up her mind to go attempt an apology to Aza'zel. Then after that she would be off on her way back to Eridanus where a nice nap was starting to sound.

Exit Arkrael