Raiha

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise]Yuge Signup Name: Kells Mercolubra Age: 69 [haha] but remains youthful due to magical essences Gender: Female Occupation: Owner of Inn Style of Living: Inn Residency Time: Time out of mind. After all, she is one of the oldest residents. Personality: Calm, generally happy, more prone to sitting quietly than being the life of the party. She almost always has something nice to say and seems to love helping people with their love issues. As you can guess, most of the troubled ones come to the bar anyway. Being old sometimes gives you that extra touch. Hair Color: Black with strands of silver and bangs the same blue as the symbol on her shirt. Hair Style: Loosely managed ponytail, sometimes rolled up and pinned in place with a circle and stick made out of wood. Skin Color: Creamy almond. Eye Color: Changeable. At the moment, I think they're blue. But they could also change to black, silver, gray, or white. Shirt Color: Black with a blue symbol on the front Skirt Color: Black Shoe Color: Black, although...they're really more sock type thingys Other Belongings: Crystal cut vial full of blue snake and spiders blood. Information: The owner of the tavern, Kells Mercolubra is a very wise type. She uses her magical energy to generally make excellent beverages and make sure everything runs smoothly in the Inn. In the quite unlikely event that her dignity is ever affronted, she usually lashes out violently and breaks things. Her heavy blue bangs also cover symbols on her forehead that are similar, but not exactly like the mark on her shirt. The shirt itself covers the exact same marking on her chest, which covers her heart almost perfeclty. The meaning behind them isn't quite clear at first, but when she uses her magic, the meaning suddenly becomes very obvious. They are ways to channel energy and develop it. As they are placed where the chakaras are located centrally on the body. Questions? ....good. She likes fine white wine, pleasant company, a crackling fire, and fresh cream of wheat.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]Consunse watched the two brawl, until she had decided they were covered in enough sweat. She cupped both hands around her mouth and emitted what could only be refered to as a eagle screech. The fighting ground to a complete halt, and she walked down into the dip, her hands on her hips.[/i] "Gentlemen." "Yes Master?" [i]Practically unreconizable under a layer of dirt and sweat, he looked up at her happily.[/i] "That's Mistress to you Odysseus! While you two gentlemen were interested in pounding each other into the ground in playful fun, you failed to realize that you were wasting liquid and energy that could be used for better things. Like making discoveries. So." "Salt tabs and water?" [i]She handed out the named items to both Lorn and Odysseus, looking as severe as an English schoolmarm from the ninteenth century.[/i] "Damn straight. Drink up or die from heat stroke." [i]They quickly complied, poping the tabs and guzzling the ice cold liquid that she had pulled from her pack.[/i] "Because there is no way on God's Green Earth that I am hauling your two inert forms back to camp from the back of a truck." ".....ahuh."[/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]The two novitiates bowed to Vajain slowly, their bodys staying parallel with the floor until they heard her rise, the spider silk brushing smoothly against the cold marble floors.[/i] "You have been judged. We have come to decide that you are ready to become the priestesses of the Nur'Lograin clan. Are you prepared?" [i]Three young Drow women, clad in simple white tunics and wearing the five strands of gems and pearls in their hair. They all noded and bowed once more, knowing that they owed everything to the leader of the clan. And truly, they were very pleased to be where they were today.[/i] "The blossoming ceremony will begin soon. Follow me please." [i]Vajain stalked out of the hall, her back perfectly straight, hips making up for her ramrod posture. They followed in a straight line, bowing their heads to Razel who followed silently behind them all. Once in th ehallway, they all headed down several long flights of stairs until they came to the base level. Once there, she pointed a hand to the huge circular stained glass setting in the ceiling, and they were all bathed in a purple and white light. Then she pointed to the bare floor, traced only with the insignia of their clan, the Pentacle. And it filled with water until they were submurged to the hips. Vajain rose until she was standing on the surface of the water, and drew her hand in the air, writing words as she spoke them. The three novitiates stood still, their eyes closed, hands resting at their sides.[/i] "May the goddess bless you all. With your new birth. Children of Sharess. Be transformed." [i]Instantly, the light burst into shades of red and gold, and the room began to hum with a vibrant energy. Magic, heavy and ancient, swirled around the three females, until they were all quite overcome and fainted in the trance of the transfigured. Vajain smiled benignly and waited patiently for the blossoming to finish. Once it did, the three women were taken to the main hall and set down on three floating cots. The first opened her eyes and moved slowly, feeling the changes in her body. Not only had she grown taller and more mature, her hair. Once short, had become long enough to brush her calf muscles.[/i] "Hello. The blossoming was a success. How do you feel?" [i]Through new eyes, she looked up to Mistress Vajain, standing before her, bathed in light, looking like a goddess. Lillu and Razel stood behind her, both wearing that same smile.[/i] "Like I was just born."[/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]Rena sniffed distainfully and shook her fur clean, licking her paws snippitetly.[/i] "[b]I[/b] happen to be a Pantherborn. [b]We[/b] are considered to be trustworthy, loyal, proud, and cunning." "And so humble too!" [i]The Pantherborn shot Crystal a venemous glance, before purring and sitting up, her tail twitching lazily, catching Ben on the ear.[/i] "There were no other canidates. They were all afraid of the consequences. Like. ....insanity." "Well, I guess you weren't." "Yea, I embraced it." [i]Crystal could hardly believe it, but then again. It made alot of sense, considering Rena's current track records. About 200 cave scorpions and a human on her list of dead. And counting. Rena stood up, stretched and curled around Jedgar, rubbing against him like a common housecat.[/i] "I love me." "Gah."[/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]**** and run. Typical. Of course....if she had read him right, he'd be back for more as soon as they were off duty. Relaxing, she snuggled back into the sheets. Her personal effects, all one bag of them, were resting in her designated corner. She prided herself on having as little luggage as she needed. And really, she was as lightly packed as a bedouin. Change of shirts, overshirt, khakis, a set of fatigues, her camelback, weapons, ammo, and a few spare food packs. Plus one groundsheet just incase.[/i] ".....suckers." [i]She grinned and thought of Valence. The poor girl with a name that reminded her of curtains, had the equivalent of three full duffel bags. Poor lady. She lived by that mantra: "never take what you're afraid to lose." Hence: a spare mp3 player when things got slow. But she figured. With Odysessus around, it'd be hard to picture life boring. And as of now....he was getting inebriated with Carlos. What better way to do things? Than hit the bottle.[/i] "Oh well. At least he had a big dick." [i]She rolled her eyes and turned over again.[/i][/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]As soon as she heard the words solid rock, she was up and out of the bed in a flash, still naked, but quite uncaring about that bit.[/i] "Tomb? Really?!" [i]She peered over Lorn's shoulder curiously, then clapped her hands together with excitement.[/i] "Lovely, in the middle of a heat pit. The others will love it." "A heat pit." "Yes, the heat rises and becomes trapped in the area. I guess it's time I warned you all to bring camelbacks to thwart dehydration. And maybe some salt tabs too." [i]Her excitement was a little freakish, and slightly unnerving. Lorn was about to say something to the effect of: "...are you always this happy about certaind death..?" when he looked at her for the first time and noticed she was wearing a thong and holding a pillow.[/i] "Um..." "Oh. Sorry, I just got excited about the tomb." "Is that all you were excited about..?" [i]Lorn eyed her bare legs, not trusting himself to check the rest of her. She laughed and held the pillow over her breasts.[/i] "Your survival specialist says that if you like survival, you'll carry on as normal."[/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]She pouted, folding her arms and rolling over onto her stomach. Con-artist? ....Cünt yes, bîtch maybe, but con-artist?[/i] "Look who's talking." [i]She slumped back on the pillows and removed her clothing carefully. With delicate movements, she folded everything and laid her belt, gun, and knife on top. Then, dressed in nothing more than a smile and a black thong, she slid under the sheets and waited patiently. The wind outside picked up again, blowing sand against the sides of the tarp and canvas, but naturally, it came to nothing at all. She sighed and rolled on her side, her ample hip rising to outline her figure perfectly under the bedsheets. What a present for the hard working survivalist. Being off duty was so nice. And in the file she had signed for the job, there was absolutely nothing in it about fraternizing with team members. Hell, it had nothing in the way of conduct either besides simple respect. And if this wasn't repsect, she wasn't quite sure what it was to begin with. So, conscience at rest, she closed her eyes and dozed off, while waiting for her .....male...to come back.[/i][/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise]"I oughta rip your guts out for coming in here to slit my throught." "I should carve out your internal organs and lay them out in alphabetical order for damaging my wrist." "You know you liked it." "Kiss my clit." [i]The tension in the room was almost edible, and Consunse could've consumed it. But then, of course, the wind had to pick up and startle her enough to step within his reach. He grabbed for her slender waist, but missed and caught her hips instead. Survivalist, minimalist, and seeker of all things adventerous, Consunse snarled and caught his wrists the same way he had caught hers earlier, scraping her nails roughly across his skin, taking off a layer or two of sebaceous glands. He growled and yanked her down to his level, while she struggled to break his grip, fighting but having half a mind to just go limp and hopefully flop onto his face and break something.[/i] "You little hellcat." "Smelly bastard." "Whore." "Cünt." [i]She leaned over and licked his lips, winking with her left eye.[/i] "I resemble that."[/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]Her grin, while mischevious, remained still...very dazzling. Valence walked in, rubbing the corners of her eyes against the grit the wind had dashed into her face. Consunse reached into a pocket in her duffel and pulled out eyedrops. With a delicate flick of her wrist, she tossed it to Val, who caught it expertly and tilted her head back.[/i] "Okay Viacin...work your magic." "Don't worry, it'll sting, but it'll work." [i]Two drops per eye. Then-[/i] "Ow! Owwoh! Ahh! Hoo... ha!" [i]She dopped the bottle and clapped a hand over her eyelids, wincing in turns.[/i] "A raindancer. Complete with tribal language." "That's not funny!" "Sorry...couldn't help it. But ....now that you're done speaking caveman, how does it feel?" "....better." [i]A grudging response, but stll fitting. After all, the drops did hurt. But as usual, they did their job in time. The sun finally sank into the horizon, and Consunse stood, buckling on her belt and tying her shirt around her waist. Time to go make her rounds while the only other survivalist was at work. Oh the fun of it all.....never escaped her. She sighed and leaned to buckle on her boots, tying the strings tightly to avoid sand breaking and entering. Then she pushed open the tent flap and left Valence to read a few diagrams and avoid the sand. She found her counterpart at the computer console, and silently padded up behind him, knife drawn.[/i][/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]The female was sitting outside on one of the many packing crates, rubbing her guns down one more time. Just for good measure. She knew the sun was resting, and the pleasant part of the day was soon in coming. At least for everyone else. Cosunse Mercolubra, survivalist, minimalist, and exotic female was happy in any weather. For example: at the moment, she could really go for a huge rushing downpour. The warm kind. Where you could walk around outside in nothing at all and not freeze. But don't get her wrong, she liked the cold too. But right now, she was keeping her activity down to avoid perspiring in her thin tanktop and cargo pants. One light white shirt rested over her shoulder, for later when the temperatures dropped drastically. Be prepared. And no, it wasn't a boyscout reference. She yawned and stood, slipping her gun back into its holster. Her stretch was heard in the tent, where she had heard their conversation about the mapping the next day.[/i] ".....come sweet apathy." [i]She laughed at herself, then walked over to her tent, flipping it open expertly and crawling inside. A two man tent for two women. How perfect.[/i][/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]She smiled at him serenely, pushing her hair back away from her face.[/i] "You'll discover Citian, there are only two things I ever lie about. My age and my real hair color." [i]He grinned and Shiver decided it was time to go away. With a smooth movement, he slid down from the man's neck back to the home of his mistess's fingertips. She curled her hand around him gently and then looked up to smile into his face. Then she pushed both her hands forward, palms up, and her children beat a fast retreat to the staff and curled around it again, ready to sleep.[/i] "Now then." "Hmmm?" [i]She smiled at him again and he pressed his hand against her face much like she had done to him earlier. Her pleasure drew him in and she touched his cheek in the same way. Instantly, like a magnet, the two drew together and for awhile, the only sound was their breathing. Vasvas closed her eyes, resting her cheek against his warm palm. It gave off a sense of strength and comfort, something that her children could not always provide.[/i] "You smell like flowers." "That's what happen when you roll around in them." [i]Her laughter was gentle and sweet compared to the noises of the bar downstairs.[/i][/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise]"A place for my children to rest." "Children?!?" [i]Her grin grew wider and she said nothing to his exclimation. He didn't back away, but remained slightly wigged out.[/i] "Five juvenille pythons, noble in spirit, brave, and sentient." "......five..." "They are my children, and my friends. I sincerely hope they don't bother you." "No..it's alright." "Well then you'd better meet them." [i]Vasvas raised up her hands to the staff and made a gentle hissing sound between her teeth, almost like a purr. Instantly, five carved serpents sprang to life and slithered down and onto the floor. Once there, they swiftly snaked their way up to her legs and oustretched arms.[/i] "Shiver, Hebian, Fain, Pointell, and Kobina. All from the same mother, but decidedly different." [i]Citain bowed, almost as if they had demanded his respect. Vasvas smiled as the serpents eyed him thoughtfully. Apparently his fear was being taken over by curiosity. A pleasant change.[/i][/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise]Name: Cosunse Mercolubra Age: 28 Gender: Female Specialty: Survival Specialist Bio: A survivalist by nature, Cosunse is the type that can have fun with a pack of water, food, and a knife. Maybe a gun. She's joined the team to ensure the survival [haha] of her comrades, and also just for a new challenge. Sure it's easy keeping herself alive, but keeping a team of experts and egotists? Drama! Excitement! New horizons and adventures excite her. In more ways than one. Cosunse lives for the challenge of bracing herself against the elements. And this time, she'll either rise to the occasion or it'll be "Die all, Die merrily."[/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]He opened the door wider, allowing his unexpected guest to walk in easily, which she did with both garce and charm. Once in the lamplight, he could notice the smooth sheen of her skin and the bright colors in her hair. But despite all that, he couldn't help but notice the eyes of the serpents on her staff. They seemed alive. She noticed his gaze, then smiled to herself and removed her robe with her right hand and laid it on the sofa. He paused. Was she moving in?[/i] "I know this must seem strange for you Citian, but I was called here." "....after today, nothing much seems strange." [i]She smiled knowingly and leaned her staff against the wall and stepped to the fireplace. The night was cool, and the warmth was welcome. The light caught on her pendant and Citian noticed, for the first time, the leaping animal hanging from a very thin chain. It sparkled and danced, and reminded him of something he had seen earlier.[/i] "Were you passing through the forests today Vasvas?" "I wasn't passing really....strolling is more like it." [i]Her egnimatic smile spoke volumes...and showed how amused and happy she was that he had remembered her.[/i] "Does this unexpected visit bother you?" [i]She placed a hand on the side of his face, letting him smell the cool sweet scent of her skin, like flowers.[/i][/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]As he followed "Charlie" he occasionally turned around, still feeling uneasy. His eyes fell on nothing peculiar at all, and he shrugged and walked back up the stairs. Vasvas stood quietly, gathered up her things and followed silently. Her feet made no sound, shod in leather as they were. Citain entered his room, looked around, then made sure the door was shut.[/i] ".......cute." [i]Vasvas eyed it cooly, then closed her eyes and visualized the building. Window on the front side....or the back...? She concentrated. The back. Perfect. Ten easy steps, a door, and a leap later, she circled around to the railing on the back, then balanced perfectly and walked right up to the window of Suite number 17.[/i] "You ssscared him." [i]Shiver, her first born, was eyeing her cooly, her tounge flicking out expertly, tasting the cold night air. It was pleasant, still with a hint of that humidity from earlier.[/i] "You'll scare him more. Hush." [i]With delicate fingers, she reached out and tapped on the glass lightly. She knew he was somethign special. And his name had been whispered to her ears for weeks now. Citain. Something different And it was time to find out just how different. The staff in her hand balanced her, the children doing nothing in particular. Her hood had fallen down around her shoulders, revealing thick brown hair, shot through with strands of gold. If and when he did open the doors leading out to the balconey, she had one minor hope that he would not scream that the daughter of the devil had landed on his doorstep. She'd heard that enough already.[/i][/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]Her eyes flickered in the light. They had spent the day together as usual. Her children curled up on each of her chakras. One on her forehead, another on her neck, the third on her chest, the fourth on her stomach, and the last over her pelvis. During the unnatural rest, her body regenerated, aided by the presence of her young charges. They were used to sleeping during the day hours and being active at night. Her mistress changed her habbits to better suit their lives. Not only did she bend her will unto those of the snakes, she bent her life to conform to them. It was the one thing that the rest of the human world would cite as basis for her estrangement. And she liked it better that way. Vasvas Colubra rose as the sun was setting, and watched someone from across a huge field. The necklace caught the last rays of the sun and glittered with a cold fire. She smiled and cupped her hand over it, and pulled back into the darkness. He had seen it. And he would come to the town to rest in the night.[/i] "Shall we go into public again?" "......... .....do we freeeze?" "You were alive last night, tonight you can afford to rest." [i]Vasvas smiled as they coiled into place. The town wasn't far away, and she put her body to good use. Instead of walking, her hips swaying delicately like reeds, she ran, a long loping stride that ate away the miles between her and civilization. Soon she reached the town and pulled out her cloak. With deft movements, she whipped it open, snapped the folds of the fabric out and swirled it around her shoulders. The hood drew itself over her head almost automatically and she grasped her staff resolutely. The last town had seen her snakes, looked into her eyes, and screamed that a witch and her familiars had intruded upon their land. Not tonight. She would wait for the stranger in the field to come closer. The tavern/inn/brothel was guarded by two tall guards. They stared into her eyes. Purple. Blue. And they looked away again. She walked in without another word. Once inside, she sat at a corner table, her cloak drawn up around her face, her staff leaning against the wall unobtrusively. He would come.[/i][/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]She stepped out onto the road, her steps smooth and wide. Her tread accented the curve of her body, as she walked through the well worn pathways. The dirt beneath her feet remained as it was, the gentle touch of light leather boots making no impression. The snakes gave off no feeling, they were intent on remaining motionless as their mistress took them where she willed.[/i] "As we search for angel treads, Wipe the threads off off my face, This is a quest for holy grace..." [i]The lines of an old ballad came to her easily, and she did the melody full justice. It had been awhile since the last outing. What with ensuring that her children ate well, shed perfectly, and went for swims, she hardly had time to tread the ancient pathways she knew so well. Her smile broadened and the snakes seemed to quiver with anticipation. A journey. The pack kon her back gave her enough supplies for at least a month out in the field. Then again, her children could hunt. And she could cook. And water was plentiful. At least where she was going. The tunic around her body shut out the cold. And folded around her legs was her thick cloak, woven of both wool and silk. The snakeskin belt held nothing but a small package of flint and tinder. Vasvas was notorious for travelling light. Her only worldy adornments besides clothing and belt being two earrings and a simple pendant around her neck. Light filtered through the trees, moons. Bright and powerful, enough for her to detect a faint thrum and hum from the source. In the woods she could hear faint voices singing a similar ballad to hers, and sense the pattering of light feet on sward. She knew the maidens of the woods were out. But she knew better than to intrude. The results could be less than pretty. In the meantime, she contented herself to smell the scents of earth, starlight, and fresh pine.[/i][/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]Vasvas Colubra looked at her children. They stared back at her with the flat expressionless eyes that she so loved. Her children seemed to be smiling at her. Then again, the facial features they posessed always made them look happy. Vasvas shivered with pleasure. It was a brand new evening.[/i] "Let's go for a walk.......it's a beautiful night." ".......yesss. I like that." "Pleassse?" [i]She rose to her feet, adjusting the folds of her blue tunic, then looped an ancient looking snakeskin belt around her ample sized hips. Her eyebrows tilted upwards, then she reached for her staff. The creases in the wood caressed her fingertips like water, and she smiled. On cue, her children slithered across the floor and up the sides of the staff. As soon as they reached five separate knots in the wood, they froze into place. Motionless and expressionless. She liked it. The door to her small house opened at the slightest touch and closed again behind her.[/i] "Aaaah."[/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]Silk Colubra was leaning on a folding chair, one leg curled up underneath her, the other stretched out delicately, her toe pointed and visible in the half soles she insisted on wearing when not trying to blend. Long thick brown hair, now short, curled around her face delicately. Curry walked out of Director Moore's office, looking slightly like a man who had been run over by a very large truck. Twice. He exhauled slowly and she smiled. He was hot. As in seriously. Hot. And the beauty of it was... She had no idea what the beauty of it was. She blinked and looked at him, the silk of her clothing shivering slightly. He stopped in the hall and looked back at her. Something slithered out from behind her waist and he contained himself. Of all her habbits, this was the most bizarre. She insisted on keeping one very large female ball python with her, sometimes disguised as a belt, sometimes freely exploring the territory. And right now it was looking at him like he was a steak. A big fresh juicy- Her voice slid right into his mind, drawing his attention away from the boid staring him down.[/i] "Good morning Kojak." "Theo." [i]He narrowed one eye playfully.[/i] "Honey." [i]She simpered at him, making a feminine gesture with her right hand, showing delicate fingers and seashell tipped nails.[/i] "Beter." [i]He grinned and she stood up, the snake freezing into place at her hips once more. The chair she was reclining against dissapeared in a flash of white dust and she walked next to him down the hall. She turned to him.[/i] "So where are we going this time?" "We're investigating Tact Bio. You're coming." "Oh joy. Oh rapture." "Don't let it go to your head."[/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise]Am I the only person that sees a horribly annoying trend in which young humans are tragically raised by outlaws and ruffians while relying on mere kindness to survive? I count at least three going the ruffian raised route. And it's getting really redundant and stupid.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise]Name: Silk Colubra Gender: Female Race: Sidhe/Fairy Age: 600 [count off in dog years, she's not that old really.....especially for a fairy] Alliance: Phoenix Collective Skills: Magical wards, sealing spells, light control, and the control of snakes. Generally all boids [snakes] will obey her commands, but some require a little more stimulation. Tools: Silver Bangles for both balance and magic channeling, staff of ironwood, and four earrings, lso for magic channeling. Description: You see the ears? Yes, they are normal. And that tunic? Yes, it's see through. Biography: The daughter of a powerful Sidhe [big bad fairy with chip on shoulder and magic potential] and a gentle looking Fairy [cute light spell caster], Silk is aptly named. Not only does her skin have the texture of silk, her voice is smoother than her name. Snakes of all forms are drawn to her, while, naturally, all vermin flee from her presence. Light magic is an inherent skill, perfected over the span of 600 years [a pitiful nothing of an age for a sidhe crossbreed], and used constantly. When she is embarassed or afraid, her light presence becomes a very powerful aura. But generally, Silk remains very calm, and her eyes stay a cool honey gold. When spellcasting or channelling, her eyes take on the blue haze and her body glows. Of course, 97% of the time, she's almost human. At least with her capacity to understand emotions and react accordingly. People see nothing different about her, except maybe the way she always refers to her pet snakes as her "children."[/COLOR]

[color=mediumturquoise]Name: Vasvas Colubra Age: 24 Class: Herpetologist Translation: One who studies snakes. Also could mean one who breeds, handles, and tames them while also providing an excellent enviornment for them. Vasvas does all of the above. Appearence: Charming and innocent looking, until one notices the pythons curling around her fingers or neck. She wears a simple blue and white tunic, four earrings, and a pendant of a leaping animal around her neck. The pythons are all generally small, but with a little vermin for dinner and warmth, they will grow to quadruple their current size of 1.5 feet in six months. As of now they are colored brown, black, yellow, and orange, but at times they take on a blue sheen. Bio: The daughter of two exotic parents, Vasvas was almost quite literally born with snakes around her neck. She's spent the majority of her life studying the way her children react to their enviornment. Her children being her ball pythons, gifts from her parents. They left her one day, as soon as she reached puberty, with an old female python curled around a clutch of fresh eggs and a simple staff carved out of ironwood. Since then she has guarded her young charges with her life, and raises them with utmost care, waiting for the day when they in turn will be ready to defend her. The sum of her posessions and the position she has in her world is not large, but she isn't angry and resentful. A staff, the skin of an ancient python for a belt, her jewelry and the clothes on her back. Five snakes that set her apart from the rest of humanity as a charmer and an exotic character. She isn't one to fight for a better place. She's more concerned for the well-being of her children and the chance to give them the best oppertunities to grow. One could say she cares more for her snakes than for the rest of the world. But then again, most of the human race is terrified of her children anyway. Oh well.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]Her insanity trickled down her face in long lines of water. Half way through the shower she had turned it to 50 degrees F and was now feeling the consequences. She contracted her muscles slowly, then released. Eventually, her sanity gave way and she sank to her knees in the shower, the ice cold water still pouring down her face. Lilia sighed deeply, then lenaed back and opened her mouth. The water filled her mouth, her eyes welled up with tears, everything blurred, her mind began to become fuzzy. Then she felt a hand connect with her face, knocking her backwards into the corner. The water stopped and she looked up, dizzying pain. Nothing. Her eyes cleared, Lilia was aware. But either she was really losing it, or .....nah, she's fine. No mark on her face, the water was automatically turneed off. Her body was normal. She stood shakily, slightly stunned at her own instability. With quick movements, she brushed the excess water off her skin, and slid on the simple black lingerie she had used for years. A simple shift of black cotton, a quick transmission to her relatives,[/i] "I love bio eletronic navigation systems. Leave my room as is. Sell the remaining three pythons. Plant the hostas before May 15th. We blast off soon. Ta." [i]...and she was ready for bed. The covers rolled back under her quick jerks, and she slid between the sheets, pulling her blankie up between her thighs. As soon as her eyes managed to shut, the lights flicked out both in her quarters and in her mind.[/i][/COLOR]

[COLOR=MediumTurquoise][i]Rena's mind reeled, but didn't succumb to blinding pain like she would have liked. Instead she felt some words of comfort invade her mind. And then they were replaced while everyone around her screamed in agony. Her own mouth moved to the words she had recognized from a song years ago.[/i] "Give me something that is real." [i]And there was something real. Ben had slipped from her back and the cave scorpions were advancing. Correction. They were dead. She had leapt forward, her claws rending armour and flesh alike. Broken down, pouring out of the sockets, fluid of life and death, gushing all over her fur, soaking her but filling her with an enormous surge of energy. Life force flashed before her eyes, than swarmed into the ground where it belonged. The human scout was here. Staring her down, while the others struggled to maintain control. Rena took one step forward and he crouched back. His hand raised.[/i] "Don't even think about it *****." [i]Her eyes flashed brilliant blue and silver, and she threw back her head and roared. The sound of her voice was healing. Ben stood shakily and Crystal's head cleared. Someone else heard her roar, and gained heart. She took another step forward, her mane shaking with the combined rage of both her own attack and the attack on her companions. Without a qualm she rushed him, in a blur of light and black fur, so fast he didn't have time to think about the sudden pain in his chest. He looked down. Blood blossomed from his chest like a flower, and then something else came from it as well. His own heart, impaled on her claws.[/i][/COLOR]

[SIZE=2][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=MediumTurquoise]They slithered through the water, their fanned tails guiding them perfectly. And as they broke the surface, the firm dorsal fin flicked upwards, catching the moonlight. Water ripples, very swiftly rushing away from their bodies as they rushed through the liquid. Occasionally two or three of them breached, their whole bodies curving out of the water like palm branches. No backwards motion, no pulling or awkward movements, all one smooth path up and down again. Their hair, varying lengths, but all the same moonlit color, caught water droplets and shook with their actions. They say, when one looks into the eyes of a mermaid, he is lost forever. The mermaids are mysterious. They keep their secrets, and know all that penetrates their realm, nothing escapes the darkness and sinister feeling of the mermaids. Sometiems they are full of lust and passion, other times they are all manipulation and hatred. But most of the time, all they seek is something new to play with. A shoal of fish broke further out, and instantly they made paths in the water for it. Cheverons built up behind them as they leapt, swung, and curled out over the waves, scaled bodies catching light and reflecting it back in a myriad of colors. One tore away from the group and leapt upwards, her entire body curving gracefully. Then she fell back into the water and looped away from the others. Her eyes were closed, but her body was completely alert. When she stopped her swimming she rested on the mossy banks, her chin barely breaking the water. Short, glittering, moon bathed strands of hair slid down her forehead, curving around her slender face, curling underneath her cheeks and flaring away from her delicate neck. A man, alone in the forest, heard the mermaid song, and turned his head away from the mountains, to look towards the cool glittering shape he knew was the lake. The full moon rose ever so slowly, pausing at its zenith. And the mermaid waited. Her eyes slightly open, long curling lashes dripping water. Her throat constricted slightly, then opened again, giving way to soothing clicking noises, and delicate hisses, blending together with the sounds of nature. From silver touched lips, the mermaid's song curled over the ground like a noose, settling over his ears and neck. He advanced slowly, walking very carefully over the forest floor. Gently, he set his blades down on the bank and knelt on one knee. Two huge moonlit eyes looked up at him. One webbed hand, with long curving fingernails reached out slowly for him, water dropping from the claws, touching the mossy bank. His eyes met hers, and he felt as if he was drowning in the long stare that seemed to curl into his eyes, and crawl behind them, pushing his whole being forwards. Without breaking their connection, the mermaid pulled him down into her fathomless embrace. His gaze followed hers, and he felt the sensual touch of water on his skin. Her left hand circled around behind his neck, and her eyes closed ever so slowly. One cool pale set of lips pressed into his, setting his whole being on fire. Then it was extinguished, and he sank into her arms. Helpless, surrounded by water, wet, cold, and then a cool current that dragged him under. They say, once a mermaid has her prey, she never lets it go.[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]