[ An Age of Time ] - [ One x One ] - [ Kaysar & Astra ]

[bearlygrunge]

A blasting, northwesterly wind whipped through the heavy boughs of the firs and pines, bringing a wave of damage after it. Branches snapped and fell haphazardly into the banks of snow with a resounding CRUNCH! In a nearby rocky outcropping, the guardian of the forest took his refuge from the sub-zero temperatures. Through his bright, teal-colored eyes, he surveyed the land which he had vowed to protect from the evil embodiments that occasionally trespassed. He folded his strong wings back and settled down on a bed of dried grasses, pine needles, moss, and sticks, curling his tufted tail around his legs. The gold pendant that hung from his neck touched the rock-bed gently and twirled slightly, scraping itself across the rough surface. His large, attuned ears heard the powerful gusts howl through skinny openings below his cave. And he fell into a half sleep, as do the wolves, part of his brain always awake and working, the rest giving his body momentary peace. . . waiting until there was something amiss.

[Africa.]

(Again, sorry in advance for my illiterateness Dx)

The icy blast of the high winds cut through the sleek black coat of the graceful creature that slid forward along the twigs and leaves that littered the hard, cold ground. Silent pawsteps made their way into the open, as she averted her eyes from the deadly place she called birthplace, the deadly place she called home, and the deadly place she called her kingdom.
In the vast, dark lands, lived creatures that were so sacred that they were unknown to mankind, as they lurked through the shadows that had been cast along the lands. These dangerous lands were feared by all, due to both the unknown creatures of the night, but more so; the creatures that were known by everyone. These were the creatures told in the most fearful of myths.
So how, you ask, would this black beauty be the Queen of this twisted, deadly palace? Was she large and horrifying, as so many others were in her kingdom? Of course not, her fur was smooth and sleek, black as the starry night with silver dancing along her body. Was she so quick and sly that nothing saw her coming? Once again, no, she walked boldly through her monsterous kindgom with purpose and, no doubt, confidence. So how, you ask, could such a magnificent, yet weak creature, earn her place as the queen of such a place? Two words... Her eyes.
Her two eyes were her most deadly of weapons. They whirled with colors, bright and dark alike. But with a single glance at those gorgeous eyes that drew you in like the sweet aroma of your favorite food, you'd see your intermost nightmares reflecting within their glare. Only she, the goddess of her territory, could have the whirl of colors dim to their natural silver, lighting up the night with her markings of glow.
She was at bordermark. Her claws flexed, snagging into the soft, mossy earth beneath the glow of her silver pawpads. One sleek, jet black forepaw was raised, just out of reach of the light that cut away in an eery abruptness. Finally, her sleek figure was bursting with a burning light, the clawing cold of her shadowlands creating the sun to feel as though it was burning her. But she didn't move. Her body stayed still, rigid yet calm. And then it was over. The sun felt as though it were dimming, but it was only letting her feel what those around her felt; the buffeting pain of northwest winds.

(Wow... Alot longer then I expected... I wouldn't expecting this of me all the time if I were you, 'cause I'd let you down on that one xD)

[Africa.]

(Bump... Zeph?)

[bearlygrunge]

[ OOC : This is really good! Don't doubt yourself. c: I really liked this; like, a lot! There is a great amount of creativity dwelling in the post, as we had no plan as to where we would start or how it would play out. Your twist with Astra is super cool and I think this should be fun! ;D Sorry for my writer's block. . . Kaysar really does nothing in this post. . . ]

When the splicing wind had finally depleted its raging destruction, the winged beast drew back his eyelids as though on cue, revealing an his slanted eyes which expressed calm determination and strength. He rose slowly, stretching his sinewy limbs decorated with white curling vines, like the animation of the sweet autumn zephyrs. As he did so, the golden bells which hung from his left antler jingled quietly, protesting against the shift of direction. Two long strides brought the furred creature to the mouth of the cave, his claws boring into the wind-sculpted edge of the deep gorge below. Breathing deeply, he fanned his great wings as little breezes tickled the feathers. As though in liquid motion, he leapt mightily from his perch into the air, swiftly twisting into a steep dive aimed at the valley floor. Drafts of air buffeted against his sleek and muscular body, while the earth was fast approaching. A piercing glint captured the male's attentions; it was just near the southern horizon, the border between the wild and mysterious forest and the desolate and dark lands of the monsters he fought. Not a moment too soon, his wings burst outward, causing his descension to lessen to a slow and gentle soar.

[Africa.]

Within the midst of the harsh winds, those twisted, whirling eyes of Astras caught on an occasional glare of gold in the dim sunlight that poured down on her, making her feel as though she were being burned by the most raging of fires. Her slim, deadly figure glided forwards, pushing past the raging winds with defiant determination. Her paws slid along the soft, grassy earth beneath her as she came closer and closer to the second figure, brown and lean with a blue as aquatic as the sea, dotting his body and hiding beneath his wings.
"I seek an agreement." Her voice rang out eerily, splitting the wind in a very ghostly manner. Before he could look into her eyes, she blinked them once, slow and indulgant, as they made the transformation from their whirl of the colors of the rainbow, to moonlit silver, milky and shining. She hated to ask for the assistance of a mere outsider, but her followers were falling ill, dying even. She needed this outsider, needed his territory.
"My loyal followers... They cannot live only off the prey that my territory provides them. They are falling ill, struggling to live off what I can give them." She stopped for a moment, surpressing the urge to awaken her deadly eyes once more, before carrying on with immense reluctance, "But you... You can give them what they seek for survival. This territory holds the certain prey that mine cannot give them. And in return for the freedom of my creatures to roam your lands, I will provide you and your guests with complete safety in both your territories, and mine. Remember, my creatures have strayed outside my territories and killed from these before." Her voice was extremely tight, as if asking for the help of an outsider was like being the gum on the bottom of someones shoe, and to her, it was.

[bearlygrunge]

[ I am so regretful of my absence. I really do enjoy role playing with you, but as of late, I was really quite overwhelmed with school & piano responsibilities. I hope that you can forgive my supreme lateness. :c ]

Within moments, the large beast glided to the snow covered ground, & set off at a comfortable trotting pace to where the glint of sun had caught his eye. On the back of the slicing, icy wind was the entrancing scent of what could only be one of his kind, & a female at that. Astra. he thought, recalling the mysteriously dark Niccus who lived in the dark lands, home of monstrous beasts of great malice. She was their queen, yet he didn't know why. He had taken on the role of protector to the earthly animals of the pine forest, as many of them could use the help of a peace-keeper & guardian.

The scent became stronger as he approached & caused him to shiver in a strange manner. His muscles tensed as he glimpsed her from afar. As he slowed, the snow powder blew into the air & was caught in the passing breeze & carried away. Astra was approaching him. She was magnificent. Her coat & wings were sleek & of the darkest hue imaginable. He wished just to stare at her, but his skin crawled & he averted his eyes as though he was sure she could snare him by some means. Closing his slanted turquoise eyes, he inhaled deeply trying to gain some sliver of composure, for she was only some thirty feet away by now. I feel so strange. What is the meaning of this unannounced, seemingly peaceful visit? A social call? I don't think so.

He was right. She sought to ask permission from him to allow her beasts to feed from his lands. Immediately, he was repulsed. She wants what?! License to kill those whom I protect? His brow furrowed, "If I were to allow you & your creatures to kill mine, what should we gain? How I am doing them any favors?" With a glance back to the forest from which he had come & a look towards the dark lands, he met Astra's gaze. "As their guardian, how could you induce me into allowing them to be killed for the bellies of your subjects?"

[Africa.]

((It's not a problem, don't worry ^^ ))

Astra feathered head was tossed back in a echoing laugh that rung rather eerily across the males lands. Her eyes closed now, she could feel the struggle within them as their color threatened to reveal itself, causing the need for her to fight and struggle with herself to keep the color of her eyes at bay. After a moment of still silence, she reopened her eyes once again, leaving them at their milky silver color.
"Mmm, smart male you are, fighting for more." Her voice was like a smooth purr as she began to wind around him in a circle, her silvery eyes glittering with seductive amusement. "You see, my creatures have many ways of healing that yours do not. My land consists of the mystical and the magical, where any form of healing is possible. Here, the innocent die easily, and who would want that now?" She spoke in a soft, carrying whisper as she made her last loop around his body, her movements slow and careful, before comming to a slow halt in front of him, her eyes locked with his now. Any minute now, she could blink away that moonlit silver, to be replaced with the males deepest fears...
(Meh, WB D: )

[bearlygrunge]

[ Oh, dear. It's been a month. :c Well, here's my reply & I can guarantee that I'll be posting much more often--I'm basically done with school. c: Also, you should check out this stunning art of Kaysar : [ x ] ]

His body tensed as Astra swept in a close circle around him, and her intoxicating scent made his stomach clenched. Kaysar, overall, felt uncomfortable, though unaware of Astra's power lurking beneath the surface of her moonlit eyes. His stubbornness was building a wall against the female's argument and he guessed that she would end up doing whatever she could to get what her black heart desired. "I'd rather they die of old age and as prey to the natural predators than to your savage beasts." he spoke sharply, his words like knives thrown with fervor. His tail flicked from side to side in welling anger. "Aside from the elimination of diseases, I'd say the only healing we need is healing from evil. Death is an accepted, inescapable part of life. You are born, you live, you die."

[Africa.]

(Hi! Nice to hear from you ^-^
Sorry I haven't replied yet; I've been really busy on CS, and in life in general >.< I just got back from a 5 hour drive, and it's really late here, so I can't reply just yet, but I'll try to reply tomorrow, sorry <3 )

[bearlygrunge]

[ I know, right? x3 No worries about being busy & such--you've put up with my long intervals of my seeming nonexistence, so when you get the chance. . . no pressure. ^^; Thanks for letting me know though; I'm glad you're still interested. c: ]