Lazuli - Enter the Ice Fang.

<font color='#0000FF'> Celuvix Novox, The beginning.
{Day:  31st )
(Quarter:  Tessera )
(Year:  Year 81377 )

A cold beginning day, yet a calm one.  The peaceful serenity of snow with the shinning sunlight gave an aqua aura with the awe-inspiring snow against the fields of white.  A prism of colors, giving life to the ice enriched land glittered against the morning dew of the few gricklegrass leaves sprouting from the barely thawed ground.  The sun was barely crossing the horizon, scattering a wave of dim light past the rows of frost.  Only a few nondescript trees were visible in the distance, noting that this area of Trilok was closer to the equator than the rest--that is--the peninsula most nearby to Bhim.  Not that it was, of course, a nearly fertile border of permafrost and soft soil, but just enough to grow what was strong enough to survive.  The snow trickled down onto the ground in a very light sprinkle, keeping a fresh layer of snow on yet not overbearing at all.  The small flakes were but specks in the air, barely coating if they didn’t melt first.

A soft crunching came from off in the horizon, the only real noise for miles of the empty field.  Two pairs of blue furred paws, cut off past the foreleg by white fur trotted slowly through the field, leaving behind a track of paw prints.  After traveling for quite a distance, the figure came to an immediate halt.  Just like the past few hours, which was like the two days before.  An expanse of snowy fields and a few trees here and there, sometimes the same trees as before.

“Goodness…where am I this time?"

The figure stood up, spreading his legs out a bit, and clapped his front paws—more efficiently hands—together in order to dust off snow.  Celuvix was traveling for a week now in order to get off his continent in search for something new, a catalyst to spin his life onto full throttle.  The only problem was that no matter how far or in which direction, he always ended up in a vast empty field.  

“I won’t get anywhere like this…and I suppose I should set up camp again.

Celuvix looked down at his paws and moved them around a bit, then closed his eyes.  He gave as little strength as he could, knowing that he needed to reserve his energy for the travel ahead.  Slowly, his fur began to waver, giving way to pale blue skin.  The skin itself changed to a light shade of brown as the fur slipped into small pores.  His paws extended, becoming fingers ever so slowly.  The claws became fingernails, but were still a bit longer than they should be.  His legs slightly locked into place, giving way to muscular light brown calves and two, five toed feet.  He stood there with his arms crossed over his chest slightly and lifted his head, opening one of his eyes slightly.  The eye wasn’t as human as it should have looked, still a platinum color with eye slits, absorbing the oncoming light.  A strand of silverish hair went over his face while the rest stood up from his head in small, gelled spikes.  Behind him, however, a large white and blue tail flailed with a flame still glowing on it.  He looked back at the tail and sighed slightly.

“Still can’t get it completely right…"

He clenched his hand-claws a few times, and then dropped his gear from his back. A few leather straps over his back containing camping supplies and a slender, long and blue blade locked inside a sheath of sorts dropped to the ground.  It seemed that he came prepared for the trip, except for the fact that he forgot to pack a compass.  Opening the larger pack, he pulled a thick, intricately designed dark blue robe from inside, draping it over his body since his fur didn’t protect his bare skin.  Celuvix tied a black sash around his waist, then pulled his gear onto his back again.  The boy gripped the hilt of the ice-like sword—Ice Fang—and glanced about the snowy fields.

“But first, I’ll need to get breakfast."</font>

 

<font color='#0000FF'>Morning was full with the sun fully over the horizon, the balance of night and day overtaken by a gleaming light over the snow, though the only difference was a brighter white.  The snow was slightly blinding, which Celuvix was prepared for with a pair of anti-glare visors over his changed human face.  He was walking in what he believed was a straight line this time, or at least he thought, in search for food.  The hunt was already on trail, having come close to a group of Artic Phocidae heading back for the sea.  That was a good sign in two ways, since heÂ’d get food and he could just walk the coast until he hit a dock.  A pup would be enough, especially since he knew that the mother would be fishing by the time he got there.  It wasnÂ’t a nice thing to do, but hunger is hunger, and he had a good bit of seasoning salts.  Coming close to the coast, he could hear the bellowing Phocidae near the coast, along with the sound of water against ice.  He pulled the ice-like blade from his sheath very slowly, the light glinting against the edge and shining through the bulk as if it were a diamond.  In a biped form, he could attack a bit less efficiently, but wouldnÂ’t have to drag food in his mouth in case he got in a fight with many of the Phocidae.  Carrying a carcass over his shoulder while fighting back would be much easier.

“AlrightÂ…get going.  Get in the water mother.  IÂ’ll take good care of the baby."

Celuvix muttered to himself in anticipation as he crouched out of the PhocidaeÂ’s field of view, extending his sword slightly.  When the blubbery creatures started wallowing into the water, followed by a few pups, he took small, quiet sprints across the snow.  Zigzagging his way closer, Celuvix began to single out his prey, his eyes falling on a small group of fat, healthy looking pup.  Now ten feet from the pups, he waited for the other two to leave.

“This is going to be easier than I thought…"

He pulled an old, salted fish slab from his pack, and then threw it to the side.  All three of the pups ran towards it with the fattest of them falling behind.  Celuvix took that time to strike.  He leapt from his crouched position, silently diving beside the pup on his belly.  The boy slit the pupÂ’s throat with a lateral slash, cutting its neck and with it, any chance of making too much noise.  As the blood bubbles out, Celuvix removed the head of the pup and shook the blood around, keeping an eye on the coast.  Unbeknownst to him, something else was watching as he ran from the coast with his catch, besides the unawares-Artic Phocidae.</font>

 

<font color='#0000FF'>Not a chase, nor a bellow.  Not even the pulse heightening sensation of battle thickened the cold air as he left the Phocidae occupied area.  The decapitated neck hung over his shoulder, dripping cleanly onto the snow and leaving a trail of blood, a useless marker since he thought himself alone with the animal in the expanse of white, and didn't care if the wild would track him or not.  His robe was lightly stained, but the bulk of the pup was dripping behind him as he ran, flopping with only stagnant blood flowing from its lifeless carcass.  Celuvix slowed down, looking over his back.  He could see the sparkling sea of cold, littered with small children of glaciers and glittering with light on its chilly surface.  The adult Phocidae were still swimming around, only visible spots down the coast and inaudible.  Feeling at ease, Celuvix dropped the carcass at his feet with a solid thud, saturated with crushing snow and the flopping of inanimate meat.

If I didn't get lost I wouldn't have to do it, but that can't be helped...though, I might want to keep note of this area.

As he caught his breath, small pearly fangs perking from his top lip, Celuvix considered the health of the Phocidae, and not just for their slaughter.  Fishing would be a safer alternative, since these particular beasts were plump, neither underfed or overly buffed.  That meant that they didn't need to work as hard for the hunt as other stringy beasts, whose tough hides proved difficult to cook and unappealing to the tongue.  Celuvix slid his blade into the pup's belly, the tip slipping in quickly as steam rose from the warm innards.  As he pulled his sword up the pup’s belly, his white ears perked from under his hair, another flaw of his conversion to another form.  A song of some sort, distant, but not too far, especially in such a flat land.  That meant there was more than one person in the area, which could also mean that he was closer to a pier.  What was being transposed by the wind from song the boy was unsure of, but it wasn't particularly offensive.  He dismissed it for the moment, and returned to gutting the infant beast, his breath a fog of frost barely trespassing his lips as he breathed heavily over his would be food.

I'll be sure to remember the pup for it's sacrifice.</font>

 

<font color='#0000FF'>Around an hour before noon, devoid of snow flurries and hail, yet still flowing with light, cold winds.  In the ground, the Ice Fang stuck at an angle into the snow, leaning slightly to the side with a pile of snowflakes collected around the blade.  On the blade was a slab of meat, cut and wrapped with wire, then wrapped at stabbed to the blade.  The cleared out area was only eight feet in diameter, a bit dug in, and crackling with a small fire that was cooking the Phocidae pup meat to a well-done crisp.  Celuvix sat beside the fire, his left leg extended with the right leg bent, looking down the plains towards the coast.  The sound of nearby water and artic birds screeching in the sky, along with creaking ice gave an added tranquility, even letting the cooking flame blend in for a feeling of comfort.  The meat itself was darkening, all of the juices drained except for enough to flavor the insides.  Small red peppers and seasoned salt crusted on the outside, sometimes with small orange bubbles creaking through the pores.  It was an enjoyable smell that made Celuvix both relax and become hungrier simultaneously.

He stood up, since the food needed more time to cook, and slipped his hand towards his waist.  He pulled one of his two Kris Knives, identical to the ice fang, into his left hand.  The boy pulled the other Kris Knife from his sash just after looking its sister over, then pushed them back into his sash.  He wasnÂ’t quite comfortable with staying on the snowy plains for much longer, mostly because of the wilder animals out during the day.  The Phocidae had other predators besides him—he was sure—that would show themselves if he was stationary and drew too much attention.

“I’ll eat and walk, just as soon as its done."

Celuvix was speaking to himself rather than thinking just out of instinct, maybe because he had been out for so long.  A thought piqued his interest into finding out what the sound was earlier, but didnÂ’t move him to explore.  He already found the coast, and it wouldnÂ’t be wise to leave it.  Since thinking was the only thing he could do to entertain himself, Celuvix looked out blankly through low, silver eyes at the sea, pondering interlaced topics tenfold.</font>

 

<font color='#0000FF'>If I leave the land, I'll get to see as much as I want to.  I'll be free to roam around, take a look at the deserts, see the wide stretches of sand, the tall grass.  I can finally get out of looking at the same dull white and gray, covered with snow and rock.  Maybe I can even find more interesting people.

Celuvix lowered his head and closed his eyes, the silver lace of hair swinging in front of him.  His peaks of hair on top of his swayed forward and his ears lowered as he went deeper in thought.

Interesting people.  Yeah, more than these depressing ones.  They hardly ever hunt, not even the men.  My paws get sore and frostbitten from running out with our small hunting pack.  Such a weak and pitiful group we are.  I'll have to come back home some time and visit our alpha in secret.  Maybe I'll show him a few things that I found.  He was so good to me, to let me leave the pack without telling anyone.  I just hope no one hurries.

He looked down the coast.  Though he felt that he was near escape, there was sill the fact that there was no obvious setting of a pier nearby.  His fingers rapped lightly on his piccolo, nervous and anxious to see what was on the other side.

I'll just see how the food is coming along.  With the way I sealed in the meat, it should last just in case I get lo—

As he turned around, about to step towards his food in his practice of walking, he stopped before setiing another foot down.  Someone--not that he knew who--was not too far behind him.  It was so sudden and shocking, since he hadn't had any contact with reasonably intelligent life forms for a month, which he just stood amongst, not even reaching for his Kris Knives.  His silver eyes had a blank, yet concentrated expression, and his mouth was barely open with a fang showing behind his lips, not saying a word.  The only moving part on him was his robe, which flickered slightly with the black bow of his sash, and the single strand of hair flying in front of his face.

“Who…?"</font>

 

<font color='#0000FF'>A continuous stare, but a release from his petrified state, came from his silver eyes as they came closer together.  He took only one step backwards, crushing snow under his leather hide covered feet.  The cold claw-hand wiggled slightly next to his sash at the Kris Knives, but settled at his side again with his other hand clinging to his piccolo.  Quietly, he closed his once awe filled, half gaping mouth and regained his outstanding stature.

"..."

He let out a slight grunt and turned his head to the side slightly, letting the small lock of hair flail across his face.

"...Who are you?  May I help you with something?"

His voice, although it carried, was still boyish in tone, slightly in the range of a deep woman's voice.  To say the least, Celuvix was spooked that someone was behind him for a while and he didnÂ’t hear anything until now.  Maybe it was the voice he heard over the wind earlier, or maybe he had been awake for too long.  The latter was doubtful, because the One-winged Pendragon in front of him certainly looked tangible.</font>

 

<font color='#0000FF'>Celuvix's eyes slid into the air as he listened to the female, followed slowly by his head.  He was stationary, wondering at the ball of flame.  Maybe it was a signal from someone in distress.  No, yelling would suffice, given the angle and distance of the flame.  His body shifted slightly to a more feline form, his ears becoming more apparent and his wrists and ankles covered in silver and azure tainted fur.  After staring into the sky for a few seconds, his eyes.  As the former of the pendragons in the area flicked the fireball with her tail, he let the embers fly past his face, only a small wisp of debris from the flame striking his cheek.

"Hmm...My word."

He wondered.  If something drastic were happening, would he be safe staying in human form?  He was still close to the coast.  His decision, of course, was to wait it out.</font>

 

<font color='#000080'>It wasn’t a greeting he was used to.  A swift, firm pat on the back maybe, but a fireball was a bit more than sense would allow.  Not that he knew if it was on accident or aimed—though he presumed the latter—towards him or the other pendragon, but That was fun didn’t fit with the current events.  A flaming, rampaging pendragon at that, something else that was completely out of place considering his weeks of solitude in traveling the expanses of snow.  The mostly morphed Celuvx got to his knees and blinked, his eyes reflecting the pendragons in front of him over his dark eye slits.

“What…was that, exactly?"</font>

 

<font color='#0000FF'>Celuvix stood there, now with a comical yet disturbed look on his face.  He scratched his head behind his ear slightly, now completely at his wits end.  In this situation, he would have normally walked away a long time ago.  Before he culd even think about walking away, the other male pendragon sped into his shoulder.

"Gyah!"

His arm on the shoulder that was hit went up slightly, and Celuvix wobbled on both legs.  His form shifted from more human to less human, now with larger canines and extended fingernails.  He looked at the pendragon, rubbing his bruised shoulder slightly.  Th thud was solid, like a sack of meat dropping onto the ground.  Celuvix didn't attempt to dodge, even though he would have been able to without too much trouble.  The main reason was that he didn't see the pendragon as a potential threat.  After that, the concept of "Flaming Doggy is Not Good" went into his mind a split second too late.

"What...in the name of all on fire was that for?!"

Celuvix didn't appreciate the sudden approach, but wasn't the kind to suddenly jump into battle.  Onthe other hand, that did hurt.  Celuvix pulled his hand away from the bruise and looked at it, patting his shoulder and checking to see if it was bleeding.  Since his shoulder wasn't bleeding, he supposed that the advance wasn't cause for alarm.</font>

 

<font color='#0000FF'>Celuvix looked at Serran as he flew around, thinking him quite an eccentric fellow.  He reached his hand over to the side, pulling his Ice Fang from the snow and soil with the hot, juicy shank of a Phocidae cub still on it, and held it in his arms.

"I have, but not quite so...suddenly.  Where did you come from all of a sudden?"

The rogue pondered as he asked.  Celuvix forgot that he was hungry, and with the arrival of not one, but two people that came with him unawares, he didn't have time to think about his stomach.  If it took this much effort to just get off the coast and attend the academy, then no wonder so many of his neighbors had never ventured far before.  Still, they were interesting Pendragons at that.</font>