Purple Honey

[santingo]

"Who could possibly be that strong?" Alzon snorted, stretching to his two feet. In alert, Drakmur climbed onto his heavily-built limbs, ready to strike at will.

"Whoever it is, he's coming this way," Dominique remained where he was.

"Besides Ragizere, Dom's the person who warns the rest of the group if anyone's coming," The infant explained a bit clearly.

"It might be the Kivi," Jaixas suggested from where he was, currently leaning against the left thigh of his master. "After all, their senses are ten times as sharper than a gonbe's."

"It's not that at all," Alzon shook his head. "Dom's just been good at stuff like this."

Meanwhile, the person whom the revolutionary hybrid had sensed was wondering around in search of a particular chimera with a rather beautiful maiden by her side. Dominius was careful where he stepped, senses keen and sharp. Ragizere appeared to be more docile. Even so, both beings were out of the nightmare's vicinity and therefore, much harder to detect. "I think it would have been better if we remained on the beach," She retorted quietly.

"Oh thank goodness," Souris exhaled in relief, shoulders drooping. Chuckling softly to himself, his empty stomach growled once again in protests. Gesturing with his eyes, he walked into the bushes, brushing them aside. His senses were sharp but not sharper than Izumi's or that of a kivi's. There appeared to be no deer or any signs of potential prey. In the past, the shinoux would have reverted to his secondary form but the current circumstances did not allow it. He would have to hunt in his humanoid form.

(Let me explain something. Dominique does not have a new power you didn't know about it. All creatures, even humans, seem to know when Dominius is near. It's like his strong aura stirs them. As previously mentioned, even humans can tell if the legendary hero himself is near. Just imagine like if Dominius was a scent, it would be a completely new one.))

[Baka]

"Ah, I see....." Reasoned Akkedia softly, hearing out every aspect of this short discourse, and she took it upon herself to come to a conclusion of this information, only because she was fairly bad at sensing anything aside from the high-pitched frequencies of gonbe persuasion; she dismissed it as simply that. But she made her inference anyway, simply because the timeline was all too fitting. "Perhaps it's actually.... Sir Dominius?" She asked this softly, as if afraid even speaking his name too loud would bring upon misfortune to them with his lack of pressence and the personage of something far darker.

Halli squeaked, quick to follow Souris instead of sticking by her sister's side; but that was an obvious thing. Izumi, even to them, could only get so friendly, whilst Souris picked on her he seemed to have a better sense of humor and a lighter look on things than the worrisome wolf. "What are we looking for? I can probably help." Izumi offered them an individed glance only then, for Halli's way of 'helping' usually meant her scouring the treetops in her precious reverted form and locating their particular wants from a birds eye view.

[santingo]

"It isn't like I have some supernatural powers," Dominique shrugged both shoulders. Despite the certain circumstances, his voice seemed serene and casual, the same tone of voice he used twenty-four seven. "..but it looks like he's on his way here..."

"Perhaps it is Sir Dominius," Jaxias suggested in a low mutter, resuming his spot on his master's lap. Stretching like an indolent feline, the young nightmare rested his head on crossed front limbs.

"If you are Dominius, come out and show yourself!" Alzon demanded, glaring in the direction where the legendary hero was approaching from. Several awkward seconds passed before the thick bushes in front of them rustled with life. First came Ragizere in her new form followed by Dominius, who lifted his hands in a peaceful manner, signaling he wasn't here to cause any trouble.

Souris kept the lead, usually the first to detect any possible sources of food. Crimson blood eyes flickered back and forth in their sockets, as if their rapid movements would have caused them to explode from his sockets. A copious amount of different scents drifted into his sensitive nostrils. His sensitive ears, which were pointed but barely noticeable, twitched for distant noise, turning his head in their direction. "You can help by scanning our vicinity for any herds of deer or even small mammals running away," The shinoux suggested.

[Baka]

Akkedia nearly jumped at seeing Ragizere, she knew Ragizere from her scent of course, even if their friend was in a different form- and another person. Giving the timing, and the aura they seemed to really mean that this could only truly be one person.

"Dominius?" She couldn't help but inquire. Her life was no doubt incorperated with this hero, but if one thought about it, unlike this band of thieves she'd made no preparations, no forethought into what she would do upon meeting him. Of course, she had fancied meeting him as when she was causing the calamity, with him helping a specially appointed Kivi in causing her plot's ruin. Could it really be she'd be meeting him prior, and on a side that didn't incorperate them as enemies? The only thing that really kept her from leaping up was her nightmare, and she scratched under his chin gently, almost anxiously even.

The wolf nodded and took in a deep breath. Well, that was useless, she had barely any sense of smell in contrast to most of her breed, but she made up for it with her strength and many other aspects of hunting. She walked over to a nearby tree and swiftly drew out a hunting knife, driving it into its trunk and pressing one of her ears to the hilt of the blade. The vibration in the tree amplified noises, she grew still and silent, listening for the animals, knowing her she would soon trace their movements and even their heartbeats coarsing in their veins- in the midst of the noise, her skills could be that sharp when she focused.

[santingo]

Dominique stiffened where he sat in a butterfly-like fashion, shoulders dropping, hands on his thighs and glistening eyes focused on the two mystical beings. Alzon, on the other hand, remained quiet, despite his request to verify if it had truly been the infamous hero of legends. Drakmur subconsciously ventured closer to his mast in pre-caution to what Dominius had done to Alzon's previous generations. Ragizere felt too compelled by a wild combination of conflicting feelings such as anxiety and sensitivity to converse. "Greetings," Dominius indolently waved his hand, pitch deep and low, almost sounding like he was full of ennui. "Son of Fallabour.." His golden brown eyes shifted towards Dominique who shifted uncomfortably in his spot. "Prince of Garconia.." Glistening eyes averting to Alzon whom responded by staring away. "and sister of Elivre." Akkedia was the last person he stared at. Jaixas enjoyed the affection but much of his attention was on the cekree. No one could have really blamed Dominius for his species had been accustomed to greeting people according to their titles and ranks.

Souris had long grown accustomed to how Izumi, already discovering how his older sister tracked down their prey. What stopped him suddenly in his tracks was a sudden pang of agony within the deep pits of his throat. The burning sensations caused every muscle to shiver, as if it had been cold. Trying to gather enough via tilting his head back and gurgling, the shinoux spat at the ground. His saliva had been mixed with a toxic liquid erupting from the glands which were responsible for breathing fire. This happened to young members of his kin and usually passed without much concern. Souris smacked his lips, trying to spit out the acerbic tastes of the toxic liquid.

[Baka]

At Dominius' gaze upon herself, her own glance wilted and looked down. His words withered her courage, she was the sister of Elivre, an enemy whom had the utmost feelings of dislike for him; and she was nervous of what his feelings were towards her. She honestly hoped that this wouldn't put a wall between them, she figured it would already be hard enough, being only a gonbe to befriend one such as him, but the blood relative in addition to one of his most sworn foes? She herself wouldn't think to consider it, which is what made him thinking any better unlikely for herself.

Izumi didn't move from her spot, what happened didn't surprise her, she had grown fairly accustomed to this display from the younger of his species, it only showed that in spite of his appearance he was still very youthful indeed, a fact that, during some times when she was in a rare, particularly playful mood, she would poke fun at him for. But her sister, now she wasn't nearly as passive. She nearly jumped from start, and looked at him with concern as she asked what she asked every time he had one of these dillemas. "You alright?" And like always, her brows knitted in her worry, as though she thought he were dieing or something, but she was protective in her own way.

[santingo]

Dominius remained indifferent about the uncomfortable sensation in the atmosphere. The legendary hero of old always found himself in predicaments such as these. So why would it be any different now? His interpretation of his presence was like the lonely and weird child whom was never invited to play any games. And quite sadly, he had lost the feeling of desire, happiness and other optimistic emotions. The most Ragizere got to see of his disappearance of his emotions was a faint smile, only sown rarely. Dominique rested his chin on the back of his hands, staring blankly at the verdant grass. Opening his mouth bravely, he responded: "I'm Dominique, that's Akkedia and Alzon,"

"I already knew who she was, young one," Dominius replied apathetically.

Souris exhaled loudly, pink tongue out from his mouth, panting like an exhausted canine. He mentally cursed at himself for making Halli worried, as all his dilemmas had. Retreating his tongue back into his mouth, he constantly licked his gums, prying away the acerbic taste of the foreign substance originating from the back of his throat. "Yeah, I'm fine," He mustered a weak smile due to a burning sensation in the back of his throat. It happened frequently but it was only a sign he was close to approaching adulthood. And if all went well, it would only last an hour. If not, it could be a sign of infection, possibly leading to fatality. Souris knew Izumi, during one of her rare playful moments, and Hali, whom picked on him at times, often teased him about it.

[Baka]

"Well...." Feeling the introduction didn't go as smoothly as planned she couldn't help but attempt to speak up. But upon saying these words with inevitably drawing at least some of the legendary hero's attention to herself, she paused and had to clear her throat. Never before, she realized, had she been so nervous in her life! But was this not the same exact confrontation made when she followed Dominique in the first place? There was always that shred of unease, that steadily growing nagging feeling that told one that there was danger, and the chance that with an action, there might be fatal consiquences. But she tried with them, and bravely on her own frightened part, decided to try here too. "It's an honor, meeting you in person for the very. First. Time." She didn't mean to break apart those words, truly she didn't, but she was still unaware of his reception, not only to her but her newly made friend Alzon too. What was to say he wasn't just as fearful of the being that had apprehended the misdoings of their kind for a long while now?

Halli smiled and patted his back gently, as if it were something that could be helped like a rough cough or something of the sort. Izumi, well, she was generally uninterested, not because she didn't care, but though she made fun of him for his youthfullness at times, should anything go wrong with their friend she trusted that he would tell them right away. She held deep trust to him in that regards, he knew himself internally better than she ever could, after all. "Well, I'm glad you're okie." Commented Halli chipperly, not realizing the lasting effects.

[santingo]

Dominique quickly clamped his mouth shut after his words, a bit deterred by the tone of his voice. What the youngster didn't know it was the same tone Dominius used regularly, not because he was aware of Akkedia and her troubled past. Quite surprisingly, he could care less about what happened with the trio of youngsters in front of him. As long as they stayed out of his way, there will be no violence from the legendary hero. "As it's a pleasure to meet all of you," Dominius bowed slightly by inclining his head. Alzon was terrified as Akkedia had predicted. His family had been stopped many times and who was to say Dominius won't view him as a bloodthirsty brute. "Dominique, may I speak to you in privacy?" Dominius gestured towards the direction he had come from.

Souris smiled contently as Halli patted his back, always being the cuddly beast he was. "Aw, thanks Halli but don't worry." The shinoux pleaded. "These only last an hour. You both know that." Yes, he knew they were worried and yes, he knew they trusted him completely when it came to revealing something was wrong. Without further ado, he stepped forward only to spot a herd of deer in the distance.

[Baka]

Akkedia was about to speak, to ask why he would request the pressence of Dominique. But her words failed in her throat and she became silent again upon a realization, he wouldn't ask to see him in private if he was to disclose the reason to them openly. How close she'd been to making a great error in front of this very influential figure, she couldn't believe herself. She reached down subconsiously to stroke the head of her small nightmare, whom she'd almost forgotten was close to her, it was more of a comfort to keep her from looking fearful towards this much higher being on the scale, it was hard to realize that as well as being a higher life form, he was also a cursed being, doomed to help a world that was as nervous and rather careful towards him as his present company. (Nami, she might not be like that. That's a warning.)

"Of course, but I can still worry." Halli reckoned softly, feeling touched but also slightly irritated by his response. Of course she would worry, she was very worried for the wellfare of her family, and knowing the risk of this maturity thing for the shinoux, she couldn't help but wish to oversee how well he fared with each and every one of these times, to make sure he would tell him if something was wrong. She trusted him, but she also happened to know he had a habit of trying not to worry of him.

[santingo]

Dominique knitted both narrow eyebrows in absolute confusion. Why would Dominius, a cursed being of high ranking in deserving more respect, request his presence in solitude? And better yet, he was more inquisitive on why he couldn't converse in front of Akkedia and Alzon, especially since he was half gonbe. Perhaps Dominius concluded Dominique could never dominate the world, cause a century calamity and thus, be classified as a 'lame gonbe', a comical term the legendary hero thought of himself. Without further questioning, the young thief slowly stretched onto both feet and gave his friends a 'I'll be back' expression. Dominius had already turned heel and ventured back to where he came from, Dominique close behind. "I hope he leaves soon.." Alzon whispered to himself really, but loud enough to be heard by the older gonbe.

~I know,~ Souris replied mentally. ~I know.~ Mentally frowning, he personally didn't like to see his sisters worried sick for such a minor predicament as this one. But the shinoux was very aware of the possibility that all might not go all. Much of his attention had been focused on the nearby herd of deer. Before he could take take a step forward, he halted, wrinkling his nose as he felt a sneeze pushing out. It had but it was an odd sort of sneeze, not because of the sound but because how oddly loud it was. And because of such, the herd of deer quickly retreated. But hunger was not his only problem. Souris winced as some of the toxic liquid trickle down his nostrils, creating a burning sensation and causing them to bleed. This was not normal as the liquid was only suppose to leave his mouth. Something had been wrong. Leaning against a nearby tree, he covered his nose with a flap of his cloak, knowing he didn't have to tall Izumi and Halli that something was wrong. Not because he didn't want to, but because it was more than obvious.

[Baka]

Akkedia said nothing, for really she felt that way too. Though she sympathized and yearned to change the inevitable destiny of the legendary being, she also couldn't help but be intimidated by him too. Was this feeling not brought to almost any potentially dangerous gonbe alive? The fact that this creature, of an extinct breed and with an aura anyone- well save those clueless to aura as Akkedia was- could duely recognize as a different element, a creature with centuries of experience. And then the fact that one day one might be pitted against him and the chosen one of the century, it was all way too much to be registered by one such as herself.

It was Mithoo whom growled dissaprovingly to Alzon's comment, how he heard was anyone's guess, but he had, that was the facts. "Let's show respect, dear master Alzon. If he ever chose not to save this world for us, there would be nothing to look forward to save a century or even more of darkness. And when the rivers are drunk of blood and earth piled high with rotted flesh and soot, who would we ask for our salvation save lord Dominius?"

"Wh-Whoa, Souris!" Izumi stopped in her tracks and looked up from the deer, startled herself from the sound of the sneeze as well as Halli's immediate follow-up question. The youthful firebird stepped in front of him, the worry never once leaving her glance, but slowly making way for fear. Not the usual fear of which the deer were retreating, but the fear of a comrade being hurt, which to her was a much deeper, more taxing fear. "Are y-you okay?" -A dumb question she couldn't help but ask, even though the answer was obvious.- "What happened? Wh-what can we do to help?"

[santingo]

Dominique followed close behind but fairly slow,y still curious to why Dominius requested his solicitude. Had the reason been so legitimate or had it been the fact he was only part gonbe? Whatever the answer had been, it would be answered as the legendary hero had brought him all the way back to where he was summoned where Ragizere waited patiently for her chimera friend to return. "I apologize for the inconvenience," Dominius began. "You must be wondering why I brought you out here and I'll answer that shortly. You see.." Lazily jamming his strong hand into a pocket, he pulled out what appeared to be a necklace. A brown rope was the foundation for a small bleached dragon skull, four white feathers held by black beads and a green crystal dangling out from the mouth of the shrunken skull. "This is the very weapon your father used to defeat Elivre last century."

"So why did you bring me all the way out here?" Dominique was greatly intrigued by the charm itself.

Drakmur scowled his master for the subconscious response. Even Jaixas turned his masked head to face the infant gonbe who shuffled his feet nervously. "I'm not showing disrespect, however, Dominius doesn't chose to save the world willingly. He was forced as far as the legend goes." He waved his hand.

"That's partially true but Mithoo is right," Drakmur spoke gently. "Without Dominius, we wouldn't exist. Nothing would. The chaos would consume us all. I know respect hasn't been your thing but show a bit courtesy towards the legendary hero. After all, he could murder all of us within one shot..with his eyes closed..if he chose anyway."

Souris covered his bleeding nose with both hands, falling onto his bosom very slowly. The pain was beginning to get the best of him. The pain was like his innards, mainly nostrils and throat, were being cooked alive. Crimson eyes grew glistened but no tears were formed. No. The shinoux was too strong for that. "I don't know," He admitted honestly. "And I'm not sure either. This never happened to me. I-I-I n-need something to get rid of the blood." He frowned, knowing water wasn't a solution.

[Baka]

Mithoo huffed. "Quite right, he's felled much greater beings than ourselves in his many times, no doubt has the lad seen the world plenty times over! And in different ages of development, he's watched the decendance of his own species and the progression and changes of others.... I say, I bet between him and lady Ragizere, now there would have to be a lot of knowledge!" He almost boasted this, as one of the most elderly nightmare, it could be thought that possibly, very possibly even, he'd met with Dominius before, but probably more as an aqquaintance than anything else, though being able to show superiority of elders by saying so was a gift of it's own. "Just remember, forced or not, I believe that if Dominius wanted to, he could simply let this world wither. You wouldn't want that now, would ya?"

Izumi quickly waved her sister off, for she had been about to rush and try and help Souris back up. "Don't touch him!" She'd snapped, though coughed as a quick check to the ferocity in her voice, which almost always maintained a hint of growl, thus it sounded exceptionally violent when she actually intended to snarl. "Go get some oregano and other herbs, they might help if we use them properly."

Halli paused, considering her actions carefully, before nodding. "R-Right, hang in their, Soury!" And she darted off, she would have reverted into her more elegant form, but she recalled slightly Izumi's warning against doing that without an escort of either her or Souris, since many beings valued the Qi phoenix of great monetary prospect. Izumi herself moved to a sachel-like pack she carried with her own collection of herbs, but more so venoms, all held neatly in vials which she brushed past, digging deeper into the bag as though in search of something.

[santingo]

Dominius did not answer until several awkward moments passed by. It was like as if the legendary hero had difficulty speaking which made Dominique slightly impatient. "I needed solitude to explain it's significance young one," He finally began. "This is a spirit, one of the few remaining from the time it was created. I dragged you out here because all gonbe desire a powerful weapon such as this one."

"Don't assume Akkedia and Alzon would have loved to snatch it once you gave it to me because they're your enemies!" Dominique snapped, angered by the reason. Dominius silenced himself before speaking again.

"Alzon, perhaps not, but Akkedia, definitely. Do not underestimate her. She's a gonbe, hungry for innocent souls, succulent flesh and raw power. I only wanted to explain how to work the weapon that way if your two friends do snatch it, it'll be completely useless to them. Understand?" Dominique did not answer verbally but he answered with a roll of his eyes.
Alzon listened attentively, shoulder blades drooped. There weren't any new and fresh twists to the legend, he heard it numerous times from Ragizere and others on his team. Seeming to ignore the boast, he opened his mouth to respond, "No..I really wouldn't but it depends. If Dominique and I are long gone before the end, then so be it." He answered truthfully. "But I'm not going to fall onto my knees, kiss his ass, and obey every command of his because of his status." Drakmur was almost proud of his master's dogged nature to retain his pride but the way it had been mentioned was plain rude even though Alzon seemed fairly calm when speaking.

Toxic blood dripped between his digits, landing on the grass blades below. Souris winced at the violent growl but was grateful because if Halli came into contact with his blood, it would have burned and sizzled her flesh. The same applied to Izumi, whom had to be careful as well with the dripping blood. ~I will,~ Souris told himself mentally, watching her go. With his head tilted, he continued to cover his blood-soaked nostrils, hoping to stop the blood.