[rottenmutt]

{{ WIP with story.c:}}

:Form:

Name:

kutibu
Meaning The Cure

Breedable:

Yes

Short Story:

I was on the run,I was held captive in a military camp.They had taken me from my home and my family. I had tried to escape so many times but failed every time.I laid on the cold ground they forced me to sleep on and i got up and slowly crept out of the room and looked around.Everyone was asleep.Now was my time to escape.I took a lantern and i took off running into the swamp we were in.I knew their strategies,there plans,everything.I kept running and running.Until soon I heard footsteps running after me.I found a cave,but a underground one.I fell into it not seeing it and landed on my back,the lantern shattered into pieces and the lanterns flame lit up around me and I panicked.There was nowhere to go. The underground cave had been engulfed in flames as smoke filled the place up.I cough,and coughed and got quite dizzy.I had confusion,and i laid on the ground."This is it,the end."I said.I passed out on the cold ground and the hot air around me,my lungs filling with smoke.

I suddenly jerked awake.but not in the same place I was before. felt cold,as i discovered my arm had goosebumps.I looked around and noticed my surroundings.A dark navy color surrounded me,as so as purple smog at my feet.Its stung.I felt like I was dying when I saw a bright white light."its over.."i thought.
Well,that's what I thought.But then I jerked back into reality, I woke up in a bed of leaves and flowers.I wondered what saved me.I looked around.There were no animals or humans.The sun was starting to set when I saw eyes staring back at me.I jumped and scurried back and hit the back of a tree with my sore back.I yelped in pain. He heard the rumors at the camp he was a prisoner in that horrible place.

"The Bog Beast".I shook my head."no,no,no,no"I repeated to myself in fear. When it grew closer,and closer.I knew this beast would hurt me for sure.
It reached its neck out and it sniffed me.It looked at me curiously as i cringed,i soon relaxed.HE didn't want to hurt me..did he save me? I asked myself.The little guy nudged my hand ad he licked my face.
I smiled softly."Kutibi" Was written in the tree,below it wrote"the cure" I wasn't sure if that was his name or what,but thats what I called him.Me and Kutibi had ran from the swamp camp,for days.Finally we reached the end,away from it all and got home.To the city.

But how would people react..The beast,Elkrin would be taken from me.The rare beauty,so we headed back into the swamp and he took care of me,and i kept him safe from human touch for years.

[gecko]

:Form:

Name:

Zeth is his name, and Zeth it shall remain... Until the
day, in which he was Slain.

Gender:

Male, of course.

Breedable:

Yes, but it is forbidden.

Short Story:

Sand filtered through the cave as Zeth turned his head towards
the entrance. Standing there was a ghostly shape, whispers that
were unrecognisable coming from its form. "Greetings, oh great
one." Zeth whispered, a chill creeping over him as the creature
looked over him with cold, unforgiving eyes. "What is the service
you ask of me, your greatness?"
He asked, his voice quiet yet strong. His eyes gave away nothing,
being a unreadable book as those before him had taught.
"You have a new future, young stag." The figure said, the voice
looming to a boom as the whispers inside repeated the words over
and over. Zeth was taken aback, as the creature suddenly rushed
forward in a rush of dark magic, entering the stags very being and
soul. Zeth choked out a call of alarm, stomping his hoofs
desperately in an attempt to escape the screaming voices, and the
dark being inside of him. And yet, when the voices dulled to a
still murmur, he found his being at an eerie peace. When he dared
move from where he lay crippled on the cave floor, he was aware
of the great absence of the one who had come to speak to him.

Many years into the future...

"Well, we shall see what is in the future, now shall'nt we?" The huge
stag spoke down to the one who had come to visit him. "We shall see,
indeed..." He shakes his great massive head, the feathers ruffling out
on his noble head as he does so. "For the future brings with it all the
things you will never know..." He said, turning his head towards the
horizon. Once again, he was reminded of the past he had known, and
what had happened upon his future. The destiny that had been chosen
for him, beyond his control...

"Slain. The present, please."
The stag shook his head back to the younger, arrogant stag before him.
No... Not arrogant. Unknowing. He did not know Slain's brutal, terrible
past. "My name was once Zeth." He began, under his breath. He turned
his back, ears flickering back towards the other stag. "Perhaps one
day I shall tell of my own past to you... But that is not why you are
here, is it young one?" He asked wisely, his eyes glowing as he felt
the familiar shadows of knowledge wrap around his hooves. He knew
by now, that the thoughts, the memories, the secrets amongst the
shadows was invisible to the stag who had foolishly came to this
cave.

Family:

Well, you see... He doesn't have any. At
least, not anymore. He was forced to abandon them
when he was chosen for the path of Shaman. One day,
he truly hopes to change this, and find them again...

Personality:

Slain is a hidden soul, being the Shaman that he is.

[myth;]

Click Me. ^^

Tethys
t-e-th-i-ss


Yes.



Colour had left the place long ago and had not yet returned, nothing ever got in this place and neither out.
This was Hell on Earth.

It had been raining heavily for six whole days and rivers were forming where there was once dust and mold, roofs of the crumbling buildings shattered one the shuddering Earth.

Something had changed.

Further, one of the elders and rulers of the town slowly turned a page of the Omar. It's bone-dry pages crackling and hissing as they were turned to where the prophecy was written, something so old the elders deemed it to be older than the very Earth.

It had been for told that after six days of endless rain a creature sworn to kill them all would merge from the forests. It had been told to come from lands far away and was out for revenge on the people who banished it from it's home. The Elders were very religious, this thing had to be coaxed away with an offering. Further turned the page and read the inscriptions, the offering would be out at moonrise; she would be sacrificed to calm this demon's rage.

Dust was one of the only things present in the not-so-grand church; the old, crumbling building was uneasily stood among its crumbling neighbors. For centuries this old own had been slowly dying and blowing away in the wind, literally.
Emotions were banned in this ancient town; this was especially strong for happiness or laughter.

The rules here were so strict that the residents either went insane or died whilst trying to leave. But you were forbidden to leave.

Rumours had spread all around Eldemore, long ago, of the curses brewed up by all of the people and the creatures they brought to the beautiful land.
One of these creatures was a Shaman Elkrin.
The one who cursed the village and it’s people, surrounding them in a big many miles wide and deadly.

But no one knew that this creature had not cursed the people but only did it to keep them safe from themselves and didn’t want their powers destroying the land or bringing about another war.

No magic could repair the damage done by the last one.

When the Great War had struck many things happened at once and where all written down in the book of Tethys, even a few prophecies.

Malik, a tall Necromancer with piercing golden eyes, carefully turned one of the pages, the old paper fused with bones crumbled to his soft touch.
He read through two or three of the pages, figuring out what the word meant and put them into a modern translation:
“Six days of reflecting... Old rounded humps of an ancient camel once flat... Arising from ashes once dimmed by a curse... Knee deep in the blood of Gaia... Two criminals... marching beside its soul... Revenge, revenge, revenge.”

The other Necromancer’s had been working for centuries to figure out what the riddle meant and finally came up with a conclusion, one that was set up to be unravelled that very night.

“Malik-” a whispery voice came form the oldest of the Necromancer’s, “-as leader, what do you suppose we do to prevent this oncoming destruction?” Though he was the eldest, the red eyes Necromancer named Centurion, was only a servant and held no high rank.

Malik’s eyes flashed towards Centurion, “We capture the girl and feed her to the creature to sooth his rage, this town can’t withstand yet another attack.”

And thus it was decided, the girl who would be wondering the village at night would be the sacrifice.

-

The rain had been falling for six long days and there didn’t seem to be anywhere shelter from the comet like blows it brought to a young girl’s face.
Halo was nothing but a cast away; no one wanted her around any more.
Halo let out a shivering sigh and stumbled onto her knees, the water clogged soil softening the landing.

Halo was a young girl, only 15 years old, her eyes and hair were the deepest black seen that even the god of darkness would get lost in them. Her skin was the palest white and she had owl like eyes, they were rather big and her ears look like elf ears.
But there was a feature to her that no other Necromancer, ever, had; dark black markings around her eyes and on her face, she had been chosen to her fait a very long time ago.

But that was not the reason why she was exhausted and alone.

Her pain had started 3 weeks before, when her farther, a Necromancer with icy blue eyes, was found a traitor to the small town.
But the truth was, he had only down it to protect Halo.

She had been the one who had left the village and saw the outside world and attracted a young man. Naturally he followed her back home, Halo not noticing, and her farther saw his daughter being followed. He used a spell to make the young man stick to where he was. Halo’s farther went over and Halo saw the two men, she was horrified as the two ‘spoke’ and eventually her farther let the man run home; his tail between his legs. (Literally!)

One of the Necromancer elders had seen that a humanoid, after seeing part of their hidden world, run away and had clicked his fingers, the poor man burned to death; his voice stolen so no one could hear.
If you had seen what it was like in this village you were not aloud to leave and it was a death sentence to try escape.
The elders, to the great hall, had summoned her farter and they deemed him guilty and cleansed him.
A method that tore out every memory and feeling the victim had and set the mental age down to a newborn’s. Once the process was done he was not the same. His icy blue eyes were now white and he remembered nothing. Not even how to breathe, so he died too soon after.
Halo had been left to the mercy of the other Necromancer’s wrath and methods of teaching one not to let strangers follow you home, a harsh lesson Halo never forgot.

Suddenly, in the real world, there was a crash of lightening and Halo found her self back in the rainstorm, covered in mud.
Her face was streaked with salty tears and her eyes had darkened, a sign of sadness.

But something was new.

A golden-eyed Necromancer was stood but feet from her, he black cloak shielding his skin from the rain and wind. His piercing eyes making Halo’s skin crawl and sting.
She had no idea how he managed such a stare.

“Lord Malik... I sorry I should not have-” she was suddenly cut off and Malik was in her face, his features not visible in the very low light.
The Leader was knelt down in front of her and his hand was under her chin as he guided her up into a standing position.

“Hush now, Halo,” his voice was fierce and brimming with authority, “All will be clear soon. The six days of rain are upon us and you are to be the one.” He growled, suddenly moving back.

Halo looked at his wide-eyed, by the time she had figured out what he meant it was too late and she was struck form behind and collapsed. He vision blurred and blackened, she was sent into a tormenting oblivion that was unconsciousness.

-

The rain had gotten heavier. The clouds were getting lighter though and the first hints of light could be seen trying to break loose form its barrier.
Thunder could still be heard echoing through the valley.

Halo’s head was throbbing, she had no doubt ably been struck with a concussion spell, and she had to lean against a hollow log to calm the thundering in her head.
Considering that she was waist deep, whilst sat down, in swamp mud, Halo was feeling rather warm.
Probably a side effect form the spell, but that also leads to...

Oh dear.

Halo suddenly leant over and through up, feeling much better once she had.

No back to the reason why she was here and- chained to the ground!
Halo gasped and tired to pull herself free from the shackles and thick chains, but it was useless and she found it got tighter with the more she struggled to escape.

Tears formed in her charcoal black eyes and she pushed back her hair, her own people had left her to safety the beast’s rage.
But that was one of the reasons why Necromancers were feared; they were not all nice people.

Halo’s fresh blood dripped down form where the shackles were bound and finally meant the murky waters of the swamp.

Great, now the Dire Wolves would smell her and would kill her before the monster, but she didn’t mind.

If her own people had cast her out than what was the point of trying to survive?

Halo was so upset and sure death was what she wanted, that she didn’t notice the tall creature sloshing through the mud towards her.

The sun had not yet come up and the claws of it could be seen scratching at the edge of the forest. So it was not too long before a giant shadow was looming over Halo and clouds of warm fog breathed down onto her pale skin.

Halo froze and began breathing slowly, “I am sorry father, I-I failed you.” She whispered to herself, tears rolling down her face and onto the swamp covered floor.

Suddenly her mind was opened and Halo’s eyes widened, the feeling was unbelievable and she couldn’t describe it.
Her mind was suddenly filled with light, colours, sounds, smells and indescribable feelings. What was happening?

After gathering the courage Halo looked up to the creature and moved back. Shaman Elkrin! The master of spells and positions was stood in front of her and sharing his thoughts. But why was he making the one he was meant to be filling feel better, freer?

“Shaman Elkrin, take my life and carry on with your travels. I’ve done nothing to deserve the presence of such a creature as you, great one." She whimpered, glancing in his gem like eyes form a split second before her gaze returned to the ground and the Elkrin’s soil covered legs.

Suddenly her mind was opened again and a clear voice rung through her mind, ‘Young one, do not fear me or have the need to bow down. For you are the chosen one the prophecy refers too. Halo.’ He hummed, gently nuzzling her cheek with his bone-dry, cold skull.

There was an odd sensation in her cheek, which pasted to all of her limbs. The young girl found herself free form the shackle and her wounds were healed, had the Shaman Elkrin done this?

“Thank you, Shaman Elkrin.” She chirped lightly hugging the creature’s neck, his fur dry, thick and soft to her light touch.

‘Please child, call me Tethys.’ His thoughts were shared with hers and the two looked into one another’s eyes.

The prophecy was clear now, she was to help this Elkrin lift the curse form the land and help the rest of Eldemore, not be feared and hated like the Shaman Elkrin was known to be.

The two walked side by side onto dry land and beyond, leaving the cursed town forever and into a whole new world. “Hey Tethys. Police arrested two kids yesterday, one was drinking battery acid and the other was eating fireworks. They charged one - and let the other off.” The two chuckled with one another for a good few hours. Typical comedians.

1967 words. ^^' Due to the word limit this story is not as detailed as I would like and if I win this Elkrin, *crosses fingers*, I will add to it and put more detail in! (:

[myth;]

Could I ask for the colour codes you used for this Shaman Elkrin Stag? For art work. ^^

[Benathorn]

Could I ask for the colour codes you used for this Shaman Elkrin Stag? For art work. ^^

It is impossible for me to give exact color codes since we do not ever use solid colors in our Elkrins.
We are constantly blending, shading, and burning the image to get the desired results so the best you can do is just to eyeball the colors used as accurately as you can. ^^

[myth;]

Could I ask for the colour codes you used for this Shaman Elkrin Stag? For art work. ^^

It is impossible for me to give exact color codes since we do not ever use solid colors in our Elkrins.
We are constantly blending, shading, and burning the image to get the desired results so the best you can do is just to eyeball the colors used as accurately as you can. ^^

I will try, thankyou Benathorn. (:

[Rhei-Chan Sun]

Wow, just amazing. Sadly I cant apply My I-pod is retarded but good luck everyone! :0)

[Benathorn]

You have less than two days to complete your forms.
Judging for this Elkrin will begin tomorrow night at midnight CS time~

[get scared]

Jugeki-sen (meaning firefight)
Jugeki for short

Yes

A (not-so-short) story (sorry about that) story about how a character (supposedly "me") meets this beautiful Shaman Elkrin Stag in the forest where the character lives. Thanks for taking your time to read <3

"Hoshi!" my sister called, being annoying as usual. What did she want now? "It's time to head back!" She chimed while scampering over and snatching up my notebook. Meanie.

"We have to leave already? but it's only sunset!" I whined, not liking the way she always made me leave so early.

"Hoshi, we both know that after the sun sets they come out. Don't want to be killed at such a young age, do you?" She raised an eyebrow at me. Dang- why did she always have to be right?

"But, we can stay a little longer, can't we? I mean, we've lived in the Forbidden Forest since we were like, 5. I think I know which places to avoid and which places are safe for when I decide to retreat back to our home" I crossed my arms, stubbornly.

"... I can't take you seriously when you cross your arms while laying on your back dude, you look like a PMSing 6-year-old" she cackled while putting my notebook sown a miss-covered stone as she clutched her stomach.

'She must think she's all that' I mentally mused, rolling my eyes, letting the 19-year-old be childish yet again. "Jerk" was all I actually said aloud.

"You know it" she winked at me, dragging a hand through her blonde hair hair. I didn't really understand why she kept it so long since she chastised me about my hair being too long- and I'm a boy. The weirdo. And it was strange how she had blonde hair and bright blue eyes while my hair was onyx black and my eyes an amber color (a mix between bright orange and a twist of red sometimes).

"It doesn't matter anyway", Surai continued, yanking me up -has she always been so strong?!- with one hand and pulling me along the Safety Path. "If the creatures out here decide to come out earlier than usual, using the shadows instead of the night, you might still be killed. In fact, we're out pretty late already..." I watched in silence as her eyes flickered back and forth worriedly and she picked up the pace. Why was she so freaked out? We always hang out deep in The Forest and she's never acted so... frightened.

'Why does she always have to be such a part pooper?' I thought instead, zoning out as she pulled me along with firm grip. 'I mean, I'm 15 already! She shouldn't act as though I'm 8...'

"Faster Hoshi" Surai whispered as we began sprinting, running faster and faster. When had it gotten so dark? "You're gonna have to run by yourself instead, okay? We both know that you're far faster than me, so run" she quickly whisked me aside and ran on another path- the shorter path. Why didn't she bring me you as? Because it was a narrow path crowded by bushed etc- if more than one person (of my Sister's size anyway) tried to crawl through there, the rustling bushes would attract too much attention.

I still didn't understand why she was freaking out. There was still a sliver of sun out, and if I ran we had continued the way we were, we would have probably made it. Again, I guess my sister was just a weirdo. A worry-wart too I guess.

"Oh dang- my sketch book! She left my sketchbook on the stone!" I stopped my sprinting and looked at the sly. 'I don't know... It's pretty dark already... And I'm already so close to the tree-house...' I reasoned in my head as I kept jogging in place, not wanting to lose the adrenaline that kept up my energy. 'Then again, what if they actually do show up in that particular place and rip it to shreds?! It took me a whole 3 years to get all of that information stocked up! I searched the whole Forbidden Forest to get all of the plants recorded and what they can do- Heck, I even snuck out of the forest and peeked into the ones nearby to look at their plants! Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to collect all that data?! No way I'm gonna let some petty nightmare creatures scare me!'

I quickly whipped around and began racing to the spot where I had been laying down earlier recording information of the bioluminescent shrooms. Feh, and people said that they were only grew in the Brazilian wilderness. Shows what citizens know. Not like any of them have had the guts to enter the Forbidden Forest.

Sure even me and my sister weren't permitted to enter, but since our parents had died so suddenly and we had to relatives, my sister didn't want us to get separated and instead we both snuck in here. The first 3 years was freaking hard for us- and I mean HARD since my sister was only 9 and she didn't know the difference between poisonous and non poisonous things. After I turned 9 too though, I began taking little notes and drawing pictures of the good from the bad things. Then once I turned 12, I began actually making a book and re-drawing/sketching and writing everything. That's what my notebook was. It was important to me.

My legs hurt- no, they stung. I was tired of running- but I was almost there! My heart was racing faster than my feet as everything around me began a dull blur of dark colors all meshed together in a sea of brilliance. Really, forest truly was beautiful in the night- too bad my sister never allowed herself nor I to come out a see since she feared them.

But I did anyway. Secretly and carefully of course. And...

I loved it.

'There!' I recognized those fluorescent mushrooms- it was the ones I was studying earlier! Though only now they were glowing far brighter. 'Is it here?!' I panicked, whipping around until I finally found the stone a picked up my notebook. 'Without a scratch' I sighed, louder than I intended too. But to my surprise, there were no monsters. No demons at all. They weren't here.

I couldn't understand why. Not until, I finally looked up at the sky that is.

A full moon.

Darn.

Why were full moons so bad you ask? Because that was night when the strongest demons arrived. Other low class demons will flock around the higher powered demons- being attracted to their powerful aura. No wonder I couldn't find any youkai around, they were all flocking the stronger ones! 'Is that a good, or a bad thing though?... It'll be a bad thing if I'm found, that's for sure' I decided. I shrugged nonchalantly and quickly hugged my notebook into my chest before sprinting once again back towards my home.

On the wrong path I might add. However, I only noticed this when it was too late.

'Stuck in mud... like a stick... this blows...' I groaned in annoyance. Really, how dumb can you be? Running straight in the direction of your home when you know that in the daytime mud blotches are there? Maybe I had just been assuming that they vanished in the night time like sunlight... Or maybe I just wasn't paying attention due to the glow that was now appearing behind me!

'Oh god- what is that?!' I mentally panicked one again, beginning to struggle in the surprisingly deep mud puddle. It went all the way to my knees!

The glow. I looked down into the mud puddle and saw my reflection. How strange since it was night time. It was like I was glowing... or something behind me was glowing. So I turned around- quickly of course because turning around slowly would be kind of stupid. Really, if there's something dangerous behind you, why would you turn around slowly? It might eat you when you've only turned 90°! Or maybe they turn around slowly so they don't startle the creature...

Although I doubted the mighty creature behind me could be startled. It was large- sort of like a deer but it's body's anatomy. But of course, I only thought that until I saw it's face. The purple creature was wearing a skull over it's face like a mask with sunset feathers that looked like dancing flames sprouting from the tip of the skull (mask?).

In fact, that fire-like display of colors were in other places on the creature's body, like where it's fur got puffy. Around it's ankles (do deer have ankles?), shoulder blades, hips, tail curve, and the tip of it's tail were all sunset-colored which blended beautifully into the dark amaranthine fur. The crimson-to-golden color scheme was also in striped along the marvelous creature's spine and upper neck +tail.

Soon my eyes traveled back up to the creature's own raven-black sclera (with surprising golden irises) and I noticed the long straight horns with little trinkets tied to them.

The creature, surprisingly, silently stared right back at me, it's tail swishing behind it silkily (leading me to notice the tail-bone piece that decorated it's tail).

"A human!" I heard a gruff voice hiss. I tilted my head slightly which caused me to then notice the large amount of demons and abnormal creatures following behind the beautiful one on front of me. "We should kill it" The ugly toad-like creature croaked again, a creepish grin growing on it's twisted features.

'Ew' was the first thought that popped in my head when I saw it.

"Why?" I heard a deep, yet soft voice ask as the deer-like demon tilted it's head slightly, eyes flickering from the toad demon then back to me (who was quite close to pissing myself I might add).

"Because- because... It's a human!" the demon hissed again when it's sickly yellow eyes glared at me. I watched in horror as the other demons nodded/cheered/glared-at-me-too.

"Why do I have to kill it then?" the demon continued staring at me as if I was the weird creature. Well... I suppose to them I was. It must be rare for demons to see humans huh. After all, this forest was told to be the hot spot for demons since humans didn't dare go there. I guess I sort of ruined that fake utopia they were imagining...

Suddenly Surai popped in my head and I wondered if she had arrived home okay, if she was looking foe me, if while she was looking for me she got capture... If she got killed... Then i wondered, what would happen if I got killed? These are demons! The demons that kill humans! For fun!

"Because humans are dangerous!" another demon roared.

"Well, it can't be that dangerous considering it got stuck in a pile of mud so easily..."

'Jerk' I thought, but didn't dare interrupt. Thank got that strong demon was there and had the other demons under it's control- or else they al probably would have eaten and/or killed me by now! Did demons even eat humans? I didn't' even really know.

"Well... Why don't you want to kill it?" A smaller female demon asked in a whisper-like voice (yet it was surprisingly loud). I perked up at this- I had been thinking the same thing. Well, no, it hadn't really occurred to em that I was still alive yet, but I began questioning the same thing when she bright it up, so...

"It's hilarious"

...


We all paused, the demons and I.

"What?" I finally blurted out, attracting attention. "What about getting stuck in a mud puddle is funny? Oh wait... Yeah, you're right, that is pretty funny" I chuckled a bit, but then paused again when all the demons were still staring at me. "Well... this is awkward..."

"Did you hear that?" A few demons whispered.

"We can understand it!"

"No, it can understand us too!"

"Is that possible?!"

"Is it normal for humans to have a powerful aura like this one?"

"I'm hungry darn it!"

"HUSH!" The first toad demon roared causing all mouths to snap shut. Maybe he was second strongest demon? Obviously not nearly as strong as the first one (since even I, a human, could sense the first demon's power emanating from it's body), but probably the strongest among the low-class monsters.

The beautiful deer-like creature suddenly narrowed it's eyes at me as it took and elegant step forward. Everyone was silent, including me (though that was pretty expected).

"What's that?" the curious monster now scampered over, walking around the puddle a few times. It was obviously the strongest, but also obviously the loosest one. Other demons would have killed me by now!

"A notebook" came my clipped answer. I made sure not to sound rude either- wouldn't want it killing me or anything...

"A notebook?"

"Yes, a notebook."

"What's a notebook? Looks sorta like what we creatures call a Nōtopasokon, but you humans have it held together my a swirly Kinzoku thingy... Interesting. I like it. Give it to me." the cheeky creature's eyes turned upwards and I could only guess it was smiling under the mask.

'Strange' was the word that popped into my head now. "Sorry, but no"

I heard gasps. 'Oh right, I'm supposed to be trying to stay alive here...'

"Why not?"

"Because I need it"

"Why?"

"For my sister"

"You have a sister? What's that?"

"A family member." The demon tilted it's head. It seemed to know many Japanese words (and not many English words expect 'Who, what, when, where, why, and how words), so I was assuming that it came priory from japan or somewhere near there. "A Shimai?"

The creature's eyes brightened up with recognition. "Interesting! Why does your Shimai need it?"

I sighed in slight annoyance. "It has plants it it and-"

"Plants?"

"Ughhhhhh" a long sigh. "A plant is-"

"I know."

"Know what?"

"What a plant is" the demon's eyes got a funny glint. "I know what human words are" The creature began letting out little bark-like-sounds. "It's highly amusing to listen to you try and explain words to me though" The creature began cackling in a way similar to my sister.

"Yes, hardy har har" I rolled my eyes, vexed.

"May I actually see your book though?"

"Why do you want to see my book so badly?" i asked, genuinely curious. It was sort of cook having a conversation with an unidentifiable demon.

"It may... have the plant that I'm looking for" The demon's eyes upturned again.

"... Fine, but only if you answer 4 of my questions and answer to a 3 demands"

"That's not fair!" the croaky demon barked. Why the heck was he even still here?

"... Fine"

"What?" The toad demon and I asked at the same time. I didn't' seriously think that the strong demon would accept. Why? The plant he was looking must have been pretty important to him...

"Ugh... Okay" I held out the book and watched silently as the creature stretched it's neck forward and gingerly clasped my notebook in it's jaw. Such sharp teeth appeared from the area underneath the mask where I couldn't see... I guess ti did have a mouth after all.

As the demon carefully placed my notebook down and flipped from page to tail using it's fluffy-tipped tail, I began asking questions.

"What type of demon are you?"

"Shaman Elkrin Stag"

"Okay. What gender are you? Do demons even have genders?" I mean, come on, there was NO WAY I was gonna look and check.

"Hm... I'm what you'd humans call 'male', but no, us youkai don't actually classify each other by genders."

"Were did you come from before here?"

"Japan, but I actually live in the deep waters of the bayou to the safari plains of the Sabal"

"Oh, I see... What's you're name?" I finally asked. The other demons gasped and gave me dirty looks, as if I'd just asked the guy if his dead mother was alive or something.

The Shaman Elkrin froze and stopped reading. I stood up straight stared straight into my eyes- as if it was reading my very soul.

"What a daring human you are (and that was 5 questions by the way)" he chuckled, his ears standing straight on his head and his feathers fanning out making him look much larger and more intimidating.

I still didn't get what was so daring about asking his name.

"But, fine human child, my name is Jugeki-sen. And you'rs?"

"Hoshikuzu" I grinned widely while puffing out my chest as if to seem stronger. The demon seemed amused by this, but didn't comment.

"Ne, I don't think the human understands what he's done" the female demon whispered again in her loud voice.

Jungeki-sen's ears perked up at this and he turned to look at me again with his golden eyes.

"Is this true?" he asked.

"Ugh... yeah"

"..." The demon stared at me for a while longer for cracking up again with a loud cackle. Why did he find me so funny?! Was I being naïve on some big secret?! Actually... I probably was. What was so great about a name? "Human, you have bounded me to you. I have accepted your soul and now... You are mine" he summed up, looking sort of confused as if he wasn't sure if he said that right.

I sort of hoped that he didn't say that right.

"I'm... what?"

"Not in a weird way of course. It simply means that other demons cannot eat/kill/harm you without ym permission" he explained making me feel slightly better. slightly.

"Hey, Did you find the plant that you're looking for?"

"... No... But I will. Very soon, I can feel it" he smiled at me... reassuringly? "And we'll have much fun traveling the planet!" he swished his tail excitedly.

'Traveling the earth? Searching for a plant? What?' My mind couldn't comprehend at all.

"Travel the-... Jugeki... I can't go with you. I have a sister" I explained slightly- my pants becoming very uncomfortable now since it seemed that the cold mud was growing warm due to my body heat and melting (can mud melt?) around me legs like a mold. I was getting more stuck by the second!

"Oh... your sister..." Yes, I did notice that he didn't say Shimai this time, just proving the point that he was toying with me earlier. "This simply will not do... How about when you're sister's dead?"

"Dude!"

"Fine, fine... How about... Only during the night when your sister sleeps? Every other month I will come by and we can travel together- farther and farther each time?"

"I guess that could work... When will I sleep though?"

"Become nocturnal then" Jugeki shrugged as if he didn't care about my health- only the fact that an object of his amusement would be joining him on his adventures.

"I don't think that will work..."

"Goodness- humans are so troublesome."

"Hey!"

"Sleep on the way there then! You can ride on my back I guess. Wouldn't want you dying because you were too sleepy to step over a crack in the planet or something." the Shaman Elkrin suggested.

'Hey... he's actually worrying about me. How sweet... In a weird sort of way. Sort of like a best friend who'd laugh when you fall and smash your face in the floor' I thought idly until the part about the crack in the earth popped in my head. "wait, cracks in the-

"Good? Great" Jugeki-sen grinned (or so I guessed) once again and finally but the back of my shirt and pulled me out of the mud puddle with amazing strength too. "Now..." He tilted his head behind him and glared at the low-class demons who were still swarming around him like some sort of power source. "Disperse!" he growled. And they did- much to my surprise and thankfulness.

"And you Hoshikuzu, on my back" he commanded before kneeling low enough to me to grab on to his fluorescent curls. THEY WERE SO SOFT AND FLUFFEH!

"Hey... why did you accept me as your Owner-or-whatever anyway?"

"Hm... Everyone gets lonely (and you're the only human that can seem to understand humans... Maybe it's because you've spent so much time in the Forbidden Forest?)"

"Lonely... Okay then, good enough" I shrugged.

"And you're pretty fun to tease"

"Jerk!"

[Benathorn]

Judging for this Elkrin will begin in 25 minutes.
Be sure to get any last minute forms and edits in before then~