Purple Honey

[Baka]

(When reading this I swear, I felt as though my feelings were hurt at Dominius' mistrust of Akkedia; but then on reflection I suppose she is corrupt enough to do so, possibly.)

Akkedia had listened to most of the conversation in silence, not wanting to regard too heavily on either side, since she liked keeping her mind open to the differences in oppinions. "Alzon's right, we can give him respect and credit where credit is due, but we don't have to change our whole personality and follow his every whim like a pack of mindless dogs. He's important, we get that, but we're still going to behave as we behave.." She didn't fully agree with Alzon, probably because of her secret fear of Dominius, whom she could swear was labelling her with her company, or more specifically her sister. But she also didn't agree with the nightmares, or those that weren't Drakmur, ganged up on him about this.

"I'm just saying." Mithoo exhaled. "That you must remember his importance, no horrid comments about him or your impatience that he will leave..."

Izumi however, had a particular skill she found important in cases such as these. The moment his blood protruded she knew, by sight alone and the small details within it, that it was toxic and dangerous as well as the particular dangers it held. Her recognition of poisonous things wasn't reknowned, but it helped her in scenerios like this. She carefully pat his back and winced. "Hold in there, Souris.." She muttered with a soft, very musical tone void of the growl that she reserved for very rare occasions. She found what she was looking for, pulling out a few of the large orange-gold feathers that belonged to a certain firebird of theirs, she didn't know if they would help much, being this wasn't a usual problem, but anything was worth a try.

[santingo]

(I personally apologize if his words offended you. It's not an attack on Akkedia alone. Dominius mistrusts all gonbe, even Alzon. And if you think about it, you really can't blame him.)

Dominius remained indifferent while Dominique was deeply offend. No, he did not forget that unfortunate night when he had been nearly devoured by the female gonbe but he didn't dwell upon it. After all, what happened in the past should remain in the past. "Inside lays a very delicate spirit by the name of Poe,"

"Poe?" The hybrid muttered softly.

"Poe's very power and appearance depends on your current emotion," Dominius continued. "Since you are the flesh and blood of Fallabour, you still need to be taught how to use Poe efficiently. Poe is there for emergency situations only. Not for fun and games. Understand?"

"Yes," Dominique gently took the charm from his hands to place it around his neck. Once placed, he felt the presence of a mysterious and obscure being. "You may return to your friends now. I shall wait for Laboris." Without further ado, Dominique turned around and walked, still thinking about what he said.

Alzon gazed down at his fellow companion, glad she saw his point of view. What the infant prized the most was his talents and reputation and becoming a mindless canine was not allowed. "Very well," He sighed, crossing his arms. "I won't be rude as long as he doesn't talk to Akkedia or I rudely because of 'what' we are and not 'who' we are."

Souris was a very strong fighter, showing no signs of weakness because of a serious nose bleed. Although, he mentally hated making his sisters worried sick for his well being. "I will," He replied gently, almost purring if one would call it that. Upon viewing the feathers, he automatically assumed it would stop the toxic blood from burning his nostrils.

[Baka]

(Oh? Ah, no, that's not what I meant. I understand his feelings on the matter, it makes the most perfect of sense. Lol, it just seemed that it could be interpretted to sound very mean, especially to a friend of said gonbe, yknow? If our charries are as emotional at times as I'm lead to believe, it would be hard to follow someone whom's so accusative, but on the same token, it might be even harder to see why it is he's like that...)

"This is noted." Mithoo exclaimed indifferently, He knew the feelings of the gonbe, it wasn't the first time he'd been pulled into their midst. He was a nightmare, and that made him inevitably incorperated with them. Was this the first time he had seen Gonbe get this way because of Dominius? No. There was always the anxiouty, the suspicion, maybe a tone of rudeness, that's how non-violent -at the time obviously- gonbe usually felt about the situation, just as Dominius had great mistrusts for them. It was natural, built up on centuries of betrayals and history that didn't want to die, and therefore kept repeating itself.

Whether or not it would was yet to be decided, Izumi's 'healling prowess' was based off of a catylist reaction with her own healing aura and the power contained inside each indivisual feather. This was how she treated a multitude of small things, but she was not sure if this was an ail or not. She stepped towards him, trying to avoid the highly toxic blood but at the same time reaching and touching near his jaws, the feathers in her other palm glowing as she attempted to see if her healing prowess could, if possible, coagulate the blood prematurely, and thus stop the bleeding.

[santingo]

((Agreed. I misinterpreted your response then. D: And rest assure Dominique was very offended by those words since his two friends are indeed gonbe. Even as the lowly thief he is. He just values friends and doesn't like to hear other people talk crap about them. I guess you can say it's a habit he's developed from defending Mercedes from other mean people before she was killed or devoured really...))

What concerned Alzon truly was Dominius's presence but not because of the century old hatred towards the two opposite forces but what Dominius had been known for. Dominius was the legendary hero, the glowing torch in the darkest of all darkness and the small spark of hope for those desperate. If he had ambitions, he could easily squeal on both Dominique and himself for their thievery. "What no one's eating?" Dominique called loudly to signal his arrival, advancing towards the saddened party of comrades.

"...Don't EVEN talk about others not eating.." Alzon smirked slyly. "You're the last person to be talking about people not eating..speaking of such..you still have to eat your meal."

Souris closed crimson eyes tightly before opening them up once Izumi had touched his neck. Her healing powers were fairly well but never before have they been tested on a predicament such as this one. And as he had hoped, the agonizing pain, the toxic blood, the burning sensations...gone. The grand finale of his ordeal ended via another loud sneeze, something that had caused the ordeal. The shinoux sneezed, but not as loudly. This sneeze removed the last of the blood from his sore nostrils. Offering a tiny smile, he wiped his nostrils via the flappy sleeves of his cloak.

[Baka]

(It's a habit all people who are close to their friends develop, I don't see anything out of the ordinary with wanting to stick up for your friends. )

Akkedia smiled and sighed slightly, glad that Dominique was fine. It's not like she was expecting him to be hurt or something, but she couldn't help but be nervous. Of course, she wasn't afraid of them for their reasons, she didn't even realize they had that to fear of Dominius, but her being, unlike theirs, was tainted with the blood and acts of an actual gonbe. She had done more than kill to drink blood or whatnot, she'd devoured souls for her substinance, she'd drunk the sins of passing places and people. In that alone she was more condemned than even the most savage killer, because when that killer died, she would be the one taking on his sins so that he could get a pass to heaven, whilst burning her own sanctuary by staining her immortal soul with the black spots of those sins. This, it was what made her hated, she was considered an animal, especially since she was in comparison to Elivre, one of the most dangerous Gonbe of her time- or said so by popular name. "Yeah." She concluded with a broadening grin. "We were simply waiting on you, come on, there's plenty for everyone."

Izumi, after a long moment of observing him, sighed and seemed to even shudder. She had been afraid, what would have happened if she had failed? She couldn't lose another member of the family, what's more, she swore she wouldn't. But what could she have done if her healing hadn't worked? She would have surely risked the burned flesh if it would offer a chance of helping him, she would. "How does it feel?" She asked with a notation of relief.

[santingo]

"Really now?" Dominique grinned broadly at them. "You didn't have you, y'know. You could have already filled yer bellies instead of waiting for me to forcefully consume my own."

"Ah no," Alzon lifted a single digit, waving it back and forth in a condescending manner. "We insist that you join us for dinner. Besides, it looks like Mithoo stirred up a delicious meal..just for you..but for all of us really."

"If you say so," Dominique took a seat next to Akkedia, smiling at her happily.

"A ton better than I did previously," Souris sniffed, which had been oddly loud in volume. It was evident her healing had worked. The healing, however, was unable to stop the original pain in his throat. But that was alright since the more serious problem had been solved. And according to the position of the golden sun, it would have been another forty minutes until the pain ended.

[Baka]

"We insist." Quickly interjected Akkedia, lips pulling back in a grin as she nodded almost vigorously. "Now that we're all here, we might as well dig in, no?" She only asked this as a formality as she licked her lips, bringing her attention back to the food set out for their 'feast'.

Mithoo seemed quite pleased by their light conversation, much better than the one prior, which he didn't want to bring up just yet. "Help yourselves to all your bellies can hold, children, I hope you enjoy the meal...." He didn't want to add how he suspected it would be the last one to be had in awhile.

"Good..." Izumi tried regaining her uncaring composure, which was hard thus proving how obviously false such an act was, but she did manage to to a degree appear emotionless. The rest of her expression still leaned heavily on worry and even a tad bit of guilt. For why, she didn't know, but it gnawed at her being ruthlessly. "Wh-What was that? I've never seen something like that happen to you, Souris."

[santingo]

"You can say we were feeling rather generous than to wait for you instead of stuffing ourselves with some of Mithoo's good-looking food," Alzon persisted, knowing Dominique would fabricate a reason to excuse himself of eating. Dominique would have responded with a fabricated reason but as soon as he opened his mouth, he clamped it shut. Despite his concerns, he actually wanted to eat some food. Besides, Akkedia promised him some purple honey if he managed to eat some of his meal. That was more than enough motivation for him.

"Thank you Mithoo.." Was all the hybrid could mutter, not moving from his spot.

Souris gazed at his black boots, knowing how Izumi often tried to remain apathetic and indifferent at times. But knowing she struggled to keep her composure often reassured the fact that she had saved him many years ago for a reason and he was loved. "The toxic went through my nostrils," He pouted faintly. "It's not supposed to do that." He felt a tad bit guilty for giving his sisters a scare but this was something he hadn't done on purpose.

[Baka]

Akkedia clasped her hands together and bowed her head a moment, lips motioning for words though no sound left her jaw. It was as though she was making a silent prayer, a rather dead-ended arguement, considering who she was and what lifestyle she lead as an active gonbe, one of the monsters often lumped with Elivre and all of the other great terrors of the world, be they gonbe or not. It was how creatures, by nature, were. After she finished her little prayer she paused and looked between her friends, not daring to eat before either of them, a submissive rule she'd learned at a young age when considering her siblings, the atrocity of Elivre and the former terror that had been her brother.

"Think nothing of it." Grunted the guardian, as he relinquished the tension of his muscles and slowly descended till his legs no longer supported him, and his broad belly held its own against the earth. He crossed his frontmost claws over one another, and sighed furtively as he observed them.

"I know it's not supposed to do that." Izumi mentioned briefly, with half a mind to rebuke the lad. She was more interested in what had caused it, and what could be done, if anything, to prevent it in the future. Her eyes glistened in her thought. "I have a faint idea what is supposed to happen, but why did this happen now?"

Halli meanwhile was gathering plants, with, well, much difficulty. She wasn't one with much need of plants, and so had no idea how she was to identify one species of herb from another. This was difficult, what would she go back to Izumi and say? Her heart was already practically in palipatations at their brother's peril. What if she didn't find what was asked of her in time? What if he-- She shook her head as though to rid herself of the thought. "I-I've got to find it..." She muttered quietly and continued her slow progression.

[santingo]

((I don't remember if it was soup or something else. x-X What did Mithoo make again?))

Alzon groggily stretched onto his two feet to retrieve some bowls and forks from their base cottage. Dominique remained silent, grasping his new charm carefully between his digits to observe him more. The young hybrid could have sworn he felt another presence dwelling within the green crystal itself. After Akkedia had finished her nameless prayer, he gave somewhat of a gesture to eat first. After all, these were the rare types of thieves, the thieves that had manners and pride in what they did. It was common courtesy to let women eat first. Besides, it was another excuse to prevent him from eating. Jaixas had been resting next to her lap, masked head resting against her thigh while Drakmur lowered himself onto his horse-like belly and watched the lot with fire-burning eyes.

Souris grumbled mentally, wanting to find food first before deciphering what had happened. After all, the shinoux got somewhat cranky whenever hungry. And his sisters knew this perfectly well that if his belly was empty, food came first before anything else. "I..don't..know," He felt silly and practically ignorant of his own species. "Perhaps it's an infection in the back of my throat. After all, we've been traveling for days."

"Find what, may I ask?" Came a tantalizing tone from a red-headed Chatiot. his back leaning against a white birch tree with strong arms crossed over his chest. "I see you're searching for a particular type of herb, no?"

[Baka]

A sort of stew-like thing I think, as well as lentils and whatever else would customarily be served with it)

Akkedia comprehended the silent guesture and nodded gratefully, her belly had been quite empty too, blood was hardly a thing of substinance, it was almost a shame that their hunger was towards such an unsatisfying prefference. She carefully took the bowls, taking a moment to admire them under her fingertips before she filled them each and offered them to her friends, of course saving a portion for herself. The lingering smell was getting intoxiacating, but still the conditioning of society kept her from digging in to whet her hunger.

Izumi didn't take this very lightly, it made sense when one just saw what had happened just moments ago. But she came to the realization that he was hungry, and biting her lip she thought quickly. "I don't want you moving around too much yet, 'sides someone needs to wait for Halli to get back. I'll get something for you, alright?" There it was, the faint tone of affinity that Halli spoke often of but was never experienced by someone that wasn't absolutely dear to her.

Halli blinked, orange eyes glowing like bright coals as she glanced back to him, standing straight as she had leaned over to observe yet another herb, this plant she swore dissapointedly, looked like the wierd sprouts she swore Izumi had called 'poison ivy' before, thus, not really herbs. "Yessir, I'm looking for something to help my friend, he's taken ill so suddenly... I don't believe I have much time, do you happen to know the location of, ah, Oar-Ai-Gawn-O?" Her inexperience led to her butchering of the herb's name.

[santingo]

((Ah. Thanks.))

Dominique was hungry, mainly due to the lack of sufficient meals and a healthy income of needed substances for his growing body, but his tenacity to starve himself remained strong. Accepting the bowl, he nodded his gratitude, eyes averted towards the bowl. The cuisine looked delicious and soon enough, he began eating. It felt strange in his opinion but he felt watched and ate cautiously. Alzon nodded his thanks as well before eating his meal silently and happily.

Souris knew the experience was somewhat dire and should be taken with consideration but he hungry and all he wanted to do was eat. "'Course. Loosing Halli in this forest isn't a very good idea since with the Century calamity and those people I told you about," He reminded her in a gentle tone, trying not to make Izumi worried sick about himself even though it was nearly impossible.

Chatiot watched carefully and listened attentively. "We must hurry then," Leaning away from the birch tree, he gestured with his strong hand to follow. "I know a place where a whole bunch of weeds grow. I'll take you there." The Kivi's priority was to get Halli out from Izumi and Souris's vicinity and closer to that of Uchinidu and Elivre's.

[Baka]

It was only after her two friends had started in on their meals that Akkedia felt the pinions of the society that conditioned her loosen, and smiling whimsically she took a small bite of her food to sample its flavor. An odd thing about Mithoo's meals was how diverse the spices used in it were applied, it made for a wide range of tastes, yet somehow they tied together in a way that made them delectable. She did watch Dommy in the corner of her eye, to make sure he was ingesting his food properly, but she became a bit more engrossed in snacking on her meal and whetting her appetite, this food was indeed much more substantial than blood or even the fresh flesh of deer, and to one who was hungry, at least it helped give one that filling feeling most lacked when progressing through a meal.

"Yes yes." Urged Izumi with a sort of impatience of her own, though it was only mild. Though she wanted to go and fetch something for whom she could deem her little brother she was also apprehensive about leaving him alone in this condition. During this very dangerous time, it wasn't the best tactic to completely split up. It was hard enough parting with Halli, Izumi, behind her naturally composed person that seemed nonchalant and even mean to an extent with most things, beneath this she was probably completely unnerved. "You stay here, and be careful 'lright?" She still had an impatient tone, only because she wanted to seperate and get him his substanance as soon as possible so she wouldn't have to worry so much about leaving her ailed comrade and close friend to the mercy of his surroundings. Of course, Souris was stronger than that, but she didn't want to take any chances.

"Do you think there would be some there? If so please lead the way, good sir!" Always so trusting, and with the most chipper squeak in her voice that showed she was still only a child, in contrast to the maturing girl she commonly claimed to be. "Please, it would really be doing me and my Soury-Sour a favor."

[santingo]

Alzon consumed his delectable meal without much attention while Dominique tried to somewhat force the food into his system even though it did not appear so. He appeared to be calm but he seemed to withdraw personally since he felt a pair of eyes observing his eating habits. The horrible flashbacks of Mercerdes's taunted every meal which was the primary reason for his drastic lost in weight, deterred by the idea of flesh. But his body was happy that proteins along with other life giving materials were entering his body. A growing boy did need his food after all.

Souris relaxed where he was seated, shoulder blades drooping and tensed muscles relaxing. "Yes, yes.." He mumbled, not impatient but already having gone through this conversation. His older sister, whom he considered as his older sister, was always apprehensive, particularly if the entire group was to depart. The shinoux would have preferred to gorge himself with food on his own time but in his condition, he wasn't sure hat could happen next. "I won't move from here." He heaved, acknowledging what she said.


"Oh yes, certainly," Chatiot persisted in a confident tone. "Herbs by the thousands grow where I'm about to take you." Leading the way, he decreased his walking speed so the benign qi phoenix could catch up. "Soury-Sour? Is that his name or just a nickname?"

[Baka]

Akkedia's relentless gaze left her friend when she seemed satisfied that he was actually eating, and she became more indulged in gorging herself with food. Unlike him she had not gone witness to a close one being ripped apart and devoured. She had only seen from the eyes of the hungry predator, should she need substenance, she wasn't beyond taking it, though she did have her boundaries as well. She would never dream of turning on her friends, even if she was indirectly a threat in her current state of mind.

"Good.." She breathed, before swiftly departing, her tone overall seeming as calm and as nonchalant as ever. It was only those close to her that could read the underlying messages underneath her faulted coldness. Her nose, practically useless but for no one's fault but her own, only shallowly reflected the repetitive cycles of her lungs. She did not sniff out trails like most other canids, instead, once she was awhiles away, she tried listening to the faint sounds and the small changes in her surroundings.

"Naw." Halli had no difficulty keeping up, she only needed to skip a few times to close their distance drastically. "His name is Souris, he's a... Sheen-wah." She too butchered the name Shinoux, she wasn't very good with names. Absently she even started rolling her finger along a curl of her pinkened locks. "He's my brother." She smiled gleefully at this mentioning.