Closed AGAIN? (vespira)

[Ximal]

Winter. 9th. 512AV.

Xi trudged along the frozen ground, the cld hard earth merely reminded him of just how damned cold it was. The air around him slowly became foggy with his breath. each long slow breath exhaled like a train. Trudging through the forest this tme of year was more...haunting than peaceful in every sense of the term. Xi headed forwards deeper into the forest. laast time he was in an area like this he'd met neekra. Perhaps he'd get through this area without much of an incident this time. then agian that was highly un likely due to the concentration of poachers and slavers in the area. Still the forest was quiet. Taking a slow pace he crept through this clearing. flexing his fingers he shifted his gaze from left to right wary of both predators and men. creeping slow and staying alert was the most sure fire way to keep everything under control. Adjusting the bod on his shoulder and keeping his weapons at the ready he proceeded through the forest.

[Vaspira]

Vaspira walked cautiously on the forest floor, darting her eyes left and right. It almost made her look nervous by doing so, but that was not the case. She had heard stories of this place being full of danger, and Vaspira wanted to stay on the defensive in case any of that danger wanted to play with her on this day. Vaspira found a rather tall and dense tree, perfect for hunting prey. She removed her clothing and put them in her bag, then placed on a lower hanging tree limb. Once her bag was settled up in the tree she shifted to her Kelvic form, a black leopard, and sprang up into the tree climbing to the lower hanging limb she grabbed her bag gently with her mouth and proceeded up the tree further. She did not want to go too far, just far enough that she was hidden from the prey below.

Vaspira found a nice limb to lounge on about 30 feet off of the frozen earth's floor. She shifted to her human form just so she could hang her bag up on the limb above her for safe keeping, and then shifted back to her Kelvic form. Vaspira stretched out on her limp and kept her eyes on the ground and surrounding landscape waiting for a tasty prey or poacher or even slaver to come along.

As she laid there she saw a tall muscular male figure approaching her tree. Her body went instantly rigid as she tightened her muscles. As the figure became clearer she realized it was that Xi guy. He looked like strength walking on two legs, and she would of been intimidated by him if it wasn't for her confidence in her own strength. He was walking on guard looking around the area as he walked. Vaspira smiled a toothy smile, as she realized he wasn't looking up for any predators. Vaspira lowered herself gently, making sure she didn't make the limbs move as she descended closer to the ground. Xi was almost at her tree, and her playful side was out and ready to play with someone. Vaspira was going to attempt to scare him by jumping on top of him. As Vaspira was about to lounge a thought came to her mind, she remembered how angry this Xi got at people, and if she were to lunge and scare him, she may be decapitated. Vaspira pouted in her Kelvic form, her playtime ruined. Xi was well pass her tree by now, on his way through the forest. She looked up to make sure her bag was hidden and saw that it was and silently jumped down out of the tree. Vaspira used her claw to secretly mark the tree so she wouldn't lose it, and began stalking him at a distance, curious of where he was headed to.

[Ximal]

getting through the creepy frozen forest Xi breathed a sigh of relief as he took a seat upon a fallen husk of a tree beofre pulling out his wood carving kit and picking up a very thhick branch. Xi was going to at least attempt to make that weapon he'd seen in his head from a long time ago. taking his knife to the bark be brought off strips of wood in long lashings. Pulling down the Wood into a simple circled core. until about twelve inches from the base. Skimming off each shard of wood was careful work, almost hypnotic in it's initiation. he had to make sure that every single piece of this was free of bark before he began to carve out the large hook above the guard and then thin the branch down into a suitable weapon. As he scrapped off each layer of wood he took a glance around him. Some thing was nagging at the back of his neck. Almost a feeling he'd had before. Something or someone was watching him. Stalking him. This was nothing new he'd been stalked by both men and creatures both hoping to try and attack him before. Growling in his throat before hand he raised his voice to it's full thunderous level. "I know your there. Show yourself! If your going to tail prey you picked the wrong target. Flicking his hood down from around his neck slightly he let the cold air bite around him but at least he now had a completely clear field of hearing.

[Vaspira]

Vaspira followed Xi out of the ominous frozen forest. He sat down on a fallen tree trunk and began carving something. Vaspira watched from the bushes as he made careful strokes on the wood, taking care with what he was working on. She wanted to get a better look at what he was doing, so she moved a little closer. Still not able to see it fully, she got even closer to Xi til she was only 15 feet away from him.

This is when Xi noticed someone was stalking him. His thunderous voice seemed to shake the earth as he yelled. Vaspira was almost too scared to come out of the bushes, but she gathered up her strength and leaped into the air, landing before him. She stayed a few feet away, frightened he may attack her just because she was a large cat. She stayed in a neutral stature and slowly approached him locking gazes with him and keeping it, pausing a few seconds to let him know she meant no harm. She finally got up to him and stared at him, then she changed into her human form. Still knelt on the ground naked she looked back up at him, locking eyes with him again.

"It was I who was following you, I saw you from my tree I was hunting in. I became curious, maybe a little too much curious for my own good. And believe me, I did not pick the wrong target when I decided to tail you dear. Size and muscle does not mean that you are strong, strength comes from with in. So do not threaten me with meaningless words."
Vaspira stared him down with her confident predator gaze as she spoke, trying to keep her words from stuttering cause it was so cold outside. Being naked in front of him did not make her feel awkward either. It was a natural thing, and she was proud of her body, every muscle and scar that was on it. She just hoped that if he decided to attack he would not notice her bruised ribs on her left side. At that thought she tensed her body and put it in the defensive mode, ready for what ever may come.

[Ximal]

Xi Glanced around him, the forest clear untill a panther lept from the bushes. Actually from closer looking as it stood in front of him, the black skin bore the slight patterns of black spots. A black leopard ? More to the point it just..Stood there in front of him for a few seconds. Xi began formulating what it was but then the panther began to move forwards towards him, the big blue eyes of this large cat boreing into him as if studying him. Xi was damn near certain right up untill the change that i t was a kelvic before him. The change only confirmed a fact he plainly knew. Sucking down a deep breath eh ooked into her face, it was the woman from that day on the third. Sighing he sat back down on the tree trunk behind him as she began to speak, that it was her following him. Then began to almost lecture him upon strength? Xi simply shook his head as he flachetted off more strips of wood from the branch finally knocking out the thin stem of the body and then the wide arc for the hook. Above the hand guard. when she finally finished Xi reached up a hand to his neck and slid off his cloak leaving the large fur trench coat beneath in place slipping the huge blanket of cloth off he whirled it around his shoulder and handed it to her. "It's cold, and being naked does not help things., bundle yourself up and then sit on the log and we can discuss things. I see no point in discussing things with someone whose not even warm. " Nudity really didn't effect him any more. He'd been in the city of the naked for two seasons now, he'd grown accustomed to it. Sighing he wondered why every single kelvic wanted to stalk around him. What was it about his stature or even his manner that caused this? Shaking his head he kept the cloak extend. the thick wool would do something to at least assist in keeping her warm. Also don't lecture me upon what strength is. I know what it is and i also know what reason is. So take the cloak , and sit down i don't want to leave you there in this weather and temperature like that whilst i stay warm." Xi's black blue eyes lifted from his work for the first time in this conversation, the hard look of resolute unyeilding was there and would be carried across. He didnt need to intimidate a person like this, that would only cause violent reprocussions so he chose the diplomatic friendlier route.

[Vaspira]

The whole time Vaspira talked Xi kept whittling away on his wood. This kind of annoyed Vaspira, she felt ignored and slightly disrespected. Then he handed out his cloak telling her nothing was going to be accomplished naked. Vaspira placed her hand on the cloak as he finally looked up from the cloak, telling her he knew what strength and reason is. His dark blue eyes bore into her lighter ones, she saw hardness in his eyes. She knew he would not yield and that he was dead serious about knowing what strength and reason is. Vaspira stared deeply into his eyes, finally coming to a conclusion she nodded her head and gave a small smile. [/color]

Does my nakedness bother you? You seem like one who wouldn't be ... so modest. Vaspira said playfully as she wrapped the large cloak around her small lithe body, proceeding to sit down beside him, she glanced over at what he was making. She reached out and grabbed it out of his hands.
What exactly is this thing? It looks weird..
Vaspira asked as she turned the piece of wood over and over in her hands, sniffing it, and even licking it with her tongue. It did not taste that good so that made her scrunch up her face in disgust, and wipe her tongue repeatedly with the cloak. She kept messing with it waiting for Xi to answer her questions. You poke the human you get the kelvic..

[Ximal]

Xi continued to whittle at the wood as she took the cloak out of her hands and wrapped it around herself. She thought he wouldn't be so modest ? did her being nude bother him ? no. he lifted his gaze up to shift the flick of his gaze towards her. and spoke in his low and slow voice. "No, it doesn't bother me, what bothers me is the fact that you would be out in a place this cold with nothing on at all. That's what bothers me, even if you are a kelvic you still need to keep warm. And what do you mean by i dont seem like i would be so modest. " Before Xi could continue with his train of thought, the piece of wood he was carving on was pulled out of his hands and examined by her. She sniffed it, even LICKED it, and xi was both utterly confused and completely understanding. Mostly because she was a kelvic, and had a strongly inquisitive nature, which Xi now knew of. What exactly it was even Xi didn't know but it was a weapon he could work with... that much he knew. Though her wiping her tongue on his cloak...Was something he didnt particularly want. "What it is is a stick at present, i'm trying to turn it into a weapon. or at least a model for one. Also why did you follow me? And can i have my stick back now i'm still working on it. It's an idea i've had for a while. Third question. Why exactly are you walking around naked, in this weather ? Summer spring or heck even autumn i might be able to understand your logic but right now i've no idea why." Xi raised his hand to his temples and rubbed them slowly and methodically. Keeping the carving knife at his side and down to show it was not a weapon but a tool.

[Vaspira]

Vaspira kept examining the wood listening to Xis low and strong voice answering her questions, as well as asking his on questions of her. Vaspira let him talk with out interrupting him or raising her head from the wood, still staring at it trying to figure it out. Once he finished talking Vaspira glanced over at him, he was rubbing his temples as if he was becoming frustrated with her. Vaspira frowned and looked at the carving knife, he had it lowered so he was not being threatening with her. She kept examining him with her kelvic eyes for a few minutes letting the silence draw on, then she came to yet another conclusion and nodded her head again, handing his stick back to him.

By you not having no modesty I meant that you seem to be knowledgeable of others, and not easily offended by minor things in life. I was following you because you are irritatingly intriguing to me, since that day you exploded on that one girl. Sure you were fearsome, for a little while, but you were a curious subject. So when I saw you walking in the forest, my curiosity got the best of me, so I decided to stalk you to find more out about you.

Vaspira inhaled a deep breath and shifted on the tree husk, straddling it so she was facing him. As for being naked in such cold weather, I was in my kelvic form and I wasn't cold, I did assume I was going to shift into human form, but my bag would of just been too bothersome to carry with me so I left it in my tree. The cold is bitter and biting into my skin, but the pain is barely felt because I have became numb from the cold. And it makes me stronger, to be able to handle harsh climates. Vaspira scooted closer to Xi and sniffed him, he smelled of woods and strength. Vaspira grinned at that, hoping she was not offending him by being a kelvic. She tried to keep that side of her at bay, but for some reason she felt like he wouldn't reject that side of her. He seemed used to kelvics so that made Vaspira more at ease, she was still on edge because she didn't trust no one, ready to attack if the need arises, but still not as tense as she was. She reached out and started poking his arms muscles frowning as she kept poking different parts of his body.

[Ximal]

Listening to her speak Xi mulled over what she was saying. Was he knowledgeable of others ? Not really , the simplistic taught there was that he'd been around so many he'd grown used to the quirks and minor infringements on personal space an their lack of modesty. Apparently as well the reason she was following him was because he was annoyingly interesting towards her. since the third where alea had pushed him to near breaking point. And her curiosity was stronger than her sense of caution. Xi sighed lightly, kelvics, had such capacity in that nature. Little caution more curiosity, especially the predators, thinking themselves strong enough to deal with anything yet not taking into consideration that there may be something stronger. Xi sighed and responded to her in regards to the events on the third. What happened ion the third is not me in my best light, when faced with an idiot of that proportion who cannot tell the difference between concern and accusation, it takes my anger away from where i need to direct it. Her next words were toweards the cold, and why she was naked, she'd left ehr clothes and her cloak in a near by tree, thinking that she wouldn't have to change back into human form. Though Xi did take not of her shifting to straddle the tree as she faced him completely, and her logic for enduring the cold was that it made her more resilient to harsh colder climates. That may have been true but still it was not good enough justification. "You think subjecting yourself to the cold will make you stronger in cold environments, it actually hurts you more for doing it, by staying in a cold environment you can permanently loose feeling in your body. It's not a good sensation. So get stronger but do it in a safer manner." Xi sighed lightly and then felt her prodding his arms, it was annoying but not so much that it was something he couldn't handle. And she still hadn't given him his stick back. for the moment though he wasn't going to ask about that so much. "Is there any reason your down on the ground floor of the spires ? I mean other than possible hunting, i only ask because the ground floor is the least safe part of the entire city, mostly because slavers and poachers litter this area."

[Vaspira]

Vaspira could not help but chuckle as Xi called Alea a idiot. She did not disagree or agree because she did not know the girl that well. We perceive anothers actions and ways as idiocy, because they are different than our own, they are out of the normal, or we find it stupid because we ourselves would not react in the same manner. Vaspira said smiling standing up from the fallen trunk stretching out her muscles pacing back and forth listening to Xi some what scolding her for being naked in the cold. Well the cold has not had a chance to harm me, because I knew I would not be subjected to the cold for a long period of time, you gave me your cloak. Being subjected to it a little at time, but gradually more at a time, is how I am to build my body up to be resilient to it. It may seem stupid to you, but like I said earlier, it is a difference out of the norm.

Vaspira sighed as he asked her why she was here since there was so much danger around, and she straddled the log facing him again. I was going to kill them. Slavers are dirty scoundrels that does not deserve to live, because they give others pain that they do not deserve. Poachers kill helpless animals, that can not defend themselves, or they gang up on an animal that can defend themselves but is out number, so it isn't a fair fight. Vaspira's playful mood disappeared and a cold hardness replaced the cheerfulness on her face, death entered her eyes as she spoke. I have no remorse left for such people, they dare call kelvics animals? What are they themselves? At least us kelvics have some intelligence of how to act. I know I may be contradicting my words from earlier. But people like this is different, because their ways are understandable and they are normal. Killing is natural, but it is the way and how they go about it that is wrong, anyone that has a brain should know that. Vaspira inhaled a deep breath and calmed herself, ridding all emotion from her face and voice, she sat there emotionless, not touching him or bothering him just sitting there. And why are you here? Since it is such a dangerous place. Vaspira sat there utterly still as she waited for Xi to answer.