RP:A Random Encounter At Horseshoe Bay

Background

While spending time with his Mist Dragonette, Ranok has an encounter with an odd savage yet modest elven woman.

Horseshoe Bay

Ranok kept one hand on his weapon. There was no fear in the gesture. It was a simple precaution, as well as a statement. Oh, he knew about those sentries, here and there on the waters. The people living out here knew him, by simple reputation. Ranok of Rynvale. Surly smith, mechanic, creator of mysterious devices...pirate slayer. Openly declared a foe to the groups that skulked the area. It might have been stupid to do such a thing, walking into a den of your worst enemies, but Ranok was just that sort of man. And he was making that statement, that dare, after all. He was not afraid. He was more than willing to engage anyone that tried their hand. Pirates rather lacked the overwhelming firepower it'd take to erase him from the land in a single blow. Generally, at least. Anything less he could likely take on and survive long enough to escape or eliminate. Oh, he was confident, that one. But who wouldn't be, when you held the contempt for life and what it threw at you as much as he did? He was walking here, picking up a seashell left by the high tide. Weighing it in a hand, a sound over his shoulder might have stirred his attention had he not known exactly what it was; a dragon romping through the sand, splashing in and out of the water. Made of mists made solid, a heritage of her species, this particular dragonette was nearing her adult size and slowing down in growing. The species was smaller than most other dragons, but were no less tougher. Some considered them even tougher, given their propensity for dissolving into the mists and shrugging off attacks like one was attacking a cloud. That was neither here nor there, however. This dragonette was looking for crabs, with bright eyed enthusiasm. Anyone wishing ill of Ranok steered clear for much in the same reason one wouldn't approach a mother bear and her cub while completely unarmed. Some things were simply too stupid to even consider.

Michiko wandered into the Horseshoe Bay, her red eyes glancing around with intrigue; intrigue like that of a child. The oddly albino elf was somewhere between the ages of 400 and 600 years, but her family gave her a sheltered life. She didn't think this place could have any harm to it, and she wasn't really afraid of harm either. About her form was what appeared to be a long and tattered chunk of an old mast, used to serve the purpose of her outfit. She was a shapeshifter and so she couldn't always carry her clothing on her. Michiko moved like a crouching animal, as she walked, pausing at sounds here and there. However, when she saw Ranok she simply paused, right in the open, and watched him. With blinking eyes, and cocking head, she watched everything he did right down to his smallest movements. She didn't care that she was standing right in the open, or rather crouching. Thinking it would be safe to move a little closer, the elf woman moved closer only to find her bare foot stepping upon a chunk of driftwood and causing it to crack loudly; Michiko practically freezing all movement from what just happened.

Ranok snaps his arm. A blur, and the shell goes flying into the waves. Up snaps the head of the dragon, sand sticking to her face and all over her front. A gigantic hole was in the sand where she'd tried to dig for a crab she saw. It was one industrious crab, as she'd gone down about three feet chasing it. Or, in her hurry, she grabbed it in a talon along with a lot of sand, and flung it backwards. Given how overly enthusiastic that the youth was, the latter option was more likely. Gray eyes, shining with an interior light of their own, track the object. Wings snap out, sending furls of mist billowing gently to be eaten by the night. The figure of Sera goes bounding, the wings flapping, to try to grab the object out of the air as it hits a wave and skips directly upwards from hitting the ramp of the swell. Talons stretch, and miss, and a hiss of frustration seeps from the dragon. Not so easily done, down into the water she goes as it plops in to grab it from the shallows. Once she'd been small enough that the waves would have washed over her. Now they washed around her. Larger then a horse in body, with wings, tail, and neck adding more length. Slender throughout her build, she was more designed for speed and ambush then brute strength. A mist dragon struck from hiding, banks of fogs, clouds, or otherwise. It was hard to watch such a display of play and acrobatics without a smile on the face, and that was exactly what Ranok was wearing. The pride of a parent, perhaps, or just a bit of the enthusiasm seeping by. When that twig snaps, it all disappeared like the moon being swallowed by thick clouds. His head snaps around, locating the source of the sound incredibly quickly. Gray eyes of his own thin slightly, and the weapon his hand was on was silently slipped free of its holding. Just a simple baton, it looked like, made of dark metal. It wasn't brandished, merely held. Just in case.

Michiko watched the mist dragon as it moved to and fro, her red hues sparkling at the creature; Michiko finding it to be beautiful. At all the motions, she watches with adoration, as she loved anything in life that was... Well... Alive. She didn't even hate most creatures considered evil, though she herself isn't evil. For a moment she was distracted with the show of the dragon, her eyes sliding over to Ranok as he brandished his baton-like weapon, then back to the dragons, then a double take of Ranok. A loud and startled squeak slipped from her mouth and she couldn't help but react by shifting into the form of squirrel. She shrunk down so that it was hard to see her transformation beneath the tattered chunk of mast, however some cracking noises could be heard; as if her bones were cracking and moving to assist in making room for the smaller body. Finally, the albino squirrel that Michiko became darted out from the mast and scampered off to a larger piece of driftwood, just barely poking her head up from behind it and blinking at Ranok. It was hard for her to tell if he meant harm or not.

Ranok wasn't making many motions himself, waiting for Michiko to make her first move. Hostile, or peaceful? As much as he'd like it, he didn't have a working knowledge of who was a smuggler or in cahoots with them on even a tenth of the theoretical people that were judged to be affiliated with the smugglers. Granted, while 'working knowledge' was a very extensive set of information and lessening the strict criteria would increase the percentage, it still meant one thing: he didn't know who most of them were. Hence he let the elven woman make the move she would. But then she was gone, disappearing into...what? A half a step forward, one hand raising to his head to tip the brim of the hat backwards to afford him a better view. Even had a puzzled expression. There was sand, there, and unless Michiko could walk without disturbing a grain of it, she wasn't suddenly invisible. Nor was she unseen under the tarp, as it'd collapsed. Was she that squirrel that ran out? A tightening of his left hand on his baton and it smoothly shifts itself into a longer stave, as tall as he was. Plunking one end into the sand, shifting some weight onto it, he issues a simple, "...huh." to himself. Behind him, Sera was trotting out of the water with the shell in her mouth, looking mighty pleased with herself.

Michiko blinked from her point behind the driftwood. Her tattoos didn't come forth in her fur, due to the coloring not being natural to her skin, so it couldn't be seen that she had the facial tattoos like her human form. But she didn't think of that he may think something like that she was just a pet squirrel. Unfortunately being unable to speak in her animal forms, the best she could do was cautiously creep over to the makeshift clothing, and sit upon it. All she could do was squeak up at the large man and twitch her tail, nervously. Her red eyes twitched to the dragon, it made Michi feel nervous now that she was in such a small form, her puffy tail twitching with slight aggitation.

Ranok wouldn't have seen the tattoos, anyways. Michiko had her body largely covered, which meant the tattoos were covered too. And he only saw her a moment to boot, too. Stave kicks up bits of sand and he leaves footprints as he approaches slowly. A moment to remove his hat to wipe the brow of sweat - even in night time as fall came, it could get a little hot in that duster. Fuzzy ears perk as the waves crash atop his head, exposed for a moment, and then gone when the hat goes on again. Eventually, he'd stop within arm's reach of the bit of driftwood, one hand holding the stave, the other scratching his bearded chin. "Hm." Behind him, dripping water all over the beach, Sera bounds up to him. The shell is plucked from her mouth, sporting a fairly large crack where tooth had punched through it, and holds it in a deftly taloned paw. Shining gray eyes regard the squirrel on the wood greedily. She really liked to chase animals.

Michiko pulled her small ears back as both large man and dragon came closer, she hadn't interacted with anyone outside of her family, so she was unsure of how to act. Though she shuttered at the look in Sera's eyes and, out of habit, shifted into the animal form more comfortable to her. She hoped a larger form would get the look to leave the dragon. Right in front of their eyes her small form would slowly, but surely, grow and expand to that of a large horse with a long and choppy mane and tail. This form was lithe and somewhat tall, though not as tall as other horses. In nervousness she bucked a tad and backed up, snorting at the pair, though not in a threatening way. Michiko would have turned back into her human form, but she was not one to roam around without clothing in her human form. It embarrassed her greatly. Her red eyes peered between Ranok and Sera as though she was trying to speak, but all that could come forth were small grunts and whinnies of a usual horse.

Ranok takes a step back, swinging the stave into a two handed grip. Always immediately jumping to a combat stance, that one. Habits died hard. But...a horse wasn't exactly all that scary. Brow was furrowed as he considers the situation. His question of where the woman had gone was answered, though. "Hokay. Vell, Hy kan say dat dis iz faurly nev. Do hyu schpeak at hall, or are hyu zum kreature?" The night and the brim of his hat hid it well, but his eyes were flickering. Light to dark, and back again. "Hyu're no illusion, at least...least, none dat Hy kan see trough." Sera dropped her shell on the ground. Something infinitely more interesting had just volunteered to grab her attention. A snort, nostrils flaring, and a stream of mist is exhaled. Much bolder then her adopted father, or more foolhardy if you asked him, she trots forward to be closer to Michiko, bending a head over the horse, to touch, and poke. She was still damp from the sea, and smelled like salt. The pokes were experimental, not malicious. Maw opens, revealing teeth, and... "She changed...Hy guess that Hy scared her? Change again!" The dragon's voice was feminine, and carried a trace of the accent Ranok used. A claw pokes Michiko's ribs.

Michiko shook her head, mane flipping as she tried to say she meant no harm... But, once more, horse noises. However, she nodded her head at his question... Well, at least she tried to nod at having the ability to speak. Another nod quickly twitched at that she was not an illusion, though her muscles twitched and she slightly jumped at finding herself prodded by Sera; eyes widening at her teeth, fearing to become a meal. She closed her eyes tightly, though when words came out she found herself confused. Her eyes reopened and glanced at her, snorting at her want for Michi to change again. Though she wasn't about to deny a dragon what she wanted, she still didn't know if she could fully trust either... So she shifted once more, into her favorite form. Michiko's bones shifted, her muscles changed from tight to loose and sinewy. Her mane pulled into her skull and her tail's fur pulled in closer as the tail bone grew out. Finally she was a short and lithe snow leopard. Despite being albino, she still held black spots upon her. With curiosity, she glanced at the dragon to see if it made her happy enough. Michiko wanted to not turn into something too small, or something too big. Though she didn't have very many form to choose from anyways.

Ranok raises a brow, seeing the results, "Vell, seems intelligent at least. Not much uf a talker, tough. Seems to me dat it vas tryink to kommunicate. It'd be easier if it vrote in de sund, if a pain in de ass." His stance had relaxed, if just slightly. Something intelligent could be reasoned with, though it was significantly more dangerous while so. The stave was handy if it was needed, and nothing short of serious magic could inflict lasting harm on Sera. Besides, a claw on the nose or two might learn her a lesson that it was tough to teach. For her part, the dragonette was delighted by the change Michiko obliged her with. Sitting back on her hind legs, the tail thrashes behind her, kicking up plumes of sand. "Ohh! A kitty. Ve hef dem sometimes in the Fog. Another, another!" Another prod on the shapeshifter's body. As her form was smaller, it was a little rougher. Sera was not known for her gentleness, after all. In a long suffering tone, Ranok exhales, wanting to rub the bridge of his nose, "Sera, leaff de...tink alone. It's like to go krazy vith hall dat pokink hyu're doink."

Michiko listens to Ranok's words, slightly smiling at them. She couldn't help to smile, really, being that she always thought she was normal. Though at the prod she hissed at the feeling. Michiko looked to her makeshift clothing and back to Ranok, moving to slip over to them and crawl within. The elf wished to shift back to her human form so she could converse, and if she was allowed to go to them she would indeed do such. Her human form isn't anything special, aside from being an albino with red tattoos curving over her body and face. Her hair was somewhat messy and grew at different lengths, and she was a mixture of a high elf and wood elf. Michiko looked a bit younger than her age, and could be said to be pretty, though not perfect. Once the woman got her outfit straightened out, she couldn't help but stand in an animalistic crouch. It would be likely that she frequently stayed in animal form, it could especially be told by the sound of her voice and it accent. It sounding almost as though she doesn't speak much, but is also like that of a being who was still learning how to speak. Her long and spindly right fingers tapped her pale chest. "Michiko Púca. I am elf, though I not speak much words. Apologies if I startle you."

Ranok was a little taken aback by the smile. A mouth full of teeth from predators. Hardly ever a good thing. But, still, Michiko proved herself to be trustworthy. Another step back to afford her more room as she slipped back into the clothes, to put them on. He found it amusing, as she manifested her human form. Someone so savage in movement and speech, yet had modesty? The concepts seemed to conflict. Not that nudity bothered him. He'd seen it all before. Sera releases a delighted hiss, seeing Michiko turn into the humanoid form. "Look, look! She kan turn into an elf, too! Vat else kan she do?" Having no concept of personal space, she'd continue to put her nose into Michiko's body, to bump, feel, and sense. A claw might snag at her hair, seeing if it was real. Pulling away at that time might see a few locks cut at the ends of those sharp talons, however. Ranok was carrying a wry expression, "Vell met, gurl. Hy vasn' overly schtartled, tough Hy em vary. Zum dark pipple schtalk dese places. Hyu'll hef to forgiff Sera, dere. Her enddusiasm, at times, proves tryink."

Michiko moved back a step, in that crouched way, as Sera came near once again. Though she held very still at her hair being caught by the talon. A glance was made towards the dragon, not seeming offended at the way she spoke. "I turn into few animals... Sera?" she made a question at the name, hoping to have pronounced it correct. Her attention turned back to Ranok as she simply let her poke and prod at her. "That good. I mean small harm... I no seen dark creatures when I enter... Though I not was looking well. And I not mind Sera, she seem nice." Though she jumps at another prod. "Apologies also, for lack of clothes. They back at family, though family not know I left..." The last part muttered with a thoughtful expression, the female thinking upon if they had noticed she was gone. Though she honestly didn't care. "I must admit, I bit startled by you both. I not ever in..." a thought of the word was made, before she snapped her fingers and said "Interact. With others. I not ever even spoke to ones not from family. Elder tell me I be mistaken as real animal and hunted or other people try to tame me. He and Father say I too animal-like." A shrug made at the last part. She was too trusting to ever think a being would try that, though people were indeed crazy out there.

Ranok makes the attempt to reign Sera in a bit. Though it was hard, given that she was several times larger then him, which isn't a thing he was often used to. A seven foot tall man, broad of shoulder, and he had to look up. This was accomplished by the tugging of one of her wings, in a stern fatherly fashion. Reluctantly, and likely more out of respect for her surrogate parent then anything else, does she leave Michiko alone to stop her poking. Sulking, the dragonette drifts over to the waves again, sniffing for some crabs. Woe be to any that she'd find. They were tasty to her, and the sand didn't bug her at all. Ranok shakes his head as she goes. A flash, just a little bit, of fatherly affection in his expression. The way his lips curled in the smile, the affectionate way he'd looked despite trying to be stern, like a man attempting to scold a child who'd done something wrong but funny. It was rarely seen on him, to judge by those scowl lines carved into his skin. Turning to the elven woman, the expression fades as quick as it came, "Vell, den, meet you first monster, den. If hyu ask most pipple, includink myself. My name iz Ranok." A hand lays onto his own chest a moment. Hat tilts slightly as his head inclines in a formal greeting, or about as much as one as she was like to get from him tonight. "A schtrange pair, Hy vill grant hyu, but hyu'll see schtranger. Eventually. Probably." He makes no mention of her state of dress. Really, he didn't care either way.

Michiko couldn't help but smile at Sera, she knew that size didn't matter when it came to maturity. She didn't really mind the prodding, though she probably could've gotten hurt if she wasn't paying full attention. She did notice the fatherly look on the large man's face, smiling slightly at it... However when it fades she makes a poker face. "Ranok... And Sera?" she asks, pointing from Ranok, to his dragonette. She looks about quietly for a moment, then shrugs "All people not so much strange, just different from other people. Can no be helped. Like me, Father say I am... Al.. Albino. I pale and white haired, but rest of family not. We all different." Soon Michi's eyes would lock on to Ranok's face, though not his eyes. "But me think you a good man... Just perhaps wary of much things."

Ranok gives Michiko a nod, indicating that she was correct in her assumption of the names. The dragon had glanced over when her name was said, but since she was still in her sulking mode, nothing came of it. "A sentiment hyu're like to revise here, soon, gurl. Normal iz zumddink not uften afforded. Gets hyu killed, like beink a kow in a farm. If hyu're onlucky." Half the things he'd seen...the abnormal was more the standard method of operation then it was...well, abnormal. The man himself had an artificial arm, wielded like it was just another part of him. Wore armor capable of doing things that still caught people by surprise. Had the ears of a wolf, even. Who was he to talk about normal? His head turns, to mostly make sure Sera wasn't gnawing on a baby seal suddenly, as he says, "Different kan be nearly as bad. De nail dat schticks out iz de vun dat gets hemmered, after hall. Hyu'll find balance to be de key...as in mhenny tinks." Hand tightens slightly on his weapon, metal digits clenching metal stave. Smoothly, and soundlessly, it shifts back into its baton form, which is slipped into its sheath, "It hain't goot to judge at first sight, lass. A man iz more den his appearance...de past eksists, too. Iz a man not vat path he took? Simply because Hy'm not heckink you head uff. Hy'm polite, after hall. Vary...vary iz a goot vord. Hyu'd be, too, if hyu'd done vat Hy deed. But enough uf dat. Vat uf *hyu*, gurl?"

Michiko listens, seeming to take in his words well. Though she smiles when he finishing speaking. "Sound like you be wise like elders of family. Though family elders be wise but too much sheltering. I keep what say in head. I not know of land much as you do." Michiko thought for a moment, looking towards Sera and then back. "I sure I'll find balance some time, and I not judge at first sight then." However at his question she blinks, almost confused. "Of me? What is meant in what of me?" Michiko seeming to not understand his question fully, the female straightening out her garb as she ponders the question.

Ranok replies easily, "You schtory, gurl. Hyu kan be a sqvirrel, a horse, or a pundder. Dat hain't much seen. Vere deed hyu kome from? You tribe schpeak uf. Vy deed hyu leaff it? Und most importantly...vy are hyu here?"

Michiko looks as if she feels silly at Ranok's answer "Oh! My family all have shapeshift. We a group that can shift into animals, and power go back longer than memory hold. We are all horses and elves. But we take form of other things too. Though I have more shifts than other family." a little thought is made, before she adds, "Our family name Púca, from name of big black horse. It trick people to ride its back, then bucks people off into water or off cliff. People thought ancestors were Púca, so that how we get name. Though I never be so tricky... Though I not know how is we shift. Elder won't teach me, and Elder is grandfather so I must respect him even more. I know just that it second nature to us." More thought is given to where she came from, until she answers "Family originate from Northern Sage, I think... Though I not completely sure. We roam like gypsy people, all over lands of Hollow that our carts can go. Though I not leave family, just... Sneak away. Is sometimes... What is word?.. Suffocating?... Is sometimes that. Elder's rules have much strictness. Mostly to close family, which is Father and me. I try return before they notice I gone." however at his last question she seems baffled herself, and finds herself looking about. "I.. I flew here. Thought it seem interesting in area, I exploring land... Suppose no reason why I here, but to be here... Then I found piece of cloth and used as makeshift robe, though I not mind cold. Just thought it be useful, until fly home."

Ranok listens to Michiko's tale, nodding in all the right places. He was quite keen to learn, though his expressiveness was kept to nil. Through out, he took his time in withdrawing, rolling, sealing, and then lighting a cigarette. The heady fragrence indicated that it wasn't some sort of tobacco at all. Rather, some other thing that sharpened the mind and kept the body alert. Of particular note was how he lit the thing. Flame came from his thumb, on the artificial hand at least. As she finishes, two fingers pluck the smoldering article from his lips, tapping ash onto the sand below their feet, "...interestink. Hyu are a gypsy tribe, den. More or less. Seeink vat de vorld hes to schow. A noble reason. Kan' fault hyu for vantink to." Fingers go back to lips for a moment, and the cherry red tip glows intensely as he takes a drag. Smoke filters from out of his lips and nose as he says, matter of factly, "Sounds like trust hain't zumddink hyu're used to gettink." While Michiko had spoken, too, Sera had slowly bumbled about in the surf, obviously having gotten bored enough that sulking when no one was paying attention got old.

Michiko cocked her head at Ranok's cigarette, and especially how he lit it. Even after the flame was gone and the cigarette lit, she stared at the spot where it was... Until he spoke once again and regained her attention. Michiko nodded to the man simply, as that was the basics of how things were. Another nod made to the last part "Sadly lack of trust in past made to family has made present family have lack of trust to others. Though cousins my age been talking and think that there is too much lacking of trust. We not allowed to go more than mile away from family, marry without Elder and parent choosing partner for us, and many silly thing. But I also understand is hard getting trust when one is stranger to others and having different abilities. I am going to be an elder someday, I want to see if what grandfather taught is true or no, so I know truth and can tell family.. Someday, at least."

Ranok curls his mouth slightly. Whether it was a grimace or a smile, it was hard to tell. "Vell. Hallow me to giff hyu zum advice, from vun dat hyu might konsider to be an 'elder'. De most important tink hyu kan learn iz how to tink for youself. Dispose uf pre-kvunceived notions. Be skeptical. See de vorld for how it iz." A gesture out to indicate the beach, and all beyond it. A quick drag on the cigarette, and he continues, "Hyu've gone de first schtep. Moff beyond you family's restrictions. Den hyu vill see vy dey eksist or not. Zum rules are logical, reasonable. Odders are meant to kontrol. It iz to hyu to decide. Und, if vorst komes to vorst..." There was a pause as one final drag finishes the cigarette off. It was crushed between metal fingers, extinguished, and then dropped to the ground. Sera had come back, carrying something or other she'd fished out of the water, "Vell. zumtimes, hyu chust need to valk avay. You family hain't de only place to liff."

Michiko nods slowly to Ranok's words, understanding them. "Ranok, I thank you. You smart from what I see. I take advice and words to heart and mind." As she says heart, her finger tips tap her chest, and then her forehead when she says mind. A smile is given to Sera as she returns to Ranok. "The night grows darker, and close sunrise will be I am sure. I should return home and rest, is long journey on wing. Thank you for words of knowledge, and for talking to me in way that things are. Family does not talk in way like you." a bow is given to Ranok, though it is not a big one due to her being crouched the whole time. "I just think something else. If you not bad person, like I think you not, and you need help ever... I turn into these things." Upon her fingers she counts as she speaks "Horse. Snow leopard. Wolf. Fox. Snowy owl. Winter bear. Musk ox. Tern. Hare, squirrel, cobra, and hummingbird. I not turn into hummingbird much though. Is very small and tiring. But if need help, I could come to your aid. Like with horse, my family use for pulling our own carts. We use horse also for carry children and things, and I turn into ox to carry heavy things for family. I not mind helping if needed."

Ranok gives a bit of an amused chuckle, hearing the list, "A veritable vun voman kircus, hain't hyu? Hall noted. Hyu'll hef to tell me vo hyu are, tough. Hy'll be kareful if Hy ever need to hunt vun uf doze animals, eidder." A nod, "Hy suppose Hy'll ekstend de same uffer to hyu. Say my name to a fev pipple in Rynvale. Dey'll get hyu pointed to me, eventually." He was well known in the city...good and ill. But they'd eventually steer her straight. Sera plunks a seashell by Michiko's feet, chirping, "A pretty fishy thing for the changy woman. Sorry I poked you so much." The dragonette looks a little abashed for the moment, and then it was over. She was bounding off, charging down the beach. Ranok sighs, "Best go after her. Ontil nekst time." Something was withdrawn from a pocket and dropped to the ground unceremoniously. A crackle, the surge, and the smell of ozone. Ranok was suddenly lifting off, moving like he was leaping. Only the distance was huge, eating up tens to hundreds of feet. Enough to catch up to his scampering mist dragon, at least. A plume of kicked sand from his passage, a whoosh of air, and the snap of leather, and he was gone into the night.

Michiko blushed at his comment, of being a one woman circus, but nodded. She was but a bit embarrassed by the comment, and nothing more. "Thank you." She'd add as he offered his own help to her, should the need arise. A smile was made to Sera as she took the shell and thanked her, "It quite alright, Sera. You very nice." Michi comments happily to her. "Thank you for the shell." as Ranok and Sera were off, a wave was given to them, and Michiko soon shifted into her owl form, leaving the mast behind and yet carrying the shell within her talons as she flew back off towards the mountain range that her family was camped at. The woman seeming to be pleased about meeting Ranok.