The radiyan stops just short of you and you somehow feel calm as you think, "I'm going to die now." It's incredible really. Even more amazing is when he breaks into a smile.
"Welcome," he says, and then nudges you like a cat. He does have slight resemblances to cats, you have to admit that much, though it still comes as a surprise. "This, Thunder says in a rather roughened tone," Is Darkest Nightmare." And with those words you know just how cat like this one can be. The radiyan merely smiles agian, though you since an arragance about this one. Then, purposly placing himself between Thunder and Swamp Death, he falls into step as Marsh Lights continues on, still deeper into this strange realm where good natured teasing and rankings were part of normal life.
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Just as you think Thunder's had enough of this latest addition's constant feline qualities, you hear another sound, soft movememts followed by a low growl. As you look around you see another of Thunder's kind, a morlor, this one decidedly powerful as she crunched on the remains of some sort of carcass. She looks up with sharp eyes as you near, and they instantly soften upon sight of the male. He gave her a small sign of curtosy, which you interpreted to mean she had a higher ranking, but it was rather ruined as he ran over to tackle her. Swamp Death smiled slightly as this, happy for her friend, and Darkest Nightmare moved forward to mess with Marsh Lights; though you do notice he's a lot more reserved with this male.
"I'm Likthra," the new morlor says in a deep, baratone voice. "It's good to meet you, Leilani."
You smile here, feeling her power as she approaches and leaves the half eaten meal for scavengers and automatically mimick Thunder's move of respect. You're given a rather curt nod in return, and then she steps up front with Marsh Lights, leaving the rest of you to conspire amungst yourselves as your tour takes up a trail that leads to an area you really can't see so well.
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Things grow stranger, scarcer, darker as you follow your party, until finally you believe you're on an alien planet. A lot of things look to be torn or have holes boaring through them, and more than once you catch a moving plant that makes you think of fire. There's one which you think might have eyes, but that was nonesense of course. Until it moved.
"I am Sunflames," she says in a musically crackling voice. There is strength there, but beauty as well, and you find yourself mezmerized. With a slight nod at Marsh Lights and the morlor by his side, Likthra, she walks straight to Darkest Nightmare and nudges him. Apparently, these two are friendly. That concept dies, however, when she repeats the sign of affection with the others, her every move reminding you of the dance of fire.
"Sunflames," Swamp Death grins, "Is highly unique. She's the the pack pride." If the new radiyan hears this she gives no sign, but from the corner of your eye you catch the tip of her mouth reacting to an embarassed twitch. This one simply was, no strings attatched. She expected nothing, though she gave a laugh when she could. This was one female everyone could flock to. With your mind still absorbing all of this information you follow in the wake of the others, listening to them with half an ear as you let your eyes wander. So this was where they called home.
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Sponsors
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Your wandering eyes eventually reward your efforts, your mind still occupied with the many strange beings you follow. Off to the side, just barely hidden by the brush, two cubs scuffle. You hear a name spat out like venum and you associate this to be the male; the one called Rogden. There's a chuckle and a gasped responce, what you think might include the name Shealin before they disentangle themselves, Shealin running straight out in front of you. Rogden looks after her, seemingly confused, and then follows at a light trot, to the apparent dismay of your group.
"Rogden," Marsh Lights scolds, instantly causing the young one to invert himself. Apparently he doesn't mind the older radiyans and molors, he simply doesn't like to interact with them. This other, however, seemed to feel right at home, and already thinking herself as big as they.
"Rogden, how many times have you been told not to bother your sister?"
Bother? It looked like harmless play to you, but you are new here; you could be wrong. Rogden's look though makes you think you aren't wrong. "I wasn't bothering her," he argues, giving his sister a rather hurt look. I was just playing.
"I don't want to play!" Shealin snaps and sits promptly on her hunches. "There is no use in playing. I practice, just like any respectable radiyan does."
Sunflames, your newest aquantance, steps in here, her eyes dancing softly in the light. "You sister, Rogden, while you twin, does not like the same things you do. She doesn't like to play with the young ones such as you do.Come now; play with me awhile and leave her at peace. She may practice with Darkest Nightmare later if she wishes."
With that the young cubs are led away from each other, though you notice a soft light of regret in Rodgen's eyes. He simply isn't comfortable around these older radiyans; he can't find anything in common with them, and he perfers to stay with his own kind. Why his sister hates other cubs so much he'll simply never understand.
Shealin, however, doesn't seem to notice. She's perfectly content to be with her elders, or even better left on her own. Something tells you that she won't be traveling long in your group. This is a radiyan who is highly independant, and it will be seldom if ever that she will willingly approach another for assistance.
It is few and far between, the times when you find such opposites. Or such a lack of understaning; how these two cubs could be twins you don't know, but there are certain things that make this undeniable. And your group has grown so large now, even with the random creatures that have wandered in and out of it. Perhaps it isn't so hard to believe after all, now that you take a closer look at your companians.
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As you look though something shoots right under your nose; something that looks oddly cat-like. It's fern green with earth spots and you think her absolutely beautiful for the second you see her. In a flash though she's gone again, and Likthra shakes her head gently after it.
"Cubs," she murmurs to herself, her ears tiltings back just a little. "What am I do with Grealin? Always running; you'd think she'd be still now and then!"
Thunder grins quietly through this, apparently used to the short speach. As a nearby rustle sounds and you see the plant looking cub dash away, you could swear you see the morlor wink.....
