Author: Dorian, Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 10:10 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

Sand caked to the soles of his feet as he moved nimbly through his home. He tried to keep as light of footfalls as possible so as not to press the blood in more. When he had everything that he needed, he went back up his steps, finding that the man had gone. It hit him only as an observation and he continued his stride without hesitation. Next time he might put a track on him…No, no that was going a step too far. Or more, it was magick placed on impulse instead of thinking it through. But a person of the sea that had the ability to grow legs, that alone was more than enough to look into further.

He knelt next to the pup, moving its parts into their appropriate compartments, humming all the while as he did so. The salt in the storage tanks would help dry them out, keep them fresher for longer, but he knew many of these morsels would be dried out for a more crunchy consumption later. As he worked, he thought about all he was going to do when everything had been properly cleansed and bonded. His crystals were still buzzing with energy and he was considering opening another circle. This one, however, would be done in the safety of his home.

Though, with how brightly the moon was glowing tonight, it might be good to go star clad and continue his workings out in the opened. The push and pull of the tides, radiance of the moon, energy from her raw power, would seep directly into his skin. Hmm… He’d think it over. After everything was packed and ready to be moved, he looked at the bloody footprints in the sand. His own mingled with those of Kuval’s, and there was something invitingly eerie about how they faded with the sand. He knew it was merely because he’d walked away and the blood had run out in his tracks, but when something so small got his attention he usually took it as a sign.

Yes, he would be visiting the cards tonight. For now though, he gathered everything up, making three trips to get the tanks, bones, and skins all in his home. Once everything was arranged safely and had wards up to keep them protected, he pulled out his deck. It was worn and weathered from the brush of sand and salt, and many of the designs had blurred from so much exposure to water. They were perfect.

He shuffled them between his hands, feeling them charge even stronger as he did so, and when he felt that they were done well enough he held them aloft in his palm. Breathing out slowly, he cut it into three in the sand and moved his eyes slowly from each section to the next. Though he couldn’t deny the magnetic pull they had to the one on the far right, and it was from there that he pulled his card. His eyebrows furrowed, lips parting in light confusion.

Wine mixed with water and he wondered briefly if he’d meant to pull it inverted. No, that never happened and the thought was dashed near immediately. Still, he placed the card back and reshuffled, cutting the deck differently this time and then pulled once more. Again he saw the water and wine, unable to ignore its pour into the cauldron. Frustration was forming, and he mixed them once more, not even bothering to cut as he pulled from the top. Only now, he pulled to flip it backwards. Again the same illustration revealed itself: righted, despite how he’d tried to force an inversion. The winged angel seemed in peaceful thought, yet he took it as a smirk. None of it made sense, and rather than think on it for too longer, he pushed Temperance back into his deck and set himself back to work.

Author: oddender, Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 8:49 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

Kuval raised his hands in submission to the command. Honestly, save the food, there wasn’t much in the area that he felt like touching. In fact, the squish between his toes had him longing to move back into the water. It was weird, up here. Somehow death felt more real. Everything… Everything stayed.

“I am young,” he said simply, watching after him with eyebrows raised, “Do you think there’s a better name for me?”

As the witch left, Kuval carefully moved himself back out of the tangle of bodies. Could they still be called bodies? Either way, he moved out of the circle and back into the cleaner sand, dragging the red with him unintentionally. Tonight was definitely a night he’d spend asleep under the waves. Not only did it feel cleaner right now, but it also seemed safer. This man definitely knew who, and what, he was now.

He moved back over to his staff and leaned upon it slightly, examining the now crusted bottoms of his feet. He could have put on the boots, but truth be told they seemed even harder to get used to than walking itself. They were still behind him somewhere, likely under the backpack he’d tucked away between the rocks. He’d have to wash first, at the very least, and the night was growing thicker. Through he’d grown up more nocturnal than anything, he’d nearly adapted to the cycle of the human world. He’d quickly learned how hard it could be to sleep through the sun.

Kuval looked at the mess before him and then in the direction the witch had left… There wasn’t much more that would be said tonight, despite his original desire to keep the conversation going. Perhaps he had been right about the man not having much in the way of social skills or friends. That was well enough… He had no doubt he’d see him again and when they did, maybe they could talk more.

It seemed tonight’s time may be up…. With a sigh, he finally turned and started to walk away. His focus needed to be on finding food and a place to sleep. Misu was surely not far… He’d find her. There was always safety when she was around.

As for the witch… Another day, he told himself. Another day.

Author: Dorian, Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 8:29 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

Just his eyes lifted up to him. Watchers. He wasn’t entirely sure what they were, but now his mind was working. Curiosity was never exactly a safe thing for him to have, much less if you were that target of curiosity. For all the time he’d kept the other one in the mirror, he’d never thought of her as an individual: simply another source of magick.

Hmm. He returned his focus downward, and set the pieces in proper order; wiping his athame off on the side of his pants when he was finished. He needed a good cleaning himself, but there would be quite time before he could do that. Still, the idea of tracking this much unnecessary blood into his home wasn’t appealing. It might bring flies. He hated flies.

He decided not to question any further about why he was staying around him, honestly this was the most sociable he could muster with anyone. No matter where they came from. Now that he knew he wandered the streets of Vilpamolan, he was sure he’d see him again. Though next time it might not be face to face. He’d keep an eye out for him.

Decide what they think is best. The words tumbled around in his head. That could mean so many things, but now wasn’t the time to press for information. Not when he had so much to finish for the night. What timing, any other night and he likely wouldn’t let him out of his sights, but he couldn’t afford that right now.

“Well,” he pushed up from the gore soaked sand and slid his athame safely into his belt loop, “you appear to be young yet. Let’s see how long you keep true to your name.” He returned to the adolescent and took up his violin and bow. There was much to do and the night seemed impossibly limited on time, “Do not touch anything.” His tone was quick but not harsh, and with it he walked back along the sands to his home to gather what he would need for storage.

Author: oddender, Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 7:43 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

For a moment, Kuval stood calmly and watched. His intense eyes shifted as he focused on the man. There was much there, he could tell already. So much there under the surface that wasn’t shown. The creature wondered if the witch even knew what it was like to be around people, to have friends… but it wasn’t pity that kept him there. On the contrary, if he had to put a name to it the name would be greed.

He wanted to know everything and this man knew things he didn’t. So much more. The ocean from this side, magick, pain. Kuval wanted to understand it all, to take it all in. He wanted to know. With everything said, he decided to focus on the point he found easiest to keep them in conversation and left he rest there at the wayside. After all, he wasn’t one to be shooed by another’s frustrations, as often as that may have gotten him in trouble in the past.

“It was given to me by the Watchers,” he said, nodding, “They choose the names and decide what they think is best in the long run. They’re not always right, but I think they did well enough with mine. The logic behind it is interesting, at least.”

It was too much information. He felt it, in the pit of his stomach, like the rush of jumping from a cliff side into the water below. You don’t share information about the world beneath, not with anyone. He knew this and even that little bit of information felt like a betrayal.

Still, there was a pull to keep the conversation going that was maddeningly strong. He’d have to be extra careful. Harmless tidbits at most, he reminded himself. Harmless and useless. After all, the last thing he wanted to do was endanger the community that had raised him. Even if they didn’t love him the way he longed for, the way humans loved each other. The loyalty remained…

Author: Dorian, Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 7:26 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

It was odd, hearing someone say his name. More so, it was odd to hear someone say his name without a curt undertone, or through gritted teeth. His athame moved smoothly through her tough skin, it was going cold quickly and that would make it harder if he wasn’t fast. “Interesting. I guess that’s a way to describe it.”

He spoke without looking at him, focusing on his work, which went by much quicker than with the pup since he was making up for unintentionally lost time. He wasn’t accustomed to conversing while he did these tasks, even if it was extremely minimal.

Kuval. The name didn’t fit him, not in his opinion. “Is that a chosen name or the one you were given?” Maybe it was just him, but the way it sounded led him to think of a much more…harsh individual. As strong and able as the now humanoid version of him was, he’d barely describe him as harsh.

This time when he finished gutting, deboning, and slicing up her edible parts, he took special care for her head. The jaws were set aside in an honorable fashion, almost crown like in the sand above the rest of her neatly placed pieces. They would have their own separate cleansing later.

When he finished, he moved to the eldest one and made fast work of him, speaking again, “Why are you still here?” It was almost an exasperated tone, but one that came naturally by this point in his life. Well, at least it was better than annoyance, though it was nearly laced in it. Time away from living within society left him less trusting of strangers.

More than that, it left him feeling exposed and uncomfortable, not that anyone would ever know that. However, the glow in his markings shifted: moving as if filled with a softly flowing current of water to outline each movement of light. “You have your legs, I’d think you’d want to be making good use of them.” He knew that had he the ability trade places with him and go below the depths indefinitely, that he might never come back up.

Author: oddender, Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 9:25 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

Kuval smiled, wider than he intended to, exposing the extra sharp ridges of teeth that sprouted occasionally from his otherwise human set. Four points stood out near the front, like doubled fangs of a blood sucker, lightly pink from the amounts of raw meat and blood he’d consumed over the years. He wasn’t quite sure what caused the smile. Either the compliment or the offering, neither of which he’d expected.

“Thank you,” he replied, but didn’t get up to retrieve the food just yet. Instead he watched how quickly and gracefully the man worked. It was astounding. So practiced. It made one wonder how many of these creatures he’d killed up to now. How frequently did he do this, to absorb their power?

As he relaxed there on the sand, he recapped the canteen and hooked it back onto his hip. It was getting darker still, the sun completely lost to the horizon now, and Kuval found himself grateful for his enhanced site. It made it incredibly easy to pick out little details a normal human wouldn’t have been able to see.

The witch spoke his name hesitantly, and Kuval took it in with just as much interest. Dorian. It was a beautiful name, he thought. Interesting. Not nearly as dark sounding as his actions would have led him to assume. It seemed almost opposite to him, like his own name that sounded so dark but meant so much light. He wondered what Dorian’s name meant, if it had been given a meaning before birth.

He looked up at the man as he stood and smiled again, looking at him. Those electric veins continued to glow and Kuval had the urge to touch them. Instead he shook his head, “I won’t take more than one… but I will take that one.”

Pushing up from the ground for a moment, he stepped through the blood to reach the mound of raw meat. The blood of the lost squished beneath his toes, the sensation something he’d never felt before. A pang of temporary sorrow ran through him before he picked up a piece from the mound and turned to face the witch again. One of his arms crossed under the other, leaving his hand up and the meat close enough to his lips and nose to smell as he continued.

“My name, Dorian, is Kuval,” he said, popping the piece into his mouth and savoring it. The sharp points of his teeth tore through it easily before he spoke again, “It’s very interesting meeting you.”

Author: Dorian, Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 9:03 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

“Hm. You’re not stupid at least.” The words were more irritated than he meant them to be, but that feeling wasn’t directed at him. However, he did take note of that appetite in his eyes and looked down at the fresh meat. With a sigh he offered him some, “Take a piece if you must. No more than that.” A rarity in itself, but if the man hadn’t been what he was then he wouldn’t have gotten such a pleasantry. He took up some himself and moved it between his lips. This fresh and young, it nearly melted on his tongue. His body had grown so accustomed to eating it raw that it was easy for him, and he sucked the blood from his thumb,

“Coming from the ocean, I’m surprised you haven’t dabbled yet yourself. It would probably come easily to you, in comparison at least.” Not that he was discounting his own power. He’d spent the better part of his life building it up and thus far hadn’t come across another human that could match his power when it came to magick that drew its power from water. Well, aside from a certain fallen goddess, but he’d never had the chance to meet her before her descent from grace. Then again, she had been a being of ascension and hardly fell into the boring category of ‘human’.

He eyed him for a moment, considering giving up that information. It wasn’t even for fear of anything being done with it, he just knew that once names were exchanged it could shift a dynamic. As intriguing as he was, being a merman, he hadn’t yet gotten a good read on him, “Dorian.” He pushed up from the sand, taking his violin with him, and walked to the adolescent, “Do not eat more of that.” he said as he walked. When he got to her, he sat down and pulled her half into his lap so that he could start on her fins now, “And yours?” he asked, referring to his name.

Author: oddender, Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 8:49 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

Kuval took up his place just outside of the circle of blood. He looked at the drying bodies, stretched out so close to home and yet so very far. For not the first time, he wondered what it would feel like if that fate found him. The idea of it made his throat tighten with thirst and he pulled one of the canteens from its space on his hip, downing a swig from it deeply.

He’d seen worse, if he was honest about it. In fact if he was completely honest he’d have to admit that the smell of the meat was calling to him. He hadn’t realized quite how hungry he was until he saw the meat there, cut and ready. He eyed it hungrily for a moment before he looked up at the witch again.

“I’m not sure, really,” he answered. He was never quite sure what he would want or need over time. Things he thought he’d hate, he’d grown to love. Things he loved, he’d grown to hate. If he put his fingers in this magick, would he love it? Or would it be something he grew to look upon with disgust? “Right now I think it’s curiosity, and peace of mind.”

He nodded a little to that and continued, “I appreciate that you use the lot of it. No waste, less loss. It closes the circle a little better.”

Driving his staff into the sand, Kuval lowered himself down and sat there, one arm around it leisurely as he watched. He tried to imagine what that sort of power would feel like. He knew the power as it stood before, as he’d looked at them in the water. The strength and fight they’d radiated. All of that, refocused on this one man.

Kuval lifted his eyes once more and locked them onto the witch, narrowed in focus as if he could gather any information he could possibly want by staring alone. When he spoke, his tone was calm, but that curiosity remained at the forefront, “What’s your name, witch?”

Author: Dorian, Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 8:29 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

With one so young, the flesh, while tough, was still just malleable enough that the cuts didn’t take as much effort. The state of his athame only helped that along. When he got to the tail fins he heard a familiar voice and moved just his eyes up to the man. To be honest, he was surprised the two were even conversing, but he brought his attention back down to the pup as he answered him, “The purpose? That’s too broad of a question.” He rested the fins down and then turned it onto its back, leaving the belly exposed.

His athame sliced into its flesh and he smoothly pulled it up from tail to mouth. It needed gutted, and luckily he’d done this enough that it was a clean procedure. The stomach was discarded to the side, its contents would need emptied out when he was finished, “The long and short of it is, quite frankly, for the power they bring me.”

As he skinned and cleaned the animal, he left it in a neat set up against the sand, turning gore into meticulous cuts. Many of which were meant for obvious consumption, “Aside from that though, their flavor is unmatched. What I don’t use for magick, I use to fill my stomach.  Some of it I can preserve or dehydrate.” The latter was usually for the inhabitants of his tank and his tide pool garden.

When he was finished, he looked up at him again. He rested his hands on his knees, athame still held in one of them. Blood soaked into his pants as he continued on, “Why do you ask? Mere curiosity, or do you have a pull towards the arts yourself?” Truth be told, he wasn’t used to anyone staying around him for so long after such displays. Not to say that the fact of that bothered him: he preferred it that way actually, to be left alone. People were usually bothersome and disgustingly easily perturbed.

Author: oddender, Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 8:08 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

The sands of the shore felt so different than the sands at the bottom of the ocean, and yet Kuval always trusted these much less than those he’d left behind. Here, walking out of the water, he felt the weight of the world before him as if pressed upon him. It was strange to him how he could hold so much less weight and yet feel so very heavy out here.

It probably didn’t help that sand, which he loved, was one of the harder surfaces for him to master walking on. It seemed to have a mind of its own, always shifting under his newfound feet like it was trying to escape his steps.

By the time he made his way onto the shore, the witch seemed to have produced an instrument from somewhere and was taking it and that blade back to the sharks. Kuval stopped for a moment. There was no doubt in his mind of where this was heading. He wanted to move over, to comfort them in their last moments, but there didn’t seem to be time…

Instead he turned away for a moment, moving over to where he’d discarded his own land clasped things. He took his time dragging on the pants. He still didn’t like them, truth be told. They held the sand to his skin, rubbing roughly between his thighs to remind him that he wasn’t as he wished to be. Next he moved his hands up into his hair, fixing the mess back into a more manageable shape once more. When he was sure it wouldn’t drip much more, or dangle down too far, he unfolded his cloak and draped it around his shoulders, leaving the hood down for now as he looked back over.

Behind him, the witch had taken up the instrument. The sound of it was eerily different than he was accustomed too and he was urged again to turn back. He held still for now though, trying to ensure that whatever was being done was, in fact, done.

As the music faded down and disappeared, Kuval turned his attention back. The man sat on the ground, cradling the empty shell of the young one in his lap. Such a strange one…

Finally, he picked up his staff and started over, planting the end of it firmly in the sand with each stride forward. As he walked, he spoke up, “What’s the purpose?”

There had to be a purpose, surely. No one did magick just for the sake of it, did they? He had to have a reason for killing these creatures. Or, at least, Kuval hoped he did.

Author: Dorian, Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 7:43 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

The air was cold against his skin as he walked back onto the shore, shaking his arms out but not bothering with wringing out his hair. He enjoyed the way it felt to have the ocean running down his back; fingers of a long lost lover. And he gazed with pride at the three he’d taken. Even now they were still desperately flopping against the beach; sand sticking to their skin, some of it starting to clog their gills. They might very well drown on dry land. Despite that, he walked passed them and to his home, going down the packed steps and dropping his backpack at the entrance. In the corner was a well-loved violin, and he took it up along with his bow after rooting his athame out of his pack.

When he made it back to them, he saw that the pup had given up the struggle, and he breathed out slowly as he resigned himself. This one would be first. Resting his instrument down, he walked over to it and knelt down. Even though he needed things from them, they still deserved respect enough for a merciful death. No pain was needed for this, and the only energy he’d want would be drawn from its life force: not its pain. So, he took it surprisingly gently by the belly and made a deep crimson smile with his athame. It led from his gills, under his neck, back to its other set. Within seconds the babe was bled out, and he left its fresh carcass there to do the same to its companions.

As expected, the adolescent had been the hardest, and he was eager to pry out her jaws. That would come later though. For now, he rested his athame in the sand facing west and took up his violin. Blood ran down his chest, his chin, all along his arms to leave the glowing veins on his skin temporarily wine colored. Their energy would be drawn first. He brought his violin up, chin resting on the edge as he rested his bow against the strings.

His eyes closed as he played a slow tune, picking up every so often and pitching high in the middle. His breathing deepened, matching rhythm with his heart as he drew in their life essence. It flowed in soft tendrils through the air, all of it sucking into his athame. He could feel it building, and while he was tempted to look on, he made sure to keep his eyes closed. Likewise he wanted to draw some of it into himself, but refrained from doing so. His feet slowly led him backwards in two long strides before slowly turning in a circle. The ebb and flow of their life dizzied him, he could smell it even. Their blood squished under his toes; chilling quickly as it mixed with sand to give a morbid imitation of the ocean’s touch.

The signatures picked up, so much so that he knew his bowstrings would be frayed and in need of replacement when this was said and done. Only when he felt that they were completely tapped did he end the incantation and open his now glowing eyes to look down at the empty bodies: now spiritual husks of their formal selves. His athame, however, was glowing with power and he walked towards it as one would approach a starving animal. It welcomed him, and he smiled as he wrapped his fingers around it’s blood slicked hilt.

A surge of energy rushed through him, filling him all the way down to his toes and all he could do was exhale weakly; his smile broken but still alive. The blade itself was impossibly cold, so much so it nearly burned, and he moved to the pup. Sitting down, he pulled it into his lap and began to slice off its fins.

Author: oddender, Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 7:04 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

There was much that could be said. Too much, really. Kuval took in all the words offered to him and thought about what sort of response was really necessary. He could, of course, tell the man about his times in the ocean. He could tell him about his times in the city. He could explain so much… but what would be the point of that?

He was still walking, as the witch stated. There was much to that, after all. It hadn’t always been so simple a task. Not just the walking, but the walking among humans. He didn’t dare to show most his form and those who had seen…? It wasn’t so simple to walk away.

Ruthless, he repeated to himself, mulling the word over in his mind. Was it one he would use for himself? For his people? They were animals, in a way. He knew this. Some of them saw humans as the same. Just as this one had thrown sharks to the shore, he’d seen his own drag humans into the depths. Pockets in caverns, even… but that was getting off topic.

For just a moment, his hand reached up and touched down on the scar on his shoulder. Ruthless was too simple a word for some of the things he’d seen, but it would work well enough for now. He couldn’t think of any one better at this point.

Kuval turned his eyes away from the scene in the water. Despite everything, watching the carnage still wasn’t his favorite thing. He’d been that way as long as he could remember, turning his head away. Unseen, but not ignored. Instead he looked at the witch, watching him dismantle everything he’d created.

Of course you prefer me the other way, he thought almost bitterly. Truth be told, he preferred himself the other way as well. This human form was too tight, too constricting. His hand touched down on the muscle of his toned abdomen and felt a frown overtake his features. He missed the roundness of his natural body, but this one was often safer. Here the only things people usually wanted for him were things he was willing to give…

Then, of course, the man was off. Kuval slowly pushed up to stand on the stone, looking first toward him and then back toward the ocean. He knew what he should do. He should dive in, away from the frenzy, and follow the current to safety. Away from the murderer. Away from the excitement.

The wind whipped up, pulling his attention back toward the shore as it cast the salt cased locks of his white hair across his face and back again toward the waters. He stood still, curling and uncurling his fingers in indecision a few seconds longer than he should.

But of course, anyone who knew him knew what his decision would be. It was easy enough to guess. He went where life took him, where adventure took him. He dove into the water gracefully, careful not to take any into his lungs as he swam to the shoreline where he knew the man would be.

After all, the witch was nothing if not an adventure waiting to happen. However a short one it may be.

Author: Dorian, Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 6:41 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

As his breathing finally started to calm, he noticed that the frenzy still had not. That wasn’t too odd considering how long they could last, especially if their own blood started to spread through the waves, but he had three very distressed creatures to take care of on the shoreline. It was time to start the process of taking down the circle. He pushed up into a sit, crossing his ankles as he looked down at his circle. His lips quietly moved as he took the quartz from his pocket, and began to expertly trace it in reverse to its original design. At once the portal closed, the candles and crystals regained their structure, and the process was able to begin.

“Tell me,” he spoke to the boy on the other rock, his eyes however never moved from their concentration on his circle, “how much carnage have you taken personal witness to? Hmm?” Bringing his still ocean soaked fingers to the ring of candles, he started to effectively snuff them each out. When he was finished, he screwed the lids back onto their proper candles and moved them into his pack along with the quartz. “I wonder sometimes if your kind are more ruthless in their own ways than mine.” Though to some it would seem an insult, he meant it the exact opposite. To him there was no negativity to ruthlessness: all it happened to be was the extremity of honesty married with brutality. You knew where you stood with people like that.

“You’re still walking after all.” As the crystals were lifted from their spots, he softly hummed, feeling the power dim out of them with each practiced rise and fall of notes; ending with him putting them back along with the rest of his supplies. The athame was last, and then he buckled it all down together to keep it safe from spilling out. “Though, speaking of which,” he moved the pack onto his back and stood up.

His eyes narrowed on the swarming creatures and he moved a hand out as he deeply inhaled, “I prefer you the other way.” His fingers flexed out as he softly whistled a quick tune, immediately a gentle shockwave went out: causing a single shark to freeze in its movements. It was a necessary casualty and pulled hungry attention to it. The frenzy turned to that poor single creature, but it would leave him with a long enough distraction to get back to shore.

He looked over at him, “It won’t last long. I suggest starting your swim towards the shore if that’s your destination for the night.” With that, he softly whispered his incantation to himself and dove into the waves. Now for you. He smirked with confidence as he swam back to the shore to make use of his fresh ingredients.

Author: oddender, Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 11:59 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

“Yes, well. Personality doesn’t always equal naivety,” Kuval noted. It wasn’t uncommon for people to think him empty or unintelligent. The truth of it was, he knew better than many things. He was smart enough to know how to handle himself, and strong… He could hold his own. It was almost an advantage, at times. People underestimated him in more ways than one.

That being noted, he still knew that there were many who could get the better of him. This man, for instance, with his hungry eyes… It was incredibly obvious that the two should not be set so close together. Kuval knew beyond a doubt that he was anything but safe. This was a giant risk. The witch knew what he was and, clearly, had absolutely no remorse taking what he wanted even if it meant death. It was dangerous. He was dangerous.

But that’s where his foolishness came into play. He knew the risks and he bore them eagerly. Things were more fun that way, with their touch of danger. At any moment, this person could snatch him up and do who knew what and no one would be the wiser. No one would even know he’d been taken and he knew it.

Well, except maybe Misu, but there wouldn’t be much she could do about it.

The thought of it was almost a thrill. It rushed through his veins like preemptive adrenaline. Not that he wished it to happen. Not at all, really, but if it did… Who knew? The circle continued on. Even if he didn’t make it through.

“Precious indeed…”

He watched on, tempted for a moment to offer assistance. After all, he had his own pull with these creatures and he’d had more than his fair share of interactions with them. There were probably faded scars somehow from when he’d been a pup himself, far too curious to be without those wounds for more than a few days.

But just as he’d through about offering, the man lunged forward and the whole upper half of him was in the water. Kuval straightened a bit, his heart picking up. He could be lost here, couldn’t he? Torn apart by those he sought to capture? But no, there was a confidence to his dive… and sure enough he was at the surface again, thrashing about with the young girl in his arms.

As she was tossed unceremoniously through the portal, Kuval could feel the wince starting within him. Circle or no, it felt like too much death. Too much blood. What sort of magick should ask for so much pain…? That laugh didn’t help. There was evil within it, delight in the sacrifice.

This is a terrible idea, he thought to himself. Yet he remained there on the stone, unmoved, staring down into the peaceful face of the murderer before him and wondering what sort of name a beast like him could own.

Author: Dorian, Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 11:35 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

He sighed,Easier to have them, what a dreadfully boring reason to want legs. Then again, his own served him quite well. Just his eyes lifted up to him, imagining doing just that and putting him through the gate he’d made. It’d be easy…And that hunger showed in his eyes for a split second before returning to their focus in the water. All that was left was the adolescent, but they were so quick, slippery, at their physical peak: they were by far the hardest to nab up.

For this one he would be more patient, but he had one decently draining trick up his sleeve should the moment call for it. He hoped it wouldn’t come to that until he had to swim back, and closing his circle took more than a gather up of items. His hands moved up, pushing his hair back, though a few strands stayed free as he tied it up in a loose knot of a bun. “Honestly, I would have thought you’d been killed at first sight.” It was a simple statement, not meant to jab, but not meant to be tactful either.

He chuckled, “I take it not many know what you are then? That would be precious information, wouldn’t it?” There were a few things listing off in his head already that he could make good use of, things that the maiden he had was simply unable to provide. Finally he saw her, beautiful and ruthless in the water, it would be a shame to kill her but she’d bring him great fortune…He already knew the place of respect he’d keep her jaws.

His athame was warm in his fingers and he tossed it back and forth between his hands, breathing out slowly and then back in deeply as he readied himself. Hopefully he wouldn’t lose a limb. Again. They weren’t fun to reattach and usually he had to get help with that, not pleasant when you preferred working alone. Her tail swished quickly as she snapped towards another that had drawn too close, and in the starts of their brawl he took advantage of the situation.

With movements so abrupt that a couple flinched their attention, he put nearly the entirety of his top half into the water; legs spreading wide on the stone to keep his balance. All around him under the water were shiny black eyes, their energy became one amidst the water,and had he been able to he would have relished in it. That being said, he had work to do, and quickly wrapped his arms around her; gripping his own wrist and nudging the edge of his blade against one of her gills before using all the strength his core would allow to bring himself out of the water.

Air filled his lungs in deep gasps as he hadn’t taken the time to grant the ability to breathe underwater this time, and it was all he could do to fight her strength. She twisted violently in his arms and he laughed, near cackled with pride as he squeezed tighter and turned her into the gate head first. Once it was done he flopped on the stone, weak, near spent, but smiling…oddly peacefully, near lovingly.

Author: oddender, Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 11:10 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

The water was a mess. All the peace he’d left around the rocks seemed completely gone now. It was almost fitting. Almost. The turmoil of the water, with the darkness of the night, as if reminding him again things he’d left behind so many, many leagues away. Kuval watched as the water churned beneath, willing himself not to listen to anything the beasts may have to say right now.

Instead he kept himself in that ready position, watching it all. The form of the portal, the first grip and pull as one was hoisted into it. He resisted the urge to lunge forward and lose his head to the hole in curiosity. How did such a think work?? How did he have so very much power?

Everything seemed so beautiful, so grim, in this magick of his. So much blood, so much violence, and yet all of it so very curious. He wanted nothing more than to learn it all right now. Right at this moment… but he had to face the reality that this witch hadn’t even given his name at this point. Likewise, he hadn’t offered up his own secrets either.

“Sometimes it easier to have them,” he answered, wiggling newly formed toes against the stone. Parts of the anatomy still seemed strange to him. With over twenty plus years without, it all seemed superfluous sometimes. Still, he would admit there were parts of it he liked very much. Toes, he’d found, were an unnecessary luxury that he enjoyed plunging into land or water or grass or anything else he could find to enjoy. It was a completely different tactile sensation that he’d grown to love. “I can’t be flopping around the streets, now can I? I’ll end up through your portal just as quickly, I’d say.”

He’d heard rumors, horror stories really, about the things people would do for pieces of creatures like him. Plucking of the scales was a quick one that came to mind. Sometimes he wondered why people didn’t just wait for them to molt naturally. Then they’d be free and painless. He’d have given them up that way, or sold them if he could… but he knew first hand the danger there could be of letting his true self be known.

“I’ve been a few times,” he said with a nod, “These shores have been my home for a while now. It was only natural to venture into the nearest city. I bought a few things even.”

With the latter, Kuval felt a small pride. After all, not everyone could venture into a completely new city, a new culture all together, and come out better for it. It hadn’t been easy and, foolish as he felt now, he quickly learned of how dangerous a city he’d picked as his first to visit. It really was lucky he hadn’t been killed long ago.

Still, he hadn’t been killed… and sometimes something as simple as staying alive was worth having pride in, wasn’t it?

“Why do you ask?”

Author: Dorian, Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:50 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

“Hm.” Again he was disapproving in his reply, but he decided not to push it right now. He had much more important matters to attend to after all, namely the swarm that was starting to circle the rock. His eyes lit up in eagerness as he watched them, but he was careful to draw a distinction between each one. Their mouths opened unceremoniously, drawing in the blood stained water and soon the once gentle waves were frothing. The frenzy was beginning. With luck they would hurt each other, their carnage pulling others of their kind closer.

Best to start the portal so that this could go swiftly, “My need? Magick of course, what else?” That wasn’t all, but he didn’t feel like getting into it just yet. Truth be told, no part of their bodies would be wasted, those that did such a thing were disgusting. Just because they were ingredients didn’t mean they didn’t deserve respect. “Their fins can be used for a number of things, and I’m in short supply at the moment.”

He took a raw cut of aqua aura quartz and touched it to his forehead, eyes closing for a moment as his lips gently parted. A soft glow formed at its center before quickly shifting to the tip. As his eyes opened, he drew a slow but wide circle in the smooth surface of the rock; the crystals and candles becoming ethereal and easy to pass through. He was careful to sit back from it as a hole formed, and now it was time to get his hands wet.

“Why have you sprouted legs anyhow? You aren’t planning on going to the shore are you?” He chuckled to himself as he slid the quartz into his pocket for later. Taking up his athame, he moved narrowed and focused eyes to the water. His blade stayed poised in one hand while his other hovered just out of reach of their gaping jaws. One drew just close enough in the right position and his eyes briefly widened before lunging forward and gripping it by its dorsal. As he did so, his body expertly arched back, using his own weight to hoist the pup from the water only to drop it through the hole. It led straight to the shore, enough so that the creature would remained beached.

That’s one. He thought to himself. The pups were always the easiest. “T-Tell me,” his eyes moved to his as he caught his breath, “have you actually been to that city before?” He gripped his athame tighter before returning his attention to the swirling water. Another moved just close enough, and again he dipped forward, groaning from its weight as he near flopped to his back from lifting it up. It too went through the portal. One more.

Author: oddender, Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 9:50 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

The pause in reply was enough to bring Kuval’s attention back to the man in time to catch the curious stare. For a brief moment he found himself hesitant. After all, to the best of his knowledge his kind were rare on land and anything rare held a value.

Of course this had been part of the point, he knew. Part of why his family had been so wary to let him leave. Part of why they feared the light and land as a hell he couldn’t return from. The truth of it was, he’d had a run in or two since he’d started on land. He knew the gaze, the longing, and the way the man looked at him now made him feel like maybe it was time to be at least a little more cautious.

To add to this, death and violence already hung from his actions like a noose of blood. So willing to cut himself, to bleed for the ocean, to kill those who came toward them now. Kuval could have warned them, he knew, but then it could disrupt the balance. If these were meant to die, they were meant to die, weren’t they? He shouldn’t interfere…

And he wasn’t ready to leave yet. He wanted to know more, much more. This one was a healer, a being of magick and mystery. He wanted to know more… so much more. Wanted to take it in eagerly. No, he felt he had to know.

Kuval turned his body, placing himself in a calm and yet still more ready position. If need arose, he could spring from the stone and dive into the depths quickly. The water would protect him, surely. After all, it was his mother as much as the woman in its depths who bore him. Then again, mother’s weren’t always kind, he’d been told.

“Only if I think about it,” he answered simply to the first part. He watched as the sharks moved toward them, as they unwittingly swam into this trap. He thought for a moment about how they, too, weren’t innocent. They came toward the blood, toward their own victims, their own needs.

Tearing dark eyes from the waters, he moved them back to the man. His own expression was calmer with his newfound caution. He watched as the candle light flickered against the witch’s face, under lighting it like an illustrated villain in a book. The smirk didn’t help with the imagery.

“Nothing comes without a pain?” He repeated quietly, “Likewise, nothing comes without a cost. I paid mine. It’s a twist of our people that isn’t to be explained right now… Tell me more about your needs with these?”

Author: Dorian, Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 9:21 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

Once the water was sufficiently tainted enough, he lifted his hand out of the waves and looked down at the slice he’d made in his palm. He heard the other move up onto a nearby rock, and concentrated. Again his lips moved silently, eyes closing with three seconds of soft humming before the wound slowly closed in on itself. Though the skin was healing rapidly, it still brought a decent amount of pain to speed up the process. His jaw locked, though there was a light dip in his stomach: a thrill from the pain.

He was sure to keep any shake from entering his voice as his eyes opened: looking down at smooth flesh as if nothing had cut it, “Very important supplies. Namely their fins; with luck, I can get three sets tonight…each from a different stage of life.” He nodded slowly in thought, eyes narrowing only slightly before looking back over at him. When he saw him, his lips parted and his eyes widened. The transformation was gradual, but he watched on in curiosity as his scales sunk into his flesh.

His tail split to offer two legs, and as these changes took place he realized so too did his weight. The softness of his form gave way to hard and lean muscle: obvious strength from having lived in the water for so long and transferring that experience into a more humanoid frame. Again, his thoughts drifted to his mirror…It’d be interesting to test, but catching someone on legs was much more difficult on land compared to struggling flops. Maybe it was time to get a male.

It took him a moment to realize that he’d even asked him a question, and likewise he realized that his fingers had curled into a tight fist. Eager. Focus, next time. His fingers uncurled, revealing his healed palm and he rested both hands on his legs, “Of course it hurts, nothing worth getting comes without pain.” He arched an eyebrow, chin tipping in his direction, “I’m sure that hurts, doesn’t it? Or it did at some point. Think of it that way.”

The flames of his candles slowly moved in unison towards one direction, and he looked on with their lead. A quick set of dorsal fins was threading through the water towards the rock and a smirk slowly curled on his lips. They weren’t too far apart, it wasn’t a pup but definitely an adolescent. Good. Strong. His athame was in his fingers instantly, “Tell me now, where did you learn a trick like that?”

Author: oddender, Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 2:47 AM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

With eyes transfixed, Kuval studied the scene before him. A nod was all he had to offer for the first of his statements because, simply, he did need to see more of it. Much more, if he had his way. He’d heard many rumors of many places he both feared and desired. Deserts, for one. A place without water? Hell upon land, easily marked.

Everything seemed so perfectly done, so meticulously placed, that he knew this was something the man had to do at least somewhat regularly. What was it like, to hold such a power? Was it, in fact, power…? Or was it in the man’s head? Many of these things could be, try as a person may. Kuval himself had never ventured much into magick. At least not yet, but the found the lot of it very curious.

Then the strike came, the instant flicker of heat and light. The sea creature pulled his head back slightly, resting his chin on the stone and hiding the bottom half of his face behind the solid barrier of his arms. He’d seen fire before, but never had he been quite so close to it. The radiating warmth called to him and he almost reached out a hand to touch, but he knew the man wouldn’t have the patience for such an action. That blade wasn’t one he’d like to have against his own skin.

The sudden spark of blue from those wirey veins flickered through as if reflected in his own eyes. The intensity of his draw might as well have been its own light, trying to force its way from within him. So he wasn’t mad… This was magick. Real magick.

He watched on with wide eyes, trying to take in both the sights and the words spoken to him. It was true, too, that he knew how to handle the swarm. Although the creatures he’d dealt with in the darkest parts of his home were of a different breed than those here, he’d been on this side of the ocean long enough to have learned these patterns too.

Those words reminded him again of how much he didn’t like the fight. He’d rather be on shore by the time that happened. Especially with whatever this interesting man might be doing. Or whatever he already had done.

Kuval moved quickly onto a nearby stone, gracefully pulling himself onto the solid rock. It was there that he began the shift of turning back, coughing quietly and spitting the water from his lungs back toward the ocean.

“Supplies?” He asked, resisting a second cough from already empty lungs, “What supplies could they give you?”

The familiar peel started at the lower part of his torso as the scales began to pluck back and recede, prickling sharply like a tattoo application in reverse. The sensation didn’t hurt anymore, not now that he’d grown accustomed to doing it at least twice a day, but it still wasn’t a fun one. Next came the tightening. Layers of warmth faded away, leaving his skin tight against the well formed muscles beneath.

Soon he was there on the stone in ‘human’ form, curiously arching forward to watch the drip of the blood into the water. Suddenly the smoothness beneath him didn’t feel so warm. It was colder than he’d like, against the bare parts of new skin, but it seemed he’d miss too much if he left now to retrieve his clothes from wherever he’d left them.

“Doesn’t that hurt…?”

Author: Dorian, Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 12:13 AM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

“Hm.” His nose wrinkled in disapproval to his statement. While he would never understand the appeal towards land when there was the ocean to worship, he could at least understand fascination with something unknown to you. The ocean in all her depth was more unexplored and vast than any soul on solid ground could comprehend. In all his life he’d probably only ever learn an insignificant fraction of what there was as a whole. That said, it was probably more accurate to think that there wasn’t as much to love about land. To him at least. “You obviously need to see more of it.” To truly understand how dull it is.

His arms shifted to make sure nothing would be moved too much as the man slipped back into the water. When he was sure he was finished arranging himself, he moved his hands into his pack once more. A tightly capped jar was pulled out, then a second, until he had five in all. Each one was filled with wax, and all of them had thin but strong wicks: candles safe from water only by being screwed tightly during submerging. Even so, he had to shake out accumulated sand before lighting each one with flint. He didn’t answer him, instead he kept focused, lining them to each corner of the world with the fifth dead center at the nexus of the crystals.

He did not have his violin with him, it wasn’t necessary for something so simple. Instead he softly hummed, eyes closing as he did so. As he did so, he took care to reach every note at the right beat in rhythm to this particular working of magick. Less than ten seconds and he was finished, the flames of each candle still as if formed from glass. The blue on his arms, his spine, neck, shone brighter and then suddenly faded back down to their more natural glow. He picked up in answering him casually as if nothing had happened: this was normal to him,

“I’m gathering supplies is what I’m doing. Being an inhabitant of the deep I’m sure you’re more than aware of what comes close to the shallows at this hour.” On his way to the rock he’d avoided any sharks, but now he wanted to find some. He needed them, namely their fins. All of them. “I’d give it about ten minutes before they start to swarm, so if I were you I’d choose wisely your level of curiosity.” He took his athame up, feeling his energy connect with its own like a soft buzz of electricity. It was warm, inviting, made him feel whole, even as he passed it through the flames,

“Being you, I’m sure you’re more adept in dealing with their kind. Either way,” he brought the still hot blade up to his palm, and without hesitation he sliced down to his wrist, “no one enjoys a frenzy.” Well, except him. Blood filled his palm, ran down the underside of his arm, some of it falling in morbid drops against the crystals but never against the flames. No pain showed on his features, and in a way he enjoyed the bite it brought. That sting strengthened more as he arched to the side and moved his dripping hand into the water. Salt burned the gash, but he kept his fingers relaxed in the water; allowing the blood to spread in tendrils as if come to life.

Author: oddender, Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 11:52 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

Fascination. If there was one word, pure and true, to describe what Kuval felt that would have been it. There should have been more to it, really. If he’d bothered to pause and think about it. He should have felt nervous. Perhaps threatened.

Instead his dark eyes watched intently as the man set things up, only scooting ever so sllightyl when he felt more space was needed. With the final words, the warning to leave, he finally turned himself and slid backwards into the water. The ocean was cool and welcoming, clutching at the hardened scales of his tail and down to the thinner curves of the ending fin. With his belly pressed against the slick algy of the stone, he stayed upright. Broad, muscular arms crossed on the cold edge of the stone, relaxed and comfortable as if he’d seen this a million times before.

“There’s lots to love on land,” he said simply, nodding, “I’ve seen it. Just as much here as there, I’d say.”

With a plop, he put his chin on his arms and tried to get a better look at the tool. He could almost sense it for what it was, almost sense the bone of a fallen one he may have been close to at some point or another.

“What are you doing…?” He asked in a quieter tone. Not rude, not scared. Cautious, perhaps, with an undertone of that lingering fascination. The newcomer’s actions reminded him of ritual done in the depths, but he couldn’t recall seeing anyone on land do such a thing.

Instinctively, he finally moved a hand up and pushed and pulled his mane until it resembled something much closer to an urchin atop his head. At least there it couldn’t be tainted, he assumed. Or at least not quite so easily.

Like the other, his eyes also went up to the stars and back down again. What could it mean…? He had to know. It was as simple as that.

Author: Dorian, Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 11:29 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

He was pulled from his momentary stupor by his naïve words. Again his eyes halved, the irritation returning quickly as he looked back at him. This was his rock. For the night at least. And normally he wouldn’t care about sharing space, but tonight he had work to do and couldn’t be distracted by some…fish man.

As he moved, he took a quick survey of him: long, or he at least appeared that way with that swishing tail; obviously naked; soft at the edges, a common trait he’d seen with many of his kind; sea tangled hair, and a curious scar at his shoulder. His eyes lingered there the longest, trying to figure out what manner of weaponry had caused it. Most importantly he was a male. His thoughts drifted back to a certain mirror tucked away safely far from home…A male would make a matching set. Not today.

Either way, tonight he needed his spot, “I don’t personally care. If you must stay in the vicinity it’d preferably be off of my rock. I need it tonight, and not for ‘loving’.” His fingers gripped tighter, muscles flexing as he pulled himself out of the water and into a sit. Water pulled at his bottoms, but he had them just the right size that the cut of his hips would assure no further slipping. His pack, however, he pulled around from his back and rested between his legs.

“What’s to love anyhow?” He pulled a few stones from his pack, resting them in a well practiced alignment; ;his eyes lifting to check the direction of the stars as he did so to make sure things lined up nicely, “Much more interesting things where you come from.” And then came his athame: hand carved whale bone, it’s once ivory tone forever hued in pale red from how often it had been used in ritual. It rested at the center just after pricking at his finger.

“Now I suggest you leave before your white hair tints crimson.” It wasn’t so much a threat as it was an honest precaution. There would be much bloodshed tonight.

Author: oddender, Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 10:55 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

The truth of it was, Kuval was so relaxed when the stranger appeared that he might not have even noticed him if it hadn’t been for the scowled words. A quick jolt of surprise ran through him, from scalp to scales, bringing him quickly back up from his lounge.

Pushed up on one hand, he got a better look at the man as he tried to calm his now racing heart. This was… new. Not another of his own kind, but clearly nearly as ease in the water. Water dripped from his hair, along the curves and lines of his face, from the tip of his nose. A human? Sometimes he found it hard to tell. Human it would be, for now.

“The stones don’t belong to anyone,” he pipped, “I was just loving it for a while. I can move, if you need me to.”

Sitting up more, he curved his body and urged himself to wind backwards slightly on the stone toward the opposite water exposed edge to make more space and prepare for a plunge, should it be needed. He wasn’t so sure it would be though, not judging by the expression the newcomer now held.

Kuval lifted a hand, pushing knotted white locks from his face as he tried to get a better look. The shift exposed a scar at his right shoulder, through and through to his back like a dark tunnel with vines outstretched toward his upper arm and collar. Piercing dark blue eyes searched the stranger. Slowly his head tilted, studying the shifting lines. What could they mean? He’d come from the sea, but had he really come from the sea?

“Who are you?” He asked finally, deciding he’d never be able to figure it out on his own. “We could share the rock for a while, if you’d like.”

Author: Dorian, Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 10:31 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

Night time. Good. The sand was cold under his back, still slightly damp from walking in and out of his half buried home with soaking feet and pants legs. There was a slight tapping against glass and his eyes opened just enough to look over at the tank that lined one of his walls. The blue of his eyes gave off a soft azure glow as did the permanent vein like markings on his skin. A spindly tail was rapping against the edge of the tank and he sat up; legs pulling to his chest as he stretched his arms over his head until there was a satisfying pop.

He yawned, one hand scratching slowly through his mess of hair. Some of it tangled around his fingers, a few places were already crystallizing from the constant soak of sea water. Pushing up, he walked deeper into the covered pit that was his home, all the while the tail glided along the glass to eagerly follow him. He smiled but kept his attention directed to one of the many ceramic jars before him, “I hear you…”

The tapping picked up before cutting out in pitiful defeat. Soft dried krill filled his palm as he gently dumped some of it from the jar and moved with careful strides to the tank. The horseshoe crab inside shuffled close to the edge once more, it’s tail tapping at a constant now as it waited. Dorian moved his hand in, gently taking it and turning it to expose its under belly before carefully rubbing the krill against its underside. Quick pincers took the stragglers, moving them to its hungry mouth and he looked on with admiring eyes, “There. See? Now be still.”

Careful fingers turned the creature over correctly and he rubbed the water and remnants on his frayed pants legs. The sea glass that made up the shore level windows of his home revealed the rising moon. A slow smirk widened on his lips as he reached for his satchel. The feeding hour would be soon, and he had limited time to go…shopping, so to speak.

His fingers moved up to his mouth and his tongue lapped along the tips, still tasting the water and krill. On his way out, he ran those fingers along the stone plaque that was mounted just inside the entrance. After so many times doing this, he still wanted to keep his focus and strength and a little requested help from the powers that be never hurt.

He moved up the packed sand stairs that led him out and felt more exposed. With his glowing eyes and near scratch like markings, he knew he’d be easy to spot. Luckily hardly anyone paid you mind here, but he’d revel in any physical confrontation that might come his way. A man had to find a way to get his exercise after all, it couldn’t all be conventional.

First things first, he needed to get far enough out to have a base, one couldn’t be too careful with sharks prowling. Luckily, he’d scouted out the perfect location in advance. The soft brush of the ocean lapped up against his toes, around his ankles, and he felt more at peace and sure about what was to take place. For a moment, he allowed his eyes to close and breathe in her scent, letting her fill all the way to the edges of his lungs until she was confused with fire. Enough of that. His eyes opened, focusing on the rock he’d need to make it to, but his lips parted. Something was there. No, someone was there. His jaw instantly locked. That was his rock for the night.

Frustration began to rise up the back of his neck and likewise the marks pulsed brighter as he moved with strong strides into the water. His lips moved silently, granting him temporary power enough to breathe under water and he dove in. Sand and salt moved against his eyes, but they’d grown so used to it that he could see just as well as if he were on land…the bond aided with that as well. Why this rock, this night, of all nights?!

Once he was upon it, his fingers gripped at the slick edge and he pulled up just enough to stare in annoyance on this trespasser, “What are you doing on my rock?” He was ready to pull his blade to make persuasion easier when he saw his hips. For once he was taken aback and blinked quickly at realization of what he was.

Author: oddender, Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 9:32 PM, Post Subject: A Tale of Two [P][R]

There is no place better, he thought, than the stretch of the ocean. No place that he’d rather be than splayed back on the warm stone with his eyes transfixed on the distant roll against the reef. The sun had already started to fade, slowly dipping into the horizon like an anchor into the sea. With it, he felt the lock tighten, sealing his fate and the oceans together once more.

The night was coming on fast and as always, Kuval found himself lost to the mental fray. After all, the night was when he felt the most at ease. The most comfortable. It reminded him of home, of the deep dark recesses of the sea where he’d come to life some twenty-three years ago. And there, in that pitch world, is where he’d left his family.

Do they still think of me? He wondered idly, curling the ends of his dark lapis tail in and out slowly. He couldn’t quite remember how long it had been since he had been home. Long enough, he knew, to change the looks of him. It had turned his once pale skin to a faded and heavy brown tone at the very least. The wild mane of white hair was much longer now as well, casting down along his shoulders like jagged tatters of cloth.

He leaned more, resting on his back to look up at the forming stars. No, not forming… They were always there, weren’t they? Just as the sun itself never truly went away. Just somewhere else for a while, he reminded himself. Unless, of course, you were at the bottom of the ocean.

The stone itself was cooling much too fast, prickling the skin along his stout torso. Despite his primitive body’s natural aversion to the cold, there was no mistaking the contrast from day to night. The incoming cold, too, brought on thoughts of home. Cold, dark, full of life… Yet he longed for the sun even now, as it paused there on the horizon for him to love just a moment longer.

The tide was still in, crashing waves against the stone beneath him and peppering him with its spray. He could lay here until the sun rose again, he knew. Easily. Soaking it in, breathing it in, waiting for the light to return.

There’s no better place, he thought again, than under the warmth of the sun…