Universal Soul

OOC: you are making me look bad :P

IC:

The strong pace had begun to slow and as she stuffed the remanents back into her bag she looked up to catch the side glance of the senior Amsesi's icy eyes. Not that she was suggesting he was cold or seemed harsh. But rather the colour couldn't be likened to the ocean or any other blues she had seen in the lands before. His glance was soon stolen to the surrounding area and she hoped that he had seen the soft smile that had etched her darkened maw, to show, that she wasn't too offended by the ungainly silence between them.

Tira despite her smaller and more "sturdy" stature had a certain grace about her body. Her feet dipping and bending almost skilfully into the pressed path before them. She had regained some posture after the yellow bag had settled in the curve of her spine. She - after taking a little note of the next few steps ahead – Had looked up at the settled avians above, her long lashes blinking away any rain that threatened to fall into the sparkling pools of aqua that were so greedily taking in the sights. One could easily see the day dreamy appreciation that covered her softer features.

Strangely enough she hadn't thought much about her following a strange male into depths of a forest she was unknowing about. But despite his gruffness she sensed a vulnerability in him, maybe she wasn't too bad at this psychology stuff after all, or maybe she felt drawn to the strange, well-spoken but silent arden, Neither she would truly allow herself to admit.

It was the subconscious movement of the sleeping Amsési that had pulled back her attentions like Dumu was doing to the thick woven branch causing a cascading fall of water from the delicately balanced leaves around them. The light colours of the fhaus seemed like flowing like a sun touched sea at the break of dusk, the green and yellow hues that could only be produced in the wild like this. The femme found herself taken aback, many times she had wished for the natural beauty of nature to somehow rub off on her and make her beautiful on the outside like she desired.

She found her voice spitting out a long quavering sigh, and she mentally chided herself for such a lapse in closed off mind. The bricks had fallen from the wall set in her mind, and she found herself scrambling her thoughts in an effort to keep thoughts private. She could sense the pair had a very strong telepathic power within them and it would be easy to stumble in on her thoughts by accident if she wasn't more careful. Silent resolve tweaked at the corners of her mouth. What a strange day so far...

Fhaus seemed to weave into and out of the senior Amsesis spiked style, making the water spring away from the follicle and into the depths of the forest floor. It was few moments till she noticed the path widening to reveal the almost accidental clearing. It was nearly all natural...surely this wasn't it. Those aqua orbs flickered about the whole place, scanning for something to give it away and she began to note the subtle handmade swirls and curls that held the ropes in place. It was incredible, and most certainly something new to her technology filled eyes.

“wow..."

Tira murmured her voice soft and her darker eyes glimmering brightly in appreciation.

"all of this was made?"

She said, more to herself than to him. He knew it was made, obvoiusly as did she.

" We should get shanu dried off, you got anything for firewood?"

Tira cocked her head to the side, she had to take a few small steps forwrd so she could look at him while she asked. But it gave her a chibi like appearance.

 

<table width=435px" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=10 bgcolor=#060606 style="border-left:1px #1a1a1a solid; border-top:1px #1a1a1a solid; border-right:1px #2f2f2f solid; border-bottom:1px #2f2f2f solid"><tr><td></img><font face="verdena"><font size="2">Dumu stealthily side-stepped to his left on to the solid plateaux, shifting as he went settled mist, kicking up a small cloud around him that at most rose no higher than Tira's knees. Tira was right. Shanu would prefer to be dry when she woke up, despite her particular fascination with rain. Her school bag would probably have contained a few things he could use, remembering especially he'd loaned her his white dragon shirt; it would have been wrong to use any of her clothes to soak up the moisture.

Where they had broken out from the woods wasn't too far off the edge. Twenty meters or so was all that sat between them and the canopy of trees under which they would find their belongings. A faint – but no less distinctive – yellow glimmer from one of the more dark parts of the canopy looked more empyreal through the grey mist, glowing and fading away again like a beacon.

The duo-striped 'dragon crushed the crisp grass (that had been sheltered quite sufficiently all this time) beside the dhampire's kit; a tan camouflage school bag laid half open on its side, propped up against a small thriving bush, with both the main and front pouches unzipped. From the front pouch protruded a small white and black camouflage notebook. A capped blue gel pen was securely holstered down the ring binding section. From the main pouch were a myriad of items, but importantly was the shirt she'd stripped off when she'd gotten back to enjoy the impending storm. The shirt was strewn – half folded – over the empty side pocket of the bag. Half folded really only due to gravity taking over after Shanu's care-free toss.

There had been some talk among students in the Courtyard about a potential thief going around stealing bags. The young half vampire had decided to embroider her initials into the small front pouch, using threads that defined herself – highlighted with gold and soft blue to the core. Calligraphic “S.A." therefore stood as a mark of her territory. Now facing Dumu sideways; he crouched down near the shirt and let her down softly, legs first, in a more comfortable lying sleeping posture to which she fairly quickly adopted. He reached into the folds of the white shirt and pulled out a short sleeve, patterned with black tribal teeth linked to one another via two thin black bars. His secondary garment fell limply over her body, covering her almost totally. Dumu leant over his sister to tuck the excess in around her stomach and patted the back down to fit against her frame.

At this time he cast an eye over his shoulder towards Tira. She was an unusual one – or very trusting. She was welcome to stay, however. She'd done nothing wrong and had the welfare of his only sister in mind. To Dumu, this meant something. He was rather sure, too – although not completely – that she could sense the link between he and the younger Amsési. Tira was welcome to stay for the while.

<span style='color:white'>"Feel free to make any site your home."</span><tag /></td></tr></table>​

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A puff of damp mist lapped at her toes as Dumu side-stepped onto the hard earthy ground. He was so tall in comparison to her, though she herself was of average size, she couldn't help but feel those inches shrink down at the blue mountain of a brother.
She followed his gaze further alond the canopy to a pile of belongings, a faint glow of yellow-gold was in the distance, almost pulsing as the rain droplets shrouded parts of her vision.

Tira followed the imprints in the grass, coming out from the rain itno the harder ground that seemed somewhat surreal in form. A small camo bag was lying in the sheltered ground, half open with a large shirt bursting out from its depths. There was a toothy design emblazoned upon it but it was hidden as it was tucked around the slender form of his sister.

"I have a towel with me, if you need something to dry yourself off with, you'll get ill if you don't dry off..."

The named towel was in the separate pocket of her rucksack, in a clever compartment that sat under the main pocket of her bag. Swishing the back to her front she unzipped and pulled out the soft pink towel, which was followed by the smaller dusky yellow partner. Paused in thought she held the pink one out to him.

"it's the bigger towel and you're bigger than i...so it makes sense...if you excuse the colour..."

He had said for her to make any site her home, but she was unsure still of what would be an appropiate site. And she also wanted to see where he settled himself down, she didn't want to take a favorite spot or anything of his. Especially as she felt her heart thudding in her ears all of a sudden, he wasn't scary or anything, just made her kind of giddy or nauseous, she wasn't sure.

"ummm, do you want a fire or something... to warm your lil' sis' up?"

 

<table width=435px" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=10 bgcolor=#060606 style="border-left:1px #1a1a1a solid; border-top:1px #1a1a1a solid; border-right:1px #2f2f2f solid; border-bottom:1px #2f2f2f solid"><tr><td></img><font face="verdena"><font size="2">The digits of Dumu's right paw brushed delicately against the tips of the blades of grass when he returned to his height – upon her mention of a towel - looking down towards Tira. Deft, grey paws had teased from her bag the two items of unequal sizes. The momentary pause didn't affect Dumu's attention, seemingly switching remotely between A and B as and when it was needed; his eyes fixed themselves upon the light pink one handed in his general direction. The corner of his mouth tweaked at her observation of his size, and so, with a speed none-too-quick nor none-too-slow, picked the towel from her hand.

<span style='color:white'>"Thanks."</span> Dumu tackled his hair first. A natural reaction if anything. Both hands worked rigorously alternating directions. When he was satisfied with the spikes, Dumu brushed his hair backwards. For a moment or two, it may have looked strange to see him without his trademark ice tipped hair standing proud from his strong, wolf-like skull.

The pink towel was then much darker in most parts. Dumu's hair, including his fur, was especially absorbent but it drained well. Dragged down to his midsection, Dumu patted his stomach and around his kidneys and lower back, flicking the material around a paw to reach more difficult spots on the middle of his back. Finally, in one more motion, he brought the towel back over and down behind his shoulder; the duo-striped 'dragon tilted his head away from Tira, focusing on getting more exposed regions more dry – but this meant the muscles around his collar bone and shoulder tightened. It's what he wanted; those areas were well protected by his metallic blue fur.

Dumu looked more like a patchwork quilt. Some parts were a lighter blue, while some parts were still black. He hadn't fussed about his legs. He ran enough to emit enough heat to dry himself out. If it became a genuine problem, then he would probably have seen to drying himself further. But importantly, he would deal with his upper body. Nonetheless, he brushed off his left shoulder and arm; both hands gripped the middle of the towel. With one quick circular motion, he flipped it in half and doubled it again. Where he had dried looked dry. The bristly fur seemed a little out of place against partly sodden fur. Now that they were under the awning, he wouldn't take long to completely dry out.

His eyes were cast over to Shanu. She was recovering, but it would take a while longer, yet. Maybe another half hour would see her looking around and speaking again. An hour may see her up and moving.

Dumu checked off the imaginary calendar.

<span style='color:white'>"ummm, do you want a fire or something... to warm your lil' sis' up?"</span>

He turned back to her with a stare, his motion a littler sharper than usual. His hair whipped slightly behind him. He couldn't do it, it was far too wet around.

<span style='color:white'>"I would be very grateful;"</span> Dumu glanced down, then back up to her, <span style='color:white'>"If I may, may I hold on to this for a short time?"</span> He patted the darker towel with his other hand.<tag /></td></tr></table>​

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Tira had the towel held out at an arms length, she obviously had to look up at him, but she could feel the fire burning under her cheekbones, but her fur was sodden so the change couldn't be seen by eyes alone. He delicatly picked the towel from her paw and she found his eyes a little too penetrating for comfort. Not that she had something to hide or didn't want him to know anything in particular, but she was wet and a little cold, and having someone stare at you when you look like a drowned rat was cringeworthy enough.

Tira swallowed quietly as the little pull at the corner of his maw showed he had at least some sense of humor or something. He hadn't said anything beyond polite formalities really. She watched him though with a mild curiousity as he rubbed at the gravity defying hair. It was amazing the difference a hair style would make she thought as it momentarily was slicked back. Seconds later it pinged back into place, but with wet straggly lines that were not as uniformed as before. It softened him a little too. Which upon that thought she vigorusly rubbed at her own long locks, feeling a little embarrased.

The shorter hair that framed her face was nearly dried without touching it so she concentrated on those other parts instead. She would have to take her jumper off if she wanted to warm up though, and her mention of fire would be welcome sooner rather than later. The grey femme found herself distracted again though as he tilted his head away causing muscles to tighten and show as he reached round. Tira could feel the rednees in her cheeks blaze again. Her male friends were one thing but, this...well she felt so darn giddy and nervous. Especially when he had said all that grateful stuff...

Tira was soon distracted by her tail and the thought process of how to use her summonings to warm the place up. Most of the wood would be damp now and summoning larger wood creatures took energy, she was skilled with fire though and the trees around here... She had it! Her sodden tail curled round her as she half closed her eyes. An insect of sorts... one with web making abilites....

It was with a small flick of her left wrist, the "net" first became visible in a glowing translucent red. It was cast over head above them all in the canopy just hanging beneath the thick tangle of branches. One by one little flames flourished, gaining a more solid form as they spread out one sitting in each of the eight sectors the web had. The web flashed white and then dimmed to a comfortable glow, sending off a wave of heat that caused steam to rise from Tiras' sodden tail and jumper. In the middle a larger deep red insect glowed casting off the most light and heat out of the strange design. It was like the thermostat, by controlling the main "spider" she could increase or decrease the heat and also brighten or dim the lighht emmited from the eight small biscuit sized "spiders".

But the grey female gave out an involantary shiver nonetheless. Her eyes fully opened again, her pupils large and unchanging despite the light - as long as the web was there, it'd stay like that most of the time, a side affect of her using magicka. - There was a thin rim of aqua framing the black pupil, and she smiled shyly (even though he wasn't looking, she's so frigid allva sudden) before pulling her jumper away from her dampened tank top underneath.

Dumu was looking over at his sister so she took the oppourtunity to whisk her jumper off and straighten out her top underneath. Her tail was being used as a stand for the yellow towel, as she peeled the stripy jumper off, revealing a little more than just her tank top. Lets say she was blessed at birth with a rather large chest and not the muscular kind, the ones that had wobble. Her paws carefully laid the jumper over her bag so the heat could dry it off a little bit.

"That'll do for now, it's too wet to use wood, it'll not burn anything either, it's a safe heat if you will."

She turned from her jumper to her tail, which meant she was facing Dumu now, and softly sat beside her bag a little left of Shanu, though there was at least 4 feet between her and his little dhampire. Oh He was saying something about a towel a little while ago.

"oh, yes the towel, sure" She was at that moment drying off the thick tail "do you want a drink of hot cocoa or something, its still warm... i have those noodles i mentioned earlier you ever had them?"

 

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The aura surrounding the grey Thill shifted after a momentary rumination. Her seemingly ordinary whimsical approach juxtaposed against her new focus was dimly reflected in the diaphanous metallic surface of his eyes – which tracked the net upwards. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before and executed with a degree of humility.

Despite being unsure of the magic being cast in front of him, Dumu got a strong impression Tira had done this sort of thing before. Just like the Amsésis abilities to grow their wings or use telekinesis; it was her gift to use the elements. The form of these elementals, however, was unfamiliar to him – yet no less intriguing. The larger spider-like form drew Dumu's ears forward to a more alert position. It was alarmingly big... Moreover, he felt a little too uncomfortable about the distance between his sister and the elemental. A reason he didn't jump forward at it was because he couldn't sense any intentions from it.

Metallic blue eyes reverted to their more softly inquisitive sheen, looking fractionally more sideways at the webbing at its residents. Well, it sure wasn't a conventional 'fire'.

Dumu pursued a more cautious line around to where Shanu's head was lying. It was then he felt the heat working its magic; he caught sight of the moisture evaporating from Tira's fabric... which wasn't there a second ago; he looked up to see the buxom Thill adjusting her tank-top. You could say Dumu was used to noticing his sister change, but the difference was noticing another female less covered than before.

Instinctively, his mind made a thing about averting his line of sight. His eyes had already shot open in the split second he'd seen Tira almost disrobe. It wasn't right. Understandably she was cold and wet so needed to remove the cumbersome garments. A wave of dishonour swept over his mind, sternly reminding him to control where his eyes looked. He did not suffer from the typical issue of wandering eyes, however. The internal lecture from the miniature Guardian on his shoulder came to pre-empt any misbehaviour. He knew in himself he wouldn't fall by the wayside. Nonetheless, it didn't hurt to reinforce courtesy and manners now and again.

To mask his quick redirection, a survey of the dhampire's recumbent status saw her shift again. Shanu was a great deal more relaxed than she was on the way back. That niotie never quit.

Dumu's own fur was returning to its original lustre. His damp hair was gradually retaking its naturally spiked position, too, and wouldn't be long until he was thoroughly dried off. Just inside his peripheral vision he made out Tira's movements. He couldn't discern for sure exactly what she was doing other than moving around tending to herself.
<span style='color:white'>"That'll do for now, it's too wet to use wood, it'll not burn anything either, it's a safe heat if you will."</span>

When she sat next to Shanu, his hands patted the surface of his shirt around her, glowing brightly under the 'spider's. It was fairly damp, still; he rubbed the side of her stomach to try to get some more directed heat to the area. A small patch of water bled into the shirt, turning it a light grey which contrasted clearly against the black pattern.

A long, drawn breath blew a puff out into the direction of the solid plateaux. <span style='color:white'>"So it would seem."</span> Drifting up to his right, a smaller, 'biscuit sized' orb defied the call of gravity.

<span style='color:white'>"Do you want a drink of hot cocoa or something, its still warm... I have those noodles I mentioned earlier you ever had them?"</span>

<span style='color:white'>"I am curious. What is 'noodles'?"</span> His curious eyes drifted back down to Tira.

An Elysian storm was rolling in over the mountain range in the distance. A blisteringly cold wind that howled past the region heralded the arrival of the more fierce part of the storm. One reason they had pulled the trees down was because their shape provided shielding against such conditions – it would blow over the top, catching the thickest trees above them and roll over the sides of the awning. When the wind howled through, it kicked up the mist all around them into tight swirls. A calm was on its way to interrupt the rain. It would last a minute or two... but after then, only time would tell what happened.

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"So it would seem."

To this Tira merely made a thoughtful noise at him, patting at the exposed fur with the dryish towel. Her fur would dry off quickly thankfully, though her hair was a different matter, it would take a good hour to before it would be manageable again.

She hadn't noticed his little eye popping moment before hand though. She wasn't one who tried to seduce or tease people, just somethings cant be hidden no matter how much duct tape you have. He at least had the self control to look away. Respect for women was hard to come by and she often had sexual profanities shouted at her a Janardan - which promptly led to the offender being "love tapped" if she had her male entourage with her.

"I am curious. What is 'noodles'?"

Tira instantly stopped drying herself. He didn't know what noodles were?! They were the king and queen of pasta, feast in its self! For someone so mannerly and well spoken, he had no clue about the simpler foods of life.

" You don't know what noodles are? Well you're talking to the right gal. How about you just have some though...rather than me explaining. Est sha tguddasse yv sha tsopams fyjlp!"

The grey thill had upon placing her towel down rummaged int her bag pulling out four packets of shiny metallic purple. These noodles had a distinct flavour that when coupled with a dash of spice, it was MMMm mmm mm mm mmmmmmm! Lastly she pulled out a small metal bowl with handles unwrapping the cling film from around it so it would be useable - she didn't like anything but food touching the cooking bowls - and another four small neon coloured plastic ones all with matching smooth plastic chopsticks.

Water would be needed to cook them, but the rain water would be chemical filled. Sprites would be the best way. It was with another flick of her left wrist that a small gathering of orb splooshed out into existance only to be gathered seconds later int the dull silver bowl. when she had gathered enough she deftly split all the packets open taking the flavour sachets out and emptying them itnto the clear water. It would need to be boiled, and the heat above wouldn't cut it this time around. Another flick and a furry fire form curled around the bottom of the bowl heating up the cold water quicker than the average fire.

Tira had a mission now, Dumu would become a denzien of noodles as well as the jungle! To gain his noodle denzien status he needed noodles, so she plopped the four hard noodle blocks into the bowl taking the yellow chopsticks to stir them in with. They began to soften after roughtly 30 seconds, spreading apart and covering the surface area of the bowl. the smell of cooked avain filled the area around them, steam rapidly escaping the clutches of the noodles, as it bubbled away on the "stove"

"Take a bowl for yourself and some chopsticks, and prepare to become a denizen of the noodles."

She looked up from the pot to smile over at him, her maw dried from the firey heat above and below. She had also pulled a little tub of something else out her bag. it held a dusky red colour and with a click and a pop, a few pinches spotted the noodles and addied another fragnant aroma to the air.

" theres enough for seconds too, for all of us, if she wakes up. they'll warm up again quickly if she hungers for something, come come, They're not poisoned, Dumu"

 

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Dumu watched with an undying sense of curiosity. His head tipped forward and to the left side to look at Tira's adroit, well versed, actions, following closely the movement of her paws rather than her per sé. He could sense the momentary build up of energy before the elementals sprang into existence, but he couldn't make head nor tail out of it. So instead of attempting to decode the fine nuances of elemental sorcery, Dumu sat and watched.

With one half of his mind.

The other half endeavoured to establish an ETA for Shanu's awakening. It was like a picture in picture display; the heat and confusion of the inner workings of his sister's mind was like a background for Tira's actions, but both were equally partially desaturated. It was the energy required to adequately search a mind and pay full attention to his company that made the spicy aroma of the noodles even more tantalisingly attractive. The myriad of food supplies stored in Tira's bag was fairly typical of a young Thill's bag or purse – they put the old Grecian Atlas to shame by carrying the world in a shoulder bag; a fine example of flat packing.

Nothing was less attainable than anything else. Bowls, chopsticks, packs of noodles and more steam. Soon the sheltered 'den' was shrouded in flavours and an even thicker atmosphere than the one that had crept in behind all of them in the minutes it had taken to get settled.

The duo-striped pack leader smiled. Shanu was asleep (it was, too, partly in response to Tira). She was no longer, as such, unconscious. She could be woken up there and then. He decided against it. Her vampiric state was more noticeable when she was exhausted – not that he was at all ashamed of her. It was more to do with the simple fact she was tired and so needed to regain her strengths. Dumu tugged lightly at his shirt, triggering a response to seize an inside seam and tug back into her body.

<span style='color:white'>"Take a bowl for yourself and some chopsticks, noodles will be done soon."</span>

A gentle blink washed away the murky purples and reds to reveal his surroundings in full CMYK glory - with Tira still centred in his vision. Chopsticks. What were chopsticks? He peered at the available selection. Then he became fairly certain... But once he gripped them he was met with the immediate puzzle of how to hold them correctly; he instinctively knew not to hold them as though they were sticks. He set the bowl down into his lap with his left paw and gripped the more broad end of the sticks with his right paw, staring at them quizzically investigating them as well as running over the possible positions in which to hold them. He manipulated their placement, searching for the most comfortable arrangement – but it would be to no avail, as Dumu had yet to be formally introduced to 'noodles'. After a fair few seconds had elapsed, he quietly set one down. To amuse himself after such a fruitless attempt at problem solving, said remaining chopstick was aptly spun around his digits for a moment until finally coupled with its counterpart.

His eyes rose once more the mere degrees required.

<span style='color:white'>"Est sha tguddasse yv sha tsopams fyjlp!"</span>

The unusual interest in another's welfare, the equally unusual degree of trust, the elemental sorcery and now Ramathian. Fluent Ramathian at that – if a little less than grammatically correct. Dumu was glad then to know it rather well.

Looking on at the concoction unfolding before him, he kept stock of the method behind preparing the “spaghetti".
<span style='color:white'>"If I may ask, how is it you came to discover this,"</span> Dumu paused. He would have quoted the Ramathian, <span style='color:white'>"Spaghetti?"</span>

His left ear twitched. <span style='color:white'>"The heat you have generously offered may shortly be competing with the skies for dominance. If you will, the black mist slightly to your right – behind me – will engulf this region."</span> Dumu was aware he hadn't given her time to respond to his question, let alone react to his forecast. <span style='color:white'>"I am relatively certain of the shelter here; I do question however if your skill will be met with neutrality or not.</span>

Dumu broke sight of their little chef. Shanu was stirring.

<span style='color:yellow'>"...What?"</span> A niotieish smile spread slowly over her maw. Metallic blue oculi darted from his sister to his lap then back again. She'd knicked the bowl when neither were looking! There wasn't a sound from the chopsticks to have hinted her presence – let alone she'd woken up.

Even thought you would expect a 'dragon's attitude to change around familiar faces, the same expression perpetual honour was plastered all over his visage, now with a sprinkling of mild puzzlement – not only at Tira's skill but his sister's ever increasing level of stealth.

He'd taught her too well.

<span style='color:yellow'>"Ah yeah, I could hear you talking."</span> Shanu peered more directly at Mr. Red Tape over her slender shoulders, still snugly cloaked in white and tribal black patterns. The young demi-vampire sniffed sharply at the warm air; her gold highlighted eyes fixed widely on the noodles. <span style='color:yellow'>"Aww, gimme gimme..."</span>

Blatently, Shanu was very hungry. Noodles were given to her once in the Janardan cafeteria by some broad arden – the name and number of whom she discretely 'forgot' into the pro-environmental receptacle (or... bin) behind her that day. But she had never had noodles after that and longed for it now.

Perplexed, Dumu took a second to study his sister's posture, before swiftly stripping her of the shirt. She'd already prepared for it. Beyond her frightening stealthy abilities, there was nothing they could hide from each other, unless they really wanted or needed to. That was Dumu's way of playing around (but whether it was clear or not was a different matter altogether).

<span style='color:yellow'>"When will they be ready?"</span>


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OOC: Not as long as i'd like but meh

IC:
With Dumu watching her prepare and cook so intently, she could feel herself burning at the cheeks again, she'd decided that the bubbles in her stomach were not the nauseating kind but the kind that meant she was finding him interesting in a way that was a little more than wanting to be a friend. Embarrasing for her, as this kind of thing did not happen often to her. In fact most males were instantly filed into the "friend box".

She noticed his smile, and felt herself redden all the more - suddenly the noodles were so very,very interesting. She did notice him checking on his sister. Their relationship was cute. It would be nice to have someone watch over you like that, even if they were a little overprotective.

He'd blinked before looking over at the bowls and sticks with a rather thoughtful or puzzled look. Tira soon found herself forgetting the moments before and cocking her head to the side somewhat sympathetically. He seemed so intellgent, yet he hadn't experienced what was considered the norm to her. However he did manage to spin the chopstick he still had in his paws after giving up on the pair, which to her dismay, she couldn't do - she'd tried a while back, while standing at the dorm window. It resulted in a lost chopstick and a very surprised 'dragon below.

The Arden then asked her about her discovery... She'd discovered it in her foster home, when she was much younger. To her it was perfectly common, but she'd say anyway.

"i -"

She had said quietly, before his flickering ear and new string of words stopped her short. She even looked up from the bubbling pot. And looked from the skies to the mist behind them as he indicated. He was relatively certain?! They were in a freaking conductor circle if there was lightning! She could cope with it if she was inside all snug and warm. But outside?! When it had happened for the first time, she vowed not to be stuck outside in suck terrifying weather again. And the ominous mist was creeping her out a little. So much so, that she could feel the hair on her neck prickling up at the thought of being engulfed.

Thankfully Shanu broke the air around her, she was awake?! She looked at where Dumu was looking then to Shanu. Ha! The little Dhampire had pinched his bowl and chopsticks without either of them noticing. She couldn't help the little chuckle rise from her throat, and she brought up a paw to hold to her maw as she did.

He looked cute when he was puzzled...even if it was only a tiny change in expression. She noticed it well - It was in her training to see the slightest of changes in facial expressions in psychology, and she hated to even ponder on how obvious hers might be to the royal blue arden.

Shanu would be a welcome distraction, she was beginning to feel a little out of control. A feeling almost alien to her. Dumu despite being well spoken did have a voice that could carry, its baritone quality... There she was going off again. Tira couldn't help but smile though at Shanus' wide look at the noodles.

"Aww, gimme gimme..."

The gray femme smiled, and went about mixing them about a few more times in the pot. They were almost ready she thought, letting the flame "kitten" vanish into the air. She cast her worried glance up, the sky had that smell that always happened before a hard storm. It make her feel like she was licking a battery.

"When will they be ready?"

Tira came out from her inner thoughts to answer the royal blue femme, A small smile playing at the bottom of her lips.

"Now" she said "Hold out your bowl..."

And with that Tira readied a large portion for the awakened and hungry, pulling the noodles up and out of the pot in a deft twist of her paws.

"Dumu, grab another for yourself. You need an extra huge portion coz you haven't had the joy of eating them before!" She stated, quite simply to him. She'd show him how to hold the chopsticks too if he didn't figure it out again. She was determined to have him trained in the ways of the noodle.

 

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As if being electrocuted, Shanu seized her bowl and had thrust it some ways toward Tira's stove. She stared, with an evident hunger swirling in her crystal blue eyes, at the violently bubbling surface. Individual strands of noodles were floating around under there, and would at times come up to breach the steaming, frothy surface.

Dumu casually reached out and picked up the spare one; chopsticks rested against the rim. He picked them out with the same degree of attitude and rested the bowl in the palm of his paw. Somewhat imitating his sister, his manner was distinctly more reserved. He couldn't deny the allure of the pasta. The rich, exotic flavours were a treat in the air, especially away from natural fruits and other such easily attainable foods – the likes of which he'd virtually been raised on. Shanu would occasionally bring back things she'd liberated from the cafeteria to spice up his day.

It was good to see her up and running. Her sense of appetite meant she would have never gone hungry, and Dumu shared in that trait. He was always up for a good hearty meal – but he'd invariably burn it off shortly after finishing.

He was caught up thinking again.

<span style='color:white'>"If I may, do you not share with us a similar affinity for stormy weather?"</span>

Shanu blinked and broke away from the noodles. Then her eyes widened. She hadn't seen the dense cloud unfolding over the hills giving the sky a murky, dark, dusty backdrop. The young dhampire could then taste the chill rolling down her throat like honey. A more broad, more devilish grin spread over her maw – deeper than moments ago when she was caught with his bowl.

A bubble popped. Shanu snapped back to attention, inches from the edge of the pot and her bowl hovering even closer. Her right paw manipulated the chopsticks into the correct position, anticipating the arrival of the food. Dumu watched keenly, trying to learn how to do it. He got the general idea... staring at the sticks with intent.. but he couldn't manage to make them move properly – the pivoting action was an unnatural one. A quiet 'hmmm' rippled from his throat.

<span style='color:yellow'>"You should be hungry, Dumu. When was the last time you ate, anywho?"</span>
<span style='color:white'>"This morning."</span>
<span style='color:yellow'>"See?! S'been too long already."</span> Dumu cocked an eyebrow at her. That cheeky smile was still decorating her cerulean golden maw. The duo striped 'dragon just shook his head. His question had almost faded into insignificance, but he was actually quite curious what it was that...

<span style='color:yellow'>"What he really wants to know is - why're you such a wimp around storms?"</span> Shanu shot Tira a friendly wink; her pinky tongue slowly caressed her teeth.

Dumu dropped his posture a bit, partly bewildered.


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A bowl was soon hovering at the edge of the “stove" and Tira couldn’t help a smile escaping her maw. She pulled the noodles higher from the pot, twisting it without causing the burning liquid to splatter anywhere and it was soon twirling itself into the young Dhampires bowl, piling a little above the top of the dish, steam rising frantically from its noodle prison.

The grey thill readied another portion, but unlike Shanu, Dumu didnÂ’t thrust his bowl so close, he kind of hovered it a little over leaving a gap between the bowl and the domain of pasta goodness. Shuffling her knees as she pulled and twisted the other portion Tira mindlessly reached out with her free hand to place her paw underneath the bowl he was holding as to steady where the portion was about to go. One full portion was placed in before she twisted another quickly and piled the noodles high above the rim of his newly obtained bowl.

It was only as she deposited the last few threads of noodles and came to reality from the question asked of her, she realised.

Her hand, hisÂ…were touching,

He had been holding the bowl from underÂ…and she, sheÂ’d steady the bowl by putting her handÂ….Almost instantly she felt her skin flush hotter than before. He was looking at Shanu holding her chopsticks, and she took Shanu distraction of words to pull her hand away and quickly drop a small portion into her own bowl. Her chopsticks were already in position, but didnÂ’t seem to want to go and snatch a few noodles. She was listening to what Shanu was saying, the tone changed and she looked up. This one was directed at her.

" What he really wants to know is - why're you such a wimp around storms?"

Tira swallowed, looking at the two from her sitting position. ItÂ’d been over 10 years nowÂ… she could talk about this nowÂ… SheÂ’d forget sometimes though what wasnÂ’t waiting for her at home.

“Lost my parents in this kind of weather as a kid…fear stuck with me, just one of those things I suppose…gotta fear something in life."

She had been staring at her noodles once she had started to reply to the question asked. It was a bit wimpish. She could feel the air thicken now. Those sort of things generally killed conversation in its tracks.

I love rain mind. Just lightning hurts my eyes sometimes. She finally looked up from the bowl, first to Shanu then to Dumu, then to his hand holding the chopsticks.

"Dude yer doing that all wrong, hold them like thisÂ…

She reached forward, her bowl and sticks sitting patiently on the floor, as she gently took his right hand in both her. Her tongue stuck out a tiny bit at the end of her maw as she gently pushed one of his fingers up to the top stick and guided his thumb to rest in position for optimum noodle catching.

"Now try?"

Tira said quietly to him, before sitting back beside her own and picking up her own portion, clacking the chopsticks as an example of how to grab.

"dig in folks, it gets cold quickly

 

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ooc: fixing

Their unavoidable contact didn't go unnoticed, yet Dumu took it only as helpful guidance. So he didn't understand why Shanu was shooting glances between he and Tira, and therefore why refreshed curiosity coursed through her veins. He simply wasn't used to handling chopsticks; any form of assistance was much appreciated.

After all, he was hungry.

Shanu, though, had paused abruptly when she'd realized what had happened. It was strange seeing him around another female, despite how Shanu had before teased him, unrelentingly, about getting out and mixing up with a group of Thills. His argument was that he was comfortable where he was. But now, to see him have no choice in the matter... that was good to see. From Shanu's perspective, having a little outside contact now and again would do him some good. At least Dumu could see what things were like outside his little honourable bubble.

Shanu decided to take the teasing one step further.

With one mouthful of steaming noodles most delicately consumed, she breathed deliberately into the chilly air and crossed her eyes as she did so to watch the vapour float upwards towards the 'spidey' heat lamps. She turned the chopsticks outwards very elegantly and balanced them between her first two fingers, so all that she was holding was the centre of each utensil and her hand was outstretched to her right.

Very elegant for the young Dhampire.

<span style='color:yellow'>"Ahem. That is most tragic,"</span> She clearly annunciated her 't's and softened her 'r's – certainly attempting to imitate the duo-striped 'dragon sitting only feet from her, who had only that moment imitated Tira by clacking the sticks together more to physically comprehend how to function the tools rather than take the mick... much unlike his 'darling little sister', <span style='color:yellow'>"One is saddened by such information,"</span> Shanu shuffled in place to make herself more comfortable, and was now receiving disbelieving looks from the slowly chewing Red Tape enthusiast. <span style='color:yellow'>"... That must really suck. Y'know, though, I think they went to the Guardians."</span> Her posture shifted to one side. She set the bowl down on her lap and propped herself up with her left hand, sprawling her young fingers through the dry grass.

The trees began to rustle violently. The dense, low mist was minutes away, still. Crystal blue oculi turned their focus back on their noodles steaming away happily in her lap. Her spare hand hovered over bubbles, catching the heat and being burnt every now and again by bursting hemispheres. Although she didn't mind the fact Dumu was about to try and cover up her childish remarks, Shanu thought she'd get there first in any case.

<span style='color:yellow'>"What are they like? Parents I mean."</span>

Dumu noticeably settled back down again, awkwardly picked up another load between the two tips and haphazardly navigated it towards his maw, taking it gingerly between his front teeth. He tried to make the most clumsy of effort seem as prim and proper as he could, with all the grace he could muster. But it was difficult when he had been splashed with hot water as a result of the multiple occasions the noodles had slipped.

Disregarding the mild discomfort that came from extremely hot water conflicting with moderately cool skin, he was enjoying them intensely. Then he was reminded.

<span style='color:white'>"Denizen of noodles...?"</span> He gulped down an overly hot amount. His throat seared from the heat. Over the unusual burning sensation, that kind of heat he welcomed. <span style='color:white'>"I believe, considering the definition of the word 'denizen', it would be difficult to reside within one. One could be a denizen of the city, or jungle, or marsh, however. I think I do understand what you mean. Excuse me."</span> He leant over his bowl a bit more, tipping his head and making his trademark spiky hair bounce in unison. To Shanu, this action of his was one of respect to the conversation. Had he been standing, he would have bowed out and stepped back do play with his toys, or whatever. She smiled again. This time it swept from her brother to Tira again.

The air surrounding Tira seemed to slide off to one side – one of contemplation. The Dhampire spun the chopsticks and directed them at the noodles, like a thriller movie in which the big baddie has her powerful device pointed at the hero... then everyone moans because the dreaded “To be continued" appears on the screen.

They promptly sank into the depths of the bowl, penetrating the erupting, white skin shielding the edible strands from the freezing air.

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While there had been ‘contact’ between Dumu and Tira, Although he was oblivious, his little Dhampire sister was not, And for a second she had to stop herself from making fateful eye contact with the younger thill. Tira wasn’t one that could shadow the truth from her eyes, and making contact with the crystal blue oculars would show the flustered, butterfly-like feeling that was attacking her stomach, and her heart, her throat, arms, legs, pretty much her entire insides. By some miracle it hadn‘t bubbled up to the surface and she continued - though flushed - to explain her fear.

It was only after adjusting the tall ardens’ paw to noodle mode, that she felt herself starting to recover. The sombre moment of conversation pushed to the back of her mind with the simple “dig in “ that voiced out from her delicately lined maw. Her body language mirrored that of Shanu for a brief moment as noodles were delicately deposited into her mouth. Shanu however had another purpose afterwards.

Elegance oozed out from her pores as she held the sticks with a defiant grace, her hand was stretched like that of a posing movie star for a camera still, picturesque in its own right, - if only there was a creepy photographer lurking in the hidden depths.

The grey thills’ ears pricked up at the carefully said “ahem" and then following into an almost perfect impression of her Dual-striped brother, And despite the seriousness of what was being said, Tira had to press the back of her hand against her maw in an effort not to choke on her noodles. It was short-lived as she regained her composure, and swallowed quietly. She noticed the looks from Dumu at the royal blue femme. She was actually glad for the way it had been delivered, she didn’t feel like she was being pitied.

And it really did suck.

" The guardiansÂ…" She whispered with a light air catching in her voice, If Tira had been in a low mood -tears would have most likely formed- today was not one of these days for her thankfully.

It was one of those moments where you just had to look up and wonder, then feel creeped out at the thought they might be watching your every move, then strangely comforted. All very confusing and contradictory, but nonetheless something to ponder. She used to think about it all the time as a kid, I mean what kid didnÂ’t wonder (if theyÂ’d lost their family) if they were still with them in a way.

The sound of trees rustling vigorously snapped her out of the little daze, Tira blinked, her pupils still large from the magic usage , the mist lapping dangerously close, though it was still minutes away. Tira watched somewhat absently as Shanu digits hovered above the bowl, her face in contemplation of some sort.

" What are they like? Parents I mean."

Her nose twitched in response, now she knew why there was a degree of understanding that she didn’t get from the other ‘dragons at the academy. But she didn’t think it was something for her in turn to pity them about. There was many ways you could look at it. On one paw, they hadn’t had the pain of losing parents as such, but at the same time the longing one has for paternal love could crush a weak heart.

"I donÂ’t remember much, my mind blocked a lot of what happened back then out. It was nice, what I do remember, but itÂ’s just me now, IÂ’m an orphan technically, no family, no aunts, uncles or siblings that I know of, just me. It could always be worse though"

It really could be worse, some of the other ‘dragons she had lived with turned to crime, drugs and things of a sexual nature… Tira still had no clue as to how she had managed to turn out even slightly “normal" But she wasn’t about to question anything which regarded her old life.

She delicately swirled another noodle into the clutches of her chopsticks, watching with a humoured smile as Mr. prim and proper showed his more ‘dragon side, with his clumsy efforts at eating with the neon sticks. In haste to stop her staring problem she bit her lip and averted her eyes for a moment. A smile still on her maw as she swallowed softly again.

" Denizen of noodles...?"

Tira turned her attentions back to the handsome male, one ear pricked up in interest at his voice breaking the air. Then he defined the term she had used earlier, and instantaneously a rebellious look etched her face.

"Ahh but I could build a town using only noodles, shrink you down with some kind of mega-shrink ray, and then youÂ’d be living in the noodle town - therefore becoming a Denizen of noodles. Right Mr Denizen?" Still with that rebellious look on her face, she raised an eyebrow in question to her somewhat far-fetched imaginings, She couldnÂ’t wait for the reaction she may, or may not get. It was a little test to see how far his humour stretched.

And all the while Shanu was poised, her killing sticks to the ready. If it was quiet enough - and you could talk to noodles - youÂ’d most likely hear their screams as she plunged into the spiced depths of their souls.

 

<table width=435px" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=10 bgcolor=#060606 style="border-left:1px #1a1a1a solid; border-top:1px #1a1a1a solid; border-right:1px #2f2f2f solid; border-bottom:1px #2f2f2f solid"><tr><td></img><font face="verdena"><font size="2">Shanu shuffled backwards on her haunches and rolled her shoulders back to shift her white tee back to be comfortable. As she deftly shovelled noodle load after noodle load into her mouth, she ogled the pair. Tira was standing up to Dumu; it wasn't unwise, but it invariably lead to Dumu pulling some kind of stunt leader stunt to secure his place among the pack.

Lo and behold, Shanu smiled to herself as the signs showed themselves; a set up which gave away the inevitable. Dumu turned his head a little to one side, giving Tira an attentive, wide eyed stare. Shanu herself had gotten comments when she had done similarly. The lack of an obvious pupil was not something the little Dhampire had ever thought about, but it unsettled some to see this luminous, pearlescent orb increase in size and appear to focus more on you.

Just... it didn't appear to – it did.

Dumu's darker, metallic blue eyes warmed up to Tira meddling with his words. Another mouthful followed the words, “... shrink ray". His eyes remained larger than normal. He was getting good at working with chopsticks.

Shanu hunkered down like at a cinema, awaiting the action. Instead of popcorn, the Royal Blue Femme swirled the remaining pasta in the boiling water that occupied so little of the bottom of the bowl. She was almost hesitant to finish it off. Not before Dumu spoke again.

..."Mr Denizen?"

A dark eyebrow hopped above his right eye, proceeded by a firm gulp. Translucent mist rose from his muzzle. He turned his head back to face Tira, face on. His usual straight-backed posture tightened in time when he leant forward a short distance.

<span style='color:yellow'>"Oooh here it comes."</span>
<span style='color:white'>"Deni..."</span>

A prickly crackle lacerated the dense cloud, picking out all of their finer features in icy white. As if all sound was sucked out of the forest; the edges of the plateaux glowed with the same menacing neon shade, and raced around the perimeter.

A muffled thud and the rush of air queued the return of auditory reception. Screeching winds burst out from the middle of the Amsésis' training grounds, as a solid white shaft of lightning rocked the ground only a stone's throw away.

An enormous grin beneath golden highlighted eyes told the world what she thought. As for Dumu, well... The dual striped 'dragon twisted around sharply to catch the impact. There was nothing majestic or prim and proper about that!

Truth be told, excitement flooded his eyes, which stood side by side. It seemed he'd forgotten to finish his words with Tira.
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With a swish of her tail, Tira had positioned herself to something more comfortable, the noodles in her lap burning the skin under the fur ever so slightly. She’d moved her tail so it was sitting like a blanket over her crossed legs, the noodle bowl nestling safely in the fluffy, soft tail. Her arms were sitting down at her sides, palms against the ground as she leant towards Dumu to return his wide eyed stare – though hers had that mischievous glint to them, Dumu being a head and shoulders high above her, she couldn't help but linger on the finely toned and muscular form, and for some reason it was making her think of taking up that Shape shifting class back at the academy.

She kept her eyes on his though, the blue swirling depths seeming to grow and concentrate in size, and she began to realise why she had been so interested in him at first sight. He was similar to Shadow in so many ways, but he had that allurement that her “brother" did not have, maybe it was the lingering thoughts that were hidden behind his eyes, or something that told her – he was different – in a good way. Thankfully she was getting a control over her emotions. It wasn’t usual to have that strong a feeling for someone who she’d barely spoke to.

But she found his higher intellect yet lack of street smarts endearing, fatally soÂ…. but it wouldnÂ’t harm him to put a top on - was he trying to put girls in hospital - surely when he was around the cities and towns, he was having the femmes swooning at his paws.

Shanu seemed to know something she didnÂ’t, had Tira done something wrong? Was it possible twisting his words was not something to test her brother with? All those thoughts were fleeting however, but at ShanusÂ’ vocalised response made her swallow despite herself. His head wasnÂ’t far from hers now, and the nervous nature she had displayed before was taken over by the anticipation of what he had begun to say;

"Deni..."

Suddenly everything was white, the intense feeling of unadulterated fear rose from tip to tail. The deafening crackle masked the terrified squeak that failed to voice the extent of her feelings. Tira had made a point of not being out in storms without Shadow, he was her protector, her substitute big brother. Relying on her lightning quick instincts, she clinged to the safest thing to her.

It just so happened to be Dumu.

It wasn’t that she didn’t like lightning – she appreciated its dangerous beauty, its ethereal form – but the innate fear response that was hand in hand with lightning storms was overriding her wish to see the energy bolt that was a little too close for comfort. Her arms gripped his muscular blue one; eyes squeezed shut to the point that they might pop through the back of her skull. Her finely formed ears were clamped down to her head, and her tail…well it was like a cotton candy factory. Her tail fluffy as it was, had doubled if not tripled in thickness, the cold prickles of fear stabbing into her nerves long after the bolt of energy had dissipated.

Shamefully aware that she had let out a small whimper after the initial strike had left the surrounding air, she felt the little elemental fizzle as the “heaters" merely imploded, then burst into a shower of rainbow sparks around them, Pretty yes, embarrassing also. But still she couldn’t will her eyes to open, still holding his arm like her life depended on it.

 

Neither the Amsésis predicted Tira's sudden, instinctive reaction. Dumu less so than Shanu, despite however in tune he may or may not have been. He hadn't had someone jump and affix themselves to him at any point in time, so he didn't know what he was looking for in terms of telepathic signs. Regardless, an obvious expression of discomfort and unease overcame the Senior Amsési.

Dumu almost tried to detach himself from his own arm; he pushed himself away from Tira – away from her tactile outburst. At that moment in time, he may have even considered separating himself at the joint. Her grip was abnormally tight – not painfully so, but much more unexpected than anything else.

Golden highlighted eyes watched with a keen interest from over the rim of a bowl, reflecting the distorted image of the techni-coloured shards raining down slowly around them. Shanu set her dish down beside her, pressed down on the moist grass and leant forward onto all fours. With her left, she reached across behind Dumu and stole back his white dragon shirt, all the brief while humming a cheeky tune.

<span style='color:yellow'>"Ah. It does appear as though you have your hands full there. I shall depart laconically and... busy myself elsewhere."</span> Her eyes narrowed against a sly grin, flashing only a fraction of her upper teeth.

<span style='color:white'>"Mm."</span> The dual striped 'dragon leant back on one hand, leaving his other arm in the state of limbo known as Tira's-grip. He could have wrenched it away had he so wished, but he didn't get the title of Mr. Red Tape for nothing...

<span style='color:white'>"Excuse me, Tira,"</span> He tiled his head to one side, his own pearlescent eyes, too, narrowing some. <span style='color:white'>"Might I request that you relinquish my arm?"</span> The concept of having a busty Thill hanging off you would have appealed to many an Arden. Perhaps it was his own undoing, or perhaps fate did exist. Either way, Dumu didn't engage his brain along that track (as per... always). While others would have taken the opportunity to steal a naughty glance down her top, his line of sight was cast sideways at her.

Shanu wasn't far away. Her overseeing presence was as clear as the daylight, although there was little to nothing Dumu could do about it. Short of shaking their guest off, he would have to wait.

The little Dhampire, on the other hand, had other things in mind... A minute or two was just enough time to put Dumu on the back paw.

<span style='color:yellow'>"Whenever you're ready, okie?"</span>

 

Tira had been frozen in fear, her ears were pinned tightly against her head, her tail a gigantic fluffy puff, and she felt the subtle shake of her whole form as she mulled over the closeness of electrical doom from before. Where was Shadow when you needed to hide behind someone?!

She was so paralysed by her innate fear that she only heard the tail end on Shanus' words. She began to drift back when something shifted in her tight grasp. A deep baritone penetrated her flattened ears. They were the first thing to move; her right ear swivelled forward followed by its partner. And as one eye opened carefully, she looked up and saw the narrowed gaze of the huge Arden.

Both eyes opened and blinked, she looked down at her grasp, and instantly embarrassed she loosened her grip a little before making to apologise, her aqua eyes looked up at his pearlescent ones, Then her psychology kicked in. His body stance, gaze and tone of voice. Relinquishing his arm, she narrowed her own eyes. The pupil becoming smaller and the aqua seeming to brighten. In a flashing glare to him she began.

<span style='color:aqua'> “I was all for apologising to you till I saw that look on your face. You'd think you had the remains of a hundred year corpse smeared on your arm with that stance!"</span>

Tira took a deep breath.

<span style='color:aqua'>"Shaja't my maap sy lyyc us na leca shus, ump kajsuemli my rlyypi maap vyj iyo sy sji ump khaf yvv iyoj yfm ujn, e'n mys petautap. Ump haja fut na shemcemd iyo faja u damslanum, fesh shus usseopa iyo'ja nucemd iyojtalv yos sy ra myshemd rassaj shum u tykeulli emags, ennusoja vyyl. E pym's cell Cessis' vyj vom yj umishemd, iyo shemc e'p qots pjyfmap u rud voll yv shan fesh shus panaumyoj. </span>

It was with a very angry Hurmf that Tira snapped around to tidy up the bowls and sticks from before. Her right ear was facing forward, but her left was still pulled back against her head twitching periodically. She shuffled to her yellow back pack and jumper, testing the dryness of the clothing and then pulling it over her top half, it was a little damp, nothing she couldn't deal with. She felt so infuriated. Looking at her like he'd just stepped on something. She huffed again as she pulled out two large squares of fabric and started gathering the bowls together – apart from Dumus' - knotting the corners she had them in a neat little package to place in her bag. The pot still had some noodles, she might have to leave that for now she though, the chopsticks were shoved in the other square of black material, along with the towel she had been using.

Her sweet demeanour still remained with Shanu - Tira wouldn't take anything out on the undeserving. And with a slightly strained smile she turned to look up at the young thill.

<span style='color:aqua'> “ Sorry 'bout that, so where are we off to?"</span>

 

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Initially, Dumu didn't physically move during the stern, infuriated disciplining he was receiving from the grey Thill, who, to all intents and purposes, knew nothing about either him or his sister, yet defended herself extraordinarily well against a total stranger nonetheless. He cocked his head to one side when she prepared herself to speak in Ramathian.

Dumu wasn't the -most- fluent in the language, but he knew the fundamentals well enough to understand what Tira was saying - if the tone of her voice wasn't enough! She was certainly a fiery young Pendragon.

With a fair number of unresolved or untold issues. Reacting as she did suggested she was either a very trusting or extremely reserved and observant Thill, preferring to understand, pick and choose her company. A trait Dumu admired in anyone.

When Tira and concluded her explosive spiel, Dumu still remained put - watching. He'd hadn't been reprimanded for countless years, other than when he'd caught Shanu off guard. The Duo Striped 'dragon was grateful he'd caught the sharp edge of his sister's tongue a fair number of times. She and Tira sounded similar when they got going; a likeness to which Dumu found himself warming up.

Expressionless oculi awaited any follow up after shocks that may errupt in his direction.

Shanu, on the other hand - while keen on her older brother being told off for his well-intended insensitivity - vanished to get changed, and returned, donning a black, water proof jacket with a hood and draw strings. A jet black, form fitting tee didn't quite meet her belt, contrasted by silvery, tribal markings embroidered on the left side only. It was adequate. She was in the process of redoing her hair, too. Most of her hair was tied back into a low pony tail; she left an inner layer on either side of her hairline loose. It was a style most suited for a prom, only Shanu loved to mix and match; she was also brushing out a fringe to ultimately curved outwards from her forehead and rested just above her eyes.

It was a defiant, care-free style.

<font color="yellow">"Where? Oh, to paint the town red! J'know any good spots?"</font>

Dumu gave a glance over his shoulder then back at Tira. He considered the situation and took his chance.

<font color="white">"Tiramitsu - Tira? I'm sorry. Please forgive my outburst; it was... an unusual circumstance in which I found myself. It goes not to belittle or lessen your stance, however, and what I have done is done. If your intention is to leave with Shanu, I only ask that you take care of --- erk!"</font>

Shanu folded her arms, a deep frown darkening her already partially obscured eyes. It wasn't Dumu's day at all! He spied the tumbling rock beside his head. One eyebrow jumped momentarily, his right eye seemingly glowing bright in that split second.

The soft patter of rain gradually returned, evidently further out into the densest portion of Vivuli and working its way outwards. Dumu gave a silent puff. Still enjoying the after taste of the pasta, he tilted his head down and away, peering up at Shanu's necklace.

<font color="yellow">"I can look after myself! Most of the time, anyway... and yes, I'll take it... s'mine anywho!</font>

Shanu blinked and the tumbling rock rested atop the Senior Amsési's head, ruffling his hair. No sooner was the rock down was the heavy necklace up off the branch and flying to its young owner. A blue paw reached out and snatched it clean from mid-air! Deft fingers flicked open the clasps and worked the chain of gold around her soft neck, disturbing the fur as she went.

With one final click and a shake of her head - her fine hair flicking left and right, Shanu gave a nod of satisfaction. T'was on and comfortable, like always.

<font color="yellow">"To enjoy ourselves. C'mon, up y'get!"</font>

The young Dhampire walked past Dumu, heading past Tira. Wherever they would go now would only be determined by where the path would wind. Shanu knew she could learn a lot from Tira - that, and they could both tease Dumu the same way!

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