Purple Honey

[Baka]

Akkedia listened in whimsical silence and pondered everything over quietly, hands resting in her lap as she pondered over the information they gave to her. "Hmmm....." She then nodded softly when they were done. "I see, well though I can't say I so heartily approve of such an occupation, I must admit you two are.... Very good at it, I don't think I could ever steal with the precision you two are graced with....."

Izumi smiled loftily, seeming to reflect his words with the genuine softness she often had for her comrades, a sort of attitude she reserved only for them as though a guarded treasure, and how touchy she could be regarding that treasure to those she was unfond of. "Yeah, even if it's raining...." She laughed and seemed to lighten at the thought.

Halli however cringed, glaring from the ground as she had been to him and sticking out her tongue and replied defensively. "Ewww, no rain. Ow, my skin burns just thinking about it. And it's even worse for you, let's not bring up that accursed heavenwater."

[santingo]

Dominique had already anticipated that their female companion would not approve of their life careers, evident by how she was tsking at him for embellishing his golden coins and how he even retrieved those golden coins in the first place. Alzon was unsure of how to respond, not wanting to argue or attack (Not literally) their new friend. "Why thank you," The leader finally smiled after moments of awkward silence. "Nonsense. I never knew I would become this good just like Dominique didn't. Say, why don't you teach our friend here how to be a good thief?" He turned his attention to the young hybrid.

"I would but our friend just said she didn't approve of our career," Dominique retorted.

Souris mentally shivered at his own words. Even in the rain? Surely it spelled death for the Shinoux but Souris would embrace through any aquatic factors to help his two companions, which he considered to be his sisters. Once Halli spoke, he released a delighted laugh. " Yes, I know," He exhaled dreamily. "But if you two were ever in a dire situation I would come to the rescue, no matter if its raining or not."

[Baka]

"I may very well not." Answered Akkedia as she kneeded her hands together softly and smiled, though it was a pained smile since she was now starting to regret having broughten it up. "But still, I'm quite pleasantly surprised by the speed and grace you lot seemed to have aquired.... I just can't mention the infathomable feeling of killing though..." Her gaze looked them over sharply and she tried to make light of the situation by adding. "You'll understand my means when you're older, if things don't change I reckon....."

Halli glared indignantly upon them. "Likewise would we for you..." Commented not her but Izzy, and Halli chose to not respond to that sentiment for a long time whilst she brooded it over.
"I determine that even I would risk the rain for you two...." The youngest of their trio replied after thinking heavily on the subject. Though her risk with rain wasn't as bad as the Shinoux's, she did have a terrible fear of it as well, a sort of phobia, if you will.

[santingo]

Both Dominique and Alzon listened carefully to what their female companion had to say, making sure to remain silent and polite. The young hybrid did take notice of her pained smile, which caused him to give her a questioning glance. Both brutes couldn't help but feel flattered from her comments which made them extremely proud but not arrogant. "I think we got a little taste of what you're trying to say," Dominique persisted.

"We don't kill on all of our thieving trips. In fact, we only kill a person one out of every ten trips. But I'm not sure if this counts or not," Alzon concluded. "But if you're a good thief, you won't have to worry about witnesses and having to kill them."

Souris dipped his head in acknowledgment, sticking to his words with objectivity. The shinoux would not back down from aquatic factors if his two sisters were in trouble. No. How could he have? After all, it was thanks to the two females that this little boy managed to reach his teenage years. The shinoux could vividly remember how a group of humans had kidnapped him from his family and tortured him. But what was in the past, was in the past. He was grateful for his two companions. He opened his mouth to converse but the growling protests in his empty belly prevented him from doing so. "So..what did you have in mind for our lunch?"

((If you don't like his past, then I'll suggest something else...))

[Baka]

"Probably so........" Reckoned the older bat as she looked over the other two, trying to reassure her comrade and quell his frets once she'd noticed his questioning glance. "I suppose that is true...." She reasoned afterwards, nodding softly. That was something she hadn't considered before. "I don't believe this does count..... But even if it did, I guess there are some far worse occupations...."

(That sounds fine.) Izumi shrugged, she was the most conventional of the three, and usually ate whatever it was that was on the menu. She ate the seeds of the earth and the goat and kid too, anything would sanction her own meal, making her impassive as to whatever it was they ate.

Halli however was no such female, and rubbed her palms together with such a determination that it almost seemed that from the friction there were sparks. "I dunno, maybe some bananas... Or myrhh, ooh that's good. Yum, frankinscense.... Or maybe some kinds of fruits, that would be very nice too, I love the flavor of the juicy fruits, they should be pretty ripe too....." She reasoned this all mildly, with a lick of her lips.

[santingo]

Dominique tilted his handsome head to the side, as if reassuring her. After all, they were friends, right? Alzon sighed at her answers, folding his strong hands together. "Then maybe we shall wait until we get older as you say," He smiled. "But we're not exactly stupid either."

"We can't be one of the most infamous band of thieves and be complete morons," Dominique added. "There are some far worse occupations I believe. Some doctors even specialize in torturing others." He shivered at the thought.

Souris, as one would put it, was the true carnivore of the entire band. Some had said it was because of the structure of his teeth, twelve fangs and twenty molars or even the fact that his gut was capable of holding more than twenty pounds in a single meal. Whatever the case was, both females knew he often ate in large quantities. Like Izumi, he could be tolerate of the different types of food given at a particular time. And like Halli, he often found fruits tasty but preferred more satisfying meals such as deer or even beating hearts. "Then, we should head back into town," He gestured with crimson blood eyes. "I'm not sure if bananas could be grown here."

[Baka]

Fearing her meaning was misinterpreted she waved her arms in front of herself slowly, as though to physically ward such thoughts away. "Nono, I never thought or tried to imply that you were, you all seem to know a lot more than I on many matters, I just have trouble knowing what you do and do not know about Gonbe civilization is all, for it's the only bit of knowledge I believe I exceed you both with, not because of your lack of intellect but only because of well.... My upbringing in gonbe society..." She seemed pleased to change the subject though, and cringed at the thought. "Torturing others? That doesn't sound so good I must say..... But in third-world democracies such as those not unfounded I guess a doctor of such skills would be needed...." Not long after though, sensing the tension of where this conversation was headed, Mithoo whistled shrilly through his nose-which sounded similar to a small train whistle as steam whisped from his nostrils in plentiful tendrils- that lunch was near ready, and the smells lingered in the air.

"But then we'd have to paaaay for it...." Whined Halli in such a whimsically childish way it would make one laugh from lighthearted bliss. It was hard to believe the many hardships the young being endured in her many lives and had recollections of faintly; to those who didn't know her breed they'd have never guessed the many struggles she'd foughten for, and the many lives staked on her behalf, she just seemed too jovial a creature to have really been estimated to have such capabilities.

[santingo]

Both feeling foolish for their misinterpretations, Dominique and Alzon remained silent to listen to Akkedia softly. Unfortunately, as a result from their childhood, both brutes were unfamiliar with the morals and norms of gonbe civilization. Sure, Alzon got a little taste when he was much younger but Dominique was raised outside of it since his mother had long been an outcast for falling in love with a kivi. "You mean on why we steal?" Dominique was the one to ask questions, slightly unsure at times. "And may I ask when a doctor on torturing skills is needed?" He winced at the high-pitched train whistle from Mithoo, signaling it would soon be time to eat.

"Ah, that's what you think my friend," Souris mused, pulling out a rather large leather sac containing both silver and golden coins. "As small punishment for not retrieving our book, Horis should be surprised to see some of his money had been spent on delicious meals to fill our bellies." He grinned deviously.

[Baka]

Akkedia waited till after the elderly nightmare was finished with his whistle before she rolled her shoulders and sat up a bit more as though in preparation to stand again. "There comes a time when all beings are needed for their gifts I suppose, no matter how horrid....." A sort of shadow seemed to cloud her eyes at this statement, be that she was reflecting something uselessly to herself. After all, these two seemed better off not knowing the customs of their breed, for all the indivisual gifts of a gonbe in their habitual manners were put to making the world a worse place to survive in, notable duely to the Gonbe's near constant attempts at world domination via the century calamity.

"Isn't it enough that their numbers have sparced since our last encounter with them?" Retorted Izzy defensively upon his idea. "It's a miracle they got possession of that tome in the first place, I say their efforts, though tardy, deserve compensation still....." She had a sort of kinship to humans most inhuman beings apparently didn't possess, but how could she not? When she disengaged herself from her own specie's society under the guise of a traitor, were it not for humans she'd probably not have lived long enough a time to support for herself and her sister, and their just as innocent brother that had hit turbulent times. They sheltered and kept her safe- well to the best of the abilities of these lesser beings constantly preyed on by other creatures; and for that she couldn't help but be a tad grateful to their race. She wasn't blind to them or devoted, but she did seem a dab partial when considering them.

[santingo]

Alzon and Dominique had never been the duo to take what they were into consideration. From their point of view, they were not good thieves for the sake of being a gonbe and a revolutionary hybrid. No. That hadn't been the case of all. Both brothers took who they were into consideration. Alzon escaped his chance of being the prince of gonbes for a more simple life, which brought more thrills and experiences than being seated on the throne. Dominique had it hard and although he tries to ignore what happened, the memory of Mercedes still troubled him. It was Alzon who spoke this time. "Perhaps," He shrugged. "Like Dominius I suppose. The worlds needs his gifts for the greater good." He recited. If anyone were to ask him, this infant could care less about Dominius and all what is gonbe.

Souris did not engage in discourse for several awkward moments, crimson blood eyes averted to the large pouch in his hands. Izumi was right about their misfortunes. This shinoux mainly hated humans for what they have done to him but he did not express his hatred to all humans. It wasn't fair in his personal opinion. After all, only a few number of humans brought him pain, not all. And yes, he did feel slightly sorry for what had happened along their journey. Not dragging the subject any further, he returned the leather pouch back to where it had came from, inside of his cloak. "Does anyone have any money?" He asked both of his sisters before staring at the forst once again. "If not, then, we have have to do a little hunting and gathering for today's meal. Or maybe.." He mumbled, turning to the ocean. "We can fish and scoop up clams."

[Baka]

Akkedia pondered over this, and this respite of her friend had warmed her considerably to the thought that perhaps, there was a chance that it didn't matter what one was.... But this thought quickly faded from her recollection, as it was the same thing that Mithoo often tried to preach to her, the bumbling old buzzard of a guardian currently putting on the finishing touches to his varietied meal, fit with such a quantity to feed them more than thrice over and diverse in nutrients, garnished with spices and herbs that looked to be freshly procured from nature itself, the smell strong and wafting far from the grounds in which they inhabited by a favorable wind, that would gently carress one's skin and dwindle through one's hair. "Maybe that is so, I would like to believe so at least, after all; all beings have a place in this world, no matter good or bad, but it all turns out fine in the long run, I reckon....?"

The wolfess smiled, an infrequent occurance to even those she held dear to her, which included her two younger siblings. She was glad that Souris had reconsidered his previous suggestion, obvious alsso by the gleem in her eyes, though her smile once more faded and she drifted back into her sleepless repose in order to ponder over their predicament, she did seem especially intruiged by her brother's last suggestion. "Nonsense." Said she. "You and Halli can't even go near the water, and we don't have sufficient supplies to really deal with the prey of tides anyway.... I believe we might have just recently 'burned' our way through the last of our monetary wages..." This was cast with a glance to Halli, whom had in the easily excited fault of her childish nature accidentally burned up a tavern, in which a great portion of their wealth was tributed to repairing it. "But hunting might not be such a bad idea, we just have to stick close and avoid those people you spoke of earlier, it shouldn't be so difficult..."

[santingo]

Dominique's absent-minded attentions towards the surrounding terrain had been broken by the sweet aromas of their late meal. How it gently caused his entire body to shiver in delight! How the water vapor from the burning pot clung onto his silky locks like desperate cliffhangers. If one were to pay attention, they could hear the content purr coming from his skinny belly. Alzon too seemed deterred from the conversation by Mithoo's cooking. "Why wouldn't they?" The infant gonbe questioned curiously. "All people have a purpose..I mean..I'm not the one to be speaking on what's good or bad but I know that everyone has a purpose for being here. Maybe not big enough to influence the world but just big enough for them to be here."

If one were to describe Souris, one could say he was the protagonist with antagonist qualities at times. Only close comrades would see his true benevolent side. Even though he had a ferocious appetite, the shinoux did have a rather big heart, once again only exposed to those he deeply cared about. He opened his mouth to explain his decision but kept quiet at the mentioning of her reasons. His original intentions had been to use a really long fishing rod but they had none. His glistening eyes averted to the young child, recalling the event vividly. "Two members are demons, ones of Ereu descent I should say. One of them is extremely vigilant and the other has deadly monsters to protect his hide. If you smell something funny, then they may be close by. We'll have to stick low and get out once we have the food. However," He frowned. "They're not entitled to this land so we have every right to hunt on it."

[Baka]

"Yes, I suppose that is...." Akkedia trailled off of her sentiments, taking in a grand whiff of the many diverse smells, that composed a symphonious aroma that would make even the fullest of stomaches rumble for just a taste, Mithoo grinned ambly to himself, four arms worked, careful with each movement and extremely precise he chopped up the remaining vegetables and fruits; seeming to be the only one that wasn't distracted by the smells of his own concoction. His tail swished about slightly, the barbed end dragging grooves into the ground in a patternless way.
"It is almost ready." He rang in a soft chirp, clicking his tongue to the roof of his mouth in a decisive way.

"Oh?" Izumi did know of her comrade and brother's habits, as well as his benevolent side and gentle tendencies, which she knew he would reserve for more crucial times. But she had to think upon this information, she scratched her chin in puzzlement. "I see, well. My nose isn't what it used to be but I suppose I can have fair warning of them, we don't have to worry about them, we'll only be bothered by the luck of the forest, if we should catch something or not..... Maybe if worse comes to worst, we can collect roots, I dunno..." she shrugged slightly.

[santingo]

"Take as long as you need," Dominique muttered humbly, still stunned by the amazing repertoire of sweet aromas in the air, as if he had been bound by their treachery. Resuming his favorite position, both legs crossed in a butterfly-like fashion, the hybrid clamped his jaws shut. Alzon did not drag the conversation any further for he saw it as depressing and perpetual. Suddenly, Dommy swiftly turned his head in the direction where Ragizere and Laboris had departed.

"What's the matter, Dom?"

"Someone's coming..."

"Who?!"

"I'm not sure," Dominique frowned. "However, he seems...powerful..very very powerful."

"Gonbe and Kivi smell funny," Souris cringed his face in thought before shaking it away. "You can tell. I can help you by saying most of them smell like blood anyway." He listened to his sister's intentions, shivering at the last suggestion. As a shinoux, roots would make his belly unhappy and thus, making him green to the gills. "If worst comes to worst, then.." He trailed off, unsure of what to do. "I suppose we can nibble on berries and nuts."

[Baka]

This only earned a nod from the elderly nightmare, as he sighed and huffed several exasperate sounds under his breath, more for the sake of entertaining himself as he stoked the fire once more with his curved claws, them being coated slightly with the dark grayscales of soot, though he also didn't seem to mind this either. He did turn his head though and listened to their discourse, eyes darting in the direction stated.
"How can you tell?" Akkedia questioned, since he was part gonbe she assumed he wouldn't be able to have such a power, as she'd never seen this sort of sensing before.

"Well blood then, I'll be clear to avoid a being that smells of blood, and I was reffering to the roots more for our phoenix child, she might not like eating carrion or whatever we might happen upon......" Izumi didn't see a need to poke more at the matter, the roots disettled her as well when ingested, she wondered secretly if they were really edible, but Halli seemed to enjoy them as though they were some wholesome snack.