RP:Layla meets Riotka

You 's shadow over comes the much smaller feline. The massive wings fully extended, blocking what little light there was. The wind whipped around and stirred the brush. The sound of a massive thud was heard as the air swirled one last time. If the Feline were to turn and look she would see the figure of a man kneeing his cloak being covered in the falling dust. A pair of dragging claw marks in the ground just behind him. Tilting his head up as he began to stand, "Most sincerest apologies." bowing quickly.

Layla had been devoting her attention to the few chaos blooms that were growing here. So, the eleven year old child was of course startled when a ginormous shadow was suddenly engulfing her own. Frantically, she noticed that the shadow was large enough to only belong to a dragon, and fear struck at her heart. Frightened of dragons, she glanced around for anywhere to hide. There did not appear to be any thing close at hand, and as there was a large thud behind her, she cringed. The child peeked over her shoulder, but confusion soon replaced her fear. There was no dragon, only a man. "Excuse me?" She'd heard him speak, but had not been able to catch the words.

You sniffed the air, taking in the fragrance of fear. His eyes nearly rolling back in his head. His eyes focused on the child. He could not contain the toothy grin. He toned down the smirk before speaking, "I almost landed on you. And then I apologized.", His eyes scanning over the blooms and their red glow. Riotka's head cants to the side a bit as he analyzed the surrounding environment. His eyes finally falling to the grooves his claws dug into the ground stopping just before the feline.His eyes met her's as he awaited a response from the trembling Feline.

Layla turned around, rather than stare over her shoulder at him the entire time. "Umm... " She'd been sniffing the air, picking up the scent of the stranger. He definitely smelled like a dragon. All she could do was stand there, worried about what he might do. Nervously, she reached up and started to twirl one of her long, black curls. The child was a bit of an oddity, considering she looked to be a normal human child. However, her feline ears and tail hinted at her hybrid heritage. Suddenly bursting into tears, she cried out, "Please don't eat me!"

You 's face breaks with a wide smile for a moment before busting into a thunderous fit of laughter. Holding his belly for a moment he stepped back and turned around trying to regain his composer. Still stiffing the remaining chuckles, "Young lady, You are far to small for a meal for the likes of me..." pausing to turn around again, "...And you are in luck, for I have already eaten today." the large smile returning. He scratched the back of his head for a moment. "In actual fact you are in my protection here." he said pulling his clock off his shoulder relieving finely crafted armor. The emblem of a claw with flames about it on ever piece in some sort or variation. "My last standing orders are to watch over this area and protect it people and property." nodding in agreement with himself. "You've seen our unit on the bridge most likely....Please don't cry, I am Master Riotka, may I ask your name young lady?"

Layla stood there, crying still. The child was deathly afraid of dragons, and even she did not know why. Her keen sense of hearing picked up on his words however, and she attempted to stop crying. It was difficult, but after some close hyperventilating, and a few hiccups, she managed to stop. "L-L- Layla," she stuttered. She used her sleeve to wipe her nose, which had, unfortunately, started to run. Layla was still glued to her spot, and now clung to the same curl she'd been twirling earlier, only now, she was using both hands.

You slowly walked to an upturned stump near the feline, sitting on it he procured a long-stemmed rose from the inside of the cloak. Holding it on it's bottom most base he held it in an extended arm as hand it to her. As she let a hand go free to take it he moves his hand swiftly. Hitting her on the top of the head softly. As she looked up the red rose had turned blue. He raised it into the air, then promptly dropped it. Moving quickly again his hand dropped again passing the falling rose. As it landed into her lap. She was to look down and see that a black rose not sat in her lap. Laughing softly at her sure confusion at the expert slide of hand. His hands moved masterfully and without wasted motion. Yet at the same time his movements were smooth and looked to be done with out effort. "It it a pleasure to meet you." he said smiling.

Layla was surprised to find herself even attempting to take the rose from him, as she would normally run in the opposite direction. But she supposed that if he was wearing the same symbol as the guards on the bridge, then he probably wouldn't eat her. Though the trick she saw was rather amusing, the child could only offer a slight smile for him. "Thank you," she said, referring to the gift of a rose. Without much thought, Layla took a step back, and clung to the rose stem instead of her hair. Her ears were pressed close to her head. "What exactly did you eat?" She'd gotten the idea that perhaps if he had eaten some large meal, she really was safe.

You smiling again at her question, "A vary large monster." nodding again, "My dear,I assure you that i have no intention of eating you. Generally speaking when a Dragon intends to eat you the first sign that he intends to eat you is usually fire. Dragons be mostly of larger sizes must rely on speed and strength. There for if I had any intention to eat you I would have done it long before now." looking down to his ring as he extended his hand to her. "See this ring, I'm the unit commander for the Flaming Claw's special forces. As with this position of power I am also forbidden to do anything that may be seen as unbecoming behavior of an officer." pausing for a moment. "I've been assigned to the Prek investigation, so I am not too often seen in these parts." Looking back to the Feline with flower in hand. "May I ask what you are doing so far from town?" he raised an eyebrow with the posed question.

Layla looked at the ring as he showed it to her. She did not know squat about armies, rings, or symbols on armor, but his voice was steady as he spoke, and she took that to be a good thing. Layla was, as most felines were, very attuned to those around her. With a final sniff, she smiled a bit large. "What kind of monsterr?" The letter 'r' rolled her from tongue as if she was purring. She moved closer to Riotka almost as soon as she'd spoken, and took a seat close to his feet. The transformation from frightened to trusting was so quick that one might be caught off guard by it. Looking up, Layla asked, "Was it verry ugly?" She seemed to be expecting some sort of story.

You noted to himself she took not particular interest in his hard earned ring. Thinking to himself that she must not know of armies, ranks, or positions. His attention instead turning to her ears as they perked up at the mention of a monster. Maybe she had noted his large sword he carried on his back, Noting to himself the sudden shift must be a woman thing. Letting this thought fall by the wayside as he moved on to answer her question. "Drakes, as of late." he paused reading her face for a sigh on recognition, "Drakes are those defected looking dragons with no arms, smaller heads...anyways, yes they are rather ugly, but the Worms are the truly disgusting ones." a smile runs across his face, "When you hit them they squish, as they are filled with cells of liquid." Smiling wider as he half attempted to gross her out.

Layla laughed. She'd often stalked after small creatures, on days when she was feeling more feline than human. She'd eaten her fair share of butterflies and rats, so mentioning the squishing of a worm was now big deal to her. "Did you make a funny noise?" Her bright green eyes were large, a sign of interest. This close up, Riotka would be able to see the light freckles that splattered across her nose and cheeks. If he looked even further, and caught a glimpse behind her long, curly bangs, he'd also notice a paper thin scar, stretching over her right eye, vertically, from eyebrow to cheek bone.

You smiles at the failed attempt, His eyes followed the scar down her face. She awaited his answer eagerly, with bright eyes. He smiles at her. As he looks down on her with his blue eyes he lock eyes with her for long enough for her to notice the green rings in his eyes. They glowed so faintly, as if aged by time. Turning his head up in the air as his face regained a bit of composure. "We Dragons don't make noises when we attack." he said sarcastically, an air of aristocrat was in his tone as well. His eyes shifted down but his head unmoving still as he asked playfully, "Do you want to hear what a -real- dragon sounds like?" His tone playful yet daring now.

Layla had asked, curious if he'd used a battle-cry of any sort. But when he offered to make a sound, as she could imagine was him roaring, like a real dragon. She shuddered, and her face went pale as she frowned. With ears flattening against her head, she barely whispered, "Do you have to?" She stared into his eyes, wondering if he might just be trying to scare her. "Because, you know. You don't have to, if you don't want to." She was trying to be polite, even as she crossed her fingers, in her lap so he wouldn't see.

You broke face and smiled, "I was joshing you, Dragons sound off after battles to declare their success. Not before hand to give away position." he said matter of a fact-ually. Changing the subject quickly he continued on, "You never did answer my question, Why are you out here all a lone?" he thought back to himself remember what she was doing as he landed. Glancing over to the petals on the ground then back. Her questioning was random, he began to question weather she had ever seen a dragon up close before.

Layla shrugged. "I do not like Kelay verry much." Her original plan to avoid his question had worked, at first. But now she couldn't really think of another way to dodge it. "And I wasn't feeling up to walking overr the brridge yet." She followed his gaze towards the petals. "And I maybe, might like the crrystals you can find arround those strrange flowerrs. They arre prretty." She looked back at him, curious about what he'd said. "You said... 'sound off' ?" She was genuinely curious now. She had, indeed seen a few dragons before, but had always run away before anything could be observed. "Why would they do that?"

You looks back to the flowers as she makes mention of them before looking back. "Why...Well as to show to all others in that area that a superior being is present and also serves as a challenge to any who would question the dragon. It's a territorial thing, you understand." pausing a moment, "Now you understand why you hear them in the distance yet when you come upon one they are silent." looking to the sky, "It's no longer the time of the dragon, so it's not that common of an occurrence any more." His words faded slightly as his thought lingered on the her words, '...overr the bridge...' the words almost echoed in his head. His hand grasping the pendent resting on his chest, images of a smoldering body falling into the black abyss. His eyes suddenly focused as he broke trance. Smiling to hopefully cover up the fact he spaced out.

Layla had been looking down at the rose she was holding while Riotka spoke, so when she finally looked up again, all she could see was him playing with a pendant. "I underrstand terrrritorry," she offered. "So I guess I can imagine why someone might announce theirrs. Kind of like brragging, rright?" Layla had started to fidget now, as she was not used to sitting still for so long. She began to dig the heals of her boots into the soft earth, making little holes. After a bit she stopped, stared at the holes, took a deep breath, and sneezed.

You nodding, "Yes, Bragging rights of sorts." he paused and watched her sneeze. "Still, you should be careful, even somewhere as public as the bridge has seen blood shed ending in someones final resting place being the bottom." his tone has grow a little cold but so confident. "I am a master of the blade and still i am careful. In this land few things are as they appear." stopping to eye the blooms again. "I always say prepare for the worst and plan for the best." then adding "But sometimes...." holding the pendent for a moment more then releasing it. "Let's hope you never have to seen the things I have" he said with a smile that seemed to still look sad. His eyes told of untold violence and sorrow dealt and received. Yet the faint smile remained.

Layla shrugged. "I've neverr rreally gone anywherre that was much of a prroblem. Most people tend to overr look me." She sounded a bit sad during that statement, but she quickly shook the feeling. "I don't usually leave Cenrril, except forr shorrt visits to Kelay, and sometimes Rrynvale." She started toeing around the dirt again, making random patterns with her boots. "And I'm surre that sworrd does morre than enough to save you."

You softly chuckles, then reaches back to touch the the well worn handle ,but just for a moment. "Yes, This blade has been with me for some time now. I made this one myself though. My discipline requires each student to be able to forge their own weapon. And it must be done with out the aid of others, but after years of harsh deadly training this is a small request done as a formality to show the level of mastery." looking back to her as she digs into the dirt. "Who taught you to fight?" Nodding to her weapon, noting it looked well worn. It has most likely seen a good amount of action.

Layla 's eyes went wide with shock. "Fight?" She began to giggle a little. "I don't rreally know anything about fighting." She looked down, almost having forgot that she'd even had anything resembling a weapon. Tied to her pants, with a piece of rope, was her fiddle, a violin of sorts. "It is used, though only because it used to belong to my teacherr. I can barrely play any damaging songs with it. At best, I can enchant people into a sleep." She began to giggle again, though only for a moment. "But I've neverr been taught anything about fighting...."

You smiles a bit, "There's nothing wrong with a proven tool. And that sounds like a useful skill at least." scratching his cheek for a moment, "May I ask who might your teacher be? Any one I might know by chance?....any why is it no Felines i know use claw and fang? I have yet to meet one..." he faded out slowly almost lost in thought.

Layla smiled. "Well, I do hunt you know. I considerr that a claw and fang thing..." She trailed off, thinking of all the butterflies she'd chased and rabbits and rats. "Oh, and my teacherr. I used to have two... Arrysel and Dallon. But Arry is no longerr a teacherr of music. And to be fairr, I haven't seen Dallon lately. He'll be mad when he finally finds me."

You smiles, then begins searching his brain, "Hmm the name Dallon sounds familiar, and why would he be cross with you? Not been practicing?" looking for her reaction to the question, "I know how that is I'll bet when I see Miko again she will not have been keeping up with her training." now nodding.

Layla blushed slightly. "Well. I've been prracticing a little bit. But mostly I haven't finished making the flute I was supposed to make..." She trailed off, then fidgeted as she remembered his earlier statement about making his own sword. "It's been a few solid months orr so now. I'm surrprrised he hasn't found me yet." She did not know who Miko was, so did not think twice about the name.

You sighs deeply, "My slave disappears like that a lot, she too is a Feline." watches as others come and go along the path. "Spending so much time in the wilderness, One tends to forget how many people there are."looking at her and changing subjects suddenly again, "And you should happily do your flute, it would make you master happy and it could be worse....You might have to forge a sword if your life were a bit different." chuckling softly. Then leaning back as he stretched.

Layla shrugged. "I starrted it... It gets borring afterr awhile. And splinterrs, everry time you move the stupid thing." She kicked the dirt a bit, wishing that wood wasn't so complicated to work with. "You allow yourr slave to just rrun off?" Her attention snapped back to him, curious as to why he allowed such disobedience from a slave. Slave owners were not usually so nice.

You smiled coyly, "Well....she swore her life to be and promised her soul to me. I refused at first ,but she insisted it was her kind's way repaying some one for saving their life." he paused looking as he listened attentively, "I gave in eventually understanding and respecting the concept of honor." pausing to chuckle a little more, "I've come to call her more of a 'shield maiden' rather then a slave, she still responds to my commands, but I have few needs." leaning forward a bit. "I actually have a few other slaves, I pay them for their service yet i still own them. Most are spoils of war. Many slaves swear themselves to the man who slays their master....." his tone a bit plain, as if stating a fact.

Layla stuck her tongue out. "Someone trried to make me a slave once...." She trailed off. It was a bit of information that she'd never told anyone before, and she bit her tongue as it suddenly slipped free. She looked down at the ground, cautious. "I was not, obviously, happy. And... Well.. I left."

You nods in understanding, "Being needed is different from being commanded. I think I let them do it cause it give them meaning, they may not be strong or smart enough to obtain their dreams on their own, so they swear to those that may help them attain that. Or in Miko's case gratitude for not allowing her to be eaten by a demonic orger."

Layla looked up at Riotka again. She studied his face, wondering if he might be making up these things. "Wherre do you find these monsterrs?" She was always curious, constantly sticking her nose in places that she probably shouldn't. "I mean rreally, is therre a cave some wherre, home to all monsterrs?" She smiled, joking a little. "I've hearrd of people hunting some down beforre. But I can't imagine wherre they actually find them."

You shrugs a little, "Well in that case ,the orger had been driven mad, he was once known as Etum. Other than that you have to travel away from the cities and in the wilderness, dark forest, icy caves, and some old cities of the past. I personally seek these parts, in hopes of finding a challenge worthy of my effort." he smiles for a moment, "How far out of town have you say you been?" his head tilting slightly with the question

Layla blinked in surprise. "Etum? You... Killed.... Etum?" She puffed up a little, crossing her arms. "He was harrmless!" Her tail twitched, a bit annoyed. "I mean surre, he was stupiderr than my boot, but still." She ignored his question for the moment, a little mad.

You 's face was over come with a smile that bared all teeth, a true dragon habit. "I did not kill him, I too knew him when he was Etum, but after he lost his eye, he soon after lost his will to demonic forces....all for power." Turning back to the feline again, "How did you say you knew Etum?" His eyes lock on her as if her answer was prey. He would not be distracted from this answer.

Layla ignored him for a good few minutes. Etum or Demon-Etum. He'd been practically harmless, even though once he'd tried to eat her. "I didn't say how I knew him," she finally said. Her arms were still crossed, and her tail twitched every few seconds. "But I met him once, just outside Kelay. And then laterr on, when he was in the taverrn. His fiancee kept him in line, mostly."

You shrugs, "He was a warrior, as am I. No matter his form we both understand that any who live by the sword shall die by the sword." Riotka watches her tail flick back and forth, "I hadn't know he was engaged." he looks back to her, failing to understand why she was so upset for a orger she had met once or twice.

Layla glanced over at him. "Engaged with childrren," she added for good mesurre. "Actually, they had trried to adopt me, a long time ago." She went back to staring at her boots. "So you killed my almost-fatherr." She shudder for a moment. "Though, I couldn't see myself with a fatherr dumberr than my boot, so I politely declined." She dug her heel into the hole she'd already made earlier. "Whateverr. I haven't seen them forr a while. It's just weirrd to think about."

You laughs a little more, "Woman I said I declined to kill him, we merely crossed swords. So I almost killed your almost step father. I cannot say I am sorry I have almost killed many people, and killed many times more that. As I said, all those who pick up the sword are subject to the repercussions of." His words hard and cold. He didn't hesitate in his answer and stead fast in his resolve to not be sorry for the things he had done.

Layla stared at Riotka. She didn't move for a really long time, several minutes at least. Finally, as emotionless as she could manage, she stuck her tongue out at him. "Nyyah," she said. The child did not handle serious situations well. "Fine then, you didn't kill him."

You laughs while standing up. He looked at her and laughed a little again as he stumbled away from her. Inhaling deeply he took a couple paces in the direction behind her, while taking a deep breath and regaining his composure. The area around the two sent silent for a second. Riotka watched as she stared into the ground paying him no attention. Suddenly a large Dragon's head came just inches over her right shoulder. The Massive head turned. Looking down on the small felines head as she looked up at him. His perused lips parted a bit. The tongue escaping for a bit. "NYYYAAHHH YOU TOO!" the voice boomed after the tongue had retreated.

Layla stared for a moment, her eyes once more going wide. Startled, she jumped up, tripped, and fell on her rear with a thud. More from fright than pain, she started crying again. Even if he was nice to her, she was still deathly afraid of dragons. Sobbing, Layla burried her face in her hands.

You jumped to the air. The first beat of his wings pushed down on the Feline slightly. Two Ping sounds were heard. The a large laughing from the sky followed by a sudden whooshing of the tree tops as the laughing dragon pasted over quickly, just brushing the tree tops. The winds died off and all went silent again. A small number of roses fell from the sky, the highest ones being purple but as they fell to the ground they turned white. Obviously the same type of flowers seen before.

You dropped 2 Chaos Shard. You dropped 12 white rose.