Sunbathing in the Heat (Nyx)

[Cinder]

Summer Season, 511 AV, 23rd Day

At the outer banks of the city, near the edge of the lake lay a perfectly folded set of clothing with no owner in sight. Near the lake rested the thicket of tree's, and if one was to look ever so closely they might spot tip of the rattlers tail as it slipped under the brushes ever so slowly. The albino snake slithered ever so slowly along the tall grass, tongue flickering as it searched for something small to prey on. If he had wanted something bigger, Cinder would have taken another form, but at the moment it seemed he craved a quick snack, and an exercise of patience. It was in the near surroundings that he could sense the small field mouse to his right and a small robin to his clutching a low hanging branch. The rattlers tail curled in slowly, remaining quiet as not to scare away the two potential meals. Red eyes peered out seeing the waves of heat emitting from the two creatures as he moved slowly forward, head cocking up to glance at the bird, before he decided against it. Birds were tasty, beaks were not.

The small field mouse browsed the ground, scratching at it before pawing at its nose. It's back remained to the snake, unknowing of what lay right behind it. slowly his body began to coil together, head rising just inches out of the tall grass. The shadow of the snakes head washed over the small mouse, causing it to start and look up. In that instant he struck, the snakes mouth opening as fangs extended and snapped right into the small creature. Venom released in, but the animal didn't have a chance in its struggle. He snapped, the rows of sharp teeth clamping down around small body and neck. The sound of small bones popping and breaking could be heard as the mouse fell still in his mouth.

Cinder dropped the dead mouse onto the ground and slowly the snake began to change, it's body uncoiling and growing upwards. Scales began to disappear, replaced by flesh. The singular spinal cord split as bones grew into legs and arms. Fingers extended outward and clenched into fists as he shook his head, the shaggy mane of white hair flowing against his head. Finally the sharp teeth receded into flat teeth, save for the canines that retracted into a shortened form. Cinder rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck before bending down, sharp nails grabbing the dead mouse from the ground. His red eyes seemed to gleam with silent delight as he smiled. It wasn't much of a meal, but it would work for now. He just wanted something quick and easy. Perhaps something more challenging would come along later.

With a growl that erupted from his stomach Cinder grabbed the mouse, his sharp nails digging into the torn body of the small dead creature. He tore into it, ripping through its mid section until he had torn a chunk off and devoured it. The taste of mice was always slightly more satisfying when in snake form, but he still enjoyed the taste of the hot blood pooling down his throat. The crunch of bones and flesh was delightful to his tongue and ears. Cinder would rather not eat in snake form, not because he didn't like the form, but because he'd rather not be cause mid digestion in the small frame when around a large city. In his human form he managed to devour the small mouse within minutes. Walking away from the hunting ground and back to his clothes he licked his fingers, getting rid of the last traces of blood and skin under his nails before he had reached his supplies. Grabbing his pants he slipped into them and left the rest of the clothing on the ground.

Cinder plopped onto the ground, bare stretching his legs out as he leaned back, baring his pale chest to the warm delicious summer sun. It could make a snake lazy with the heat that rolled off the glistening lake and swam around him. Lips turned up into a half sleepy grin as he closed his eyes and set one hand under his head, the other against his forehead to block the glaring sun from piercing his sensitive eyes. Days like this were not to be taken granted for. A beautiful summer day should be spent outdoors, hunting, bathing, relaxing. The sounds of the bustling city were lost on him from this distance and all he could do was slip into a half waking daze, still ever alert from the corner of his mind for anything new that might approach

[Nex Paciscor]

The forest had been relatively quiet for him, only the occasional sound of a bird chirping in the distance, and only the warm comforting smells of the forest greeted him as he padded his way along a little used leafy trail that had seemed interesting when he first left the camp. It wasn't often that he got the chance to explore around in his kelvic form, and with his clothes and gear safely tucked away at camp, he felt comfortable working his way through the woods, the forest holding its own intriguing mysteries.

His stomach growled intensely as he continued to make his way through the woods, and running a thick tongue over his prominent fangs, he loped off chasing after the hope of catching some worthwhile prey. Reminiscent pains in his back, and hand where only a memory now, and he found it easy to run in the forest, the trees winding side to side as he leapt from a patch of soft earth to the next. A familiar scent caught his nose, and increased his pace as he smelled the large mammal's scent not far from where he was. It was a deer, and a good size one at that, and he could almost taste its blood on the tip of his tongue and hear its heart beating.

The closer he got, the slower his steps came as he sacrificed speed for silence, and soon slowed down to a crawl, his steps falling as silent as he could manage on the soft earth, and his keen eyes caught sight of the deer through the foliage ahead. He was downwind of the deer, and he hoped that he would remain quiet enough to capture the deer, and with the advantage of it not smelling him, the chance seemed good. Nex's heart soon began to pound in his chest as he crept closer and closer to the animal, his golden eyes locked on it as it grazed not to far from where he then stood. Being so close to the animal now, the scent was intoxicating, a mixture of a tangy smell of its hide, and the crispness of the grass it chewed as it continued to eat, oblivious of the danger not so far behind it.

Carefully he placed one foot in front of the other, careful not to step on any of the many sticks that littered the ground, or the few remaining dry leaves that still dotted the ground of the forest every so often. The ground felt softly against his padded paws, and made no noise as he pressed against the earth and crept closer. The deer was now within leaping distance, and his muscles bunched up right as the deer seemed to stiffen and notice his scent starting too bound away when he was already in the air. His claws sank satisfyingly into its tough hide, ripping at the soft flesh underneath along its flank, and as he back paws touched down on the ground, he used his momentum to press the deer down and cause it to stumble.

He sprinted forward again, intent on the kill, his mouth wrapping around the animals exposed neck and biting down, silencing the scared animals bleats. A satisfying rush of blood came from the wound, and he opened his mouth to release the neck, content on gorging himself on the beast’s midsection that held the best meat in his opinion. His mouth filled with rows of sharp teeth tore at the flesh, and he quickly swallowed the goblets of warm, delicious meat as he continued to feast on the fresh kill, the blood spurting over his muzzle.

When he had his fill, he turned away from the dead animal, and began sniffing the air for a water source nearby that he could clean himself off in, even as much as he enjoyed the smell that surrounded him, he didn't think Aello or Alenias would find it very charming at all. He made a line for where he suspected the lake to be, and before he knew it he was near its shores, and he could hear the whisper of waves slapping against the shores, and he emerged from the trees bounding into the water. About mid way into the water he turned into his human form in the bat of an eye, and began to scrub the blood that filmed his skin away from his body, and closed his eyes enjoying the feel of the surf.

Without his eyes, his other senses, particularly his smell kicked in again, and he could smell a scent he knew nearby. It was similar to that man who had attacked him and Ren back upon their entrance into the city, and he suspected it was one of those snake people. The only question was this one friendly or not and that though caused his eyes to shoot open, and he took in a deep breath, and looked around to try and see if he could spot a figure anywhere. His eyes could not perceive that which he smelled so he contented himself with following his nose, walking through the surf, and letting it cover up the splashing noise of his steps eventually coming across a pale figure laying across in the grass. Stepping out from the lake and making no move to quiet himself, he stopped before the figure and cleared his throat loud enough for the man to hear. " Hey stranger, seems we are of like mind "

[Cinder]

With the heat of the day he could feel his body being devoured by sleep. Like a warm blanket he was cocooned by the sun and finally drifted into the hazy dream world that to many would be a set of nightmarish visions as slaughter ensued behind closed lids. Blissful to him were the dreams of earlier hunts, though one played like a broken record. Though decades had past, the vision of his last day in his home land began once more. The fateful day that he had lured his most prized victim out into the quiet area and began the challenge by striking her down. Blood sprayed in his mind, and his lips twitched from the peaceful position to a small grin for a moment, canines pressing against his lower lips. He could almost smell the blood that washed over him as his minds eye witness the hard snake skin being torn into again and again. Like every dream he had before he couldn't stop himself, didn't want to stop until the Dhani was on the ground writhing in agony, her screams becoming bitter pleading mews of pain. Her black eyes peering up into his own malicious red pools with a hate that always made a shiver of delight snake through his spine even through his sleep.

In his dreams he could feel himself slithering around her, circling the dying prey before he leaned down and grabbed her neck, nails biting into her throat as he pulled her closer and closer, ready to deal the cards of death upon her as he dug the sharpened nails into the scales and to the rapidly beating artery. It was at this point that his mind was so rudely awakened by the soft sounds of footsteps coming closer to him. Cinder was a considerably light sleeper, though at times he would rather not be, as he always seemed to be awakened at the best part of his dreams. It was the cough itself that finally brought Cinder out of the darkness of his mind and into the light of day.

Opening one eye he lifted his hand over his forehead to shield from the glaring sun and stared up at the towering figure above him. For a moment Cinder remained silent, opening the second eye and scanning the naked man in front of him. He ran his eyes back up to the face, eyes catching a glint of red that hadn't been entirely washed away. It seemed that they were indeed like minded, though he was still uncertain at the moment of what species the man might be. His sense of smell was keen enough to pick up the fading scent of blood, but not quite as sharp as his sense of taste. The thought of taste crossed his mind and a lazy grin slowly curved his lips upward as he stared at the hunter. "It would seem so, although it seems whatever you've been into was more satisfying than mine." Cinder finally spoke up, a hiss upon his tone barely audible from decades of training his speech.

Somewhat at a disadvantage and somewhat odd angle from where he was lying down Cinder opted for sitting up. Pulling the clothes behind him he pushed up into a crouching position and grabbed the white shirt, pulling it on as his red eyes peered up to the younger man. It dawned on him for the nudity, as well as the smell of blood coming off the man that he was most likely a Kelvik. He seemed to have the luck of running into kelvik's lately, though he hoped that perhaps this one was not as irrational as the last. Clearly he was far more unashamed than the last, which really was a pity, he did prefer the petite girl over this one. If he was a kelvik though than depending on the kind he would have already known what Cinder was. This only caused his lips to twist into a rather unpleasant smirk for a moment before it disappeared. If that be the case than they were really all quite alike. Animals losing their natural instinct for survival.

"What's your name stranger?" Cinder questioned the man as he hooked his hand around the coat, dragging it behind him and lifting it up and out of sight against his back. He tucked the chain wrapped blade against the back belt of his pants, out of sight before swinging the coat on and standing up. Uncertain of what to do yet, Cinder decided to test the waters.

[Nex Paciscor]

His muscles tightened as he studied the man before him, similarly looking like a predator. It was something of a common ground for them, but also it told him to be wary. Everyone was dangerous in their own right, and this man seemed more than capable of handling himself in his own right, and posing a threat that could not be so easily ignored. Nex had a strong sense of right and wrong, or so he thought, and he would not hurt this man just based on his race's reputation, or the fact that the only other dhani he had met had been intent on hunting him and a group of slaves. His eyes flickered all about the man, watching carefully for any movements he considered hostile, but not seeing any at first glance his eye's flickered back up to lock on the mans, and he squared off where he stood, not much caring about his own nudity being her out in the wild.

Water dripped off of him, and his short hair, but none of it reached his eyes, or if it did he must have ignored it as he kept his unblinking stare up, even as the Dhani raised himself and dressed. From all his experiences, his instincts told him this man wasn't to be trusted but this didn't mean Nex wouldn't try to be civil with him; Nex wasn't such a bad guy after all. " Most know me as Nex, What of you? " he asked, his golden eyes never leaving the man, and more importantly where the man's hands went. If he felt he was in danger, he wouldn't hesitate to strike this mine before he struck him, and would pull his more arcane talents into the fight as well to finish it fast. He had not time to dally with odd spars in the wilderness, his life was much too busy for that, and if this man couldn't converse peacefully and in a civil manner, than he wouldn't bother playing nice.

Extending his right hand out for a greeting he had learned in his far away home, his muscles rippled as they never lost their tenseness, his guard kept up just in case the man tried anything. " So what brings you to Ravok, besides the delightful weather, and the sites in the city and wilderness alike? " he asked, trying to continue conversation with the man, and glean what he could. It wasn't every day you met someone walking through the woods after a good hunt, and the man had a good eye, and a sense of smell. Almost as good as mine he mused but he kept his smile and laugh to himself. He suspected that this was common for his kind, though he had yet to learn much about them, or about their abilities. Faintly he could smell that the man had luck with his own sort of hunt, but the smell of the blood was unfamiliar to him as he never was partial to going for rodents. They were always too small, and less than satisfying, and he was the kind of person that liked to sink his teeth into his kill, but he supposed that others differed on that opinion.