Purple Honey

[Baka]

Akkedia thanked Mithoo as the ancient nightmare wandered off in that soft, hitched walk of his, which again one could laugh at because of the mere unnaturalness of it. His eyes slitted, not pupilwise but due to the thin films he occasionally used to clear out debris from the sensitive and complex components that so eagerly recepted the many sights with a special attention. He didn't need to be told twice, he was a gatherer, and Akkedia smiled wistfully knowing that Mithoo wouldn't be gone too long, but he'd already have found a diversity of things in that time.

"It's Halli, Ha-lee!" Halli retorted defensively, huffing a steel-melting sigh of hot steam as she glared at him in a most peevish manner. "Well I know that, but that doesn't mean we have to be so close to it!" She pressed her palms against the stone the area within an inch or so about her fingers starting to bubble to show what was left of the stone's weak resolve.

Izumi looked up from her content, as slight as it showed on her grim but somehow gentle contenance. "Just be patient a little whiles longer, alright? Honestly, the way you two carry on it's like if we wait here a moment longer you'll both be swallowed by the ocean or something...."

He only continued his soft, contented purrs, staring from time to time however at the cave by which he realized that Dominius would somehow emerge from.

[santingo]

Dominique watched them silently as they conversed. Although, if one were to listen closely, they could hear an inaudible whimper at the mere thought of no sugary goodies at the end of his meal. His hunger was getting the best of him. Drakmur, Alzon and Jaixas had been right. This young lad needed a good supply of food to be considered healthy.

"Oh right," Souris grinned innocently. "Pardon me Harriet for not calling you Halli." He bowed his handsome head slightly, crimson eyes averting towards Izumi once she called to them. "Horis and his men were suppose to be here five hours ago. And I'm not complaining as much as mademoiselle Harriet here. I just don't like the water, you know that."

Ragizere continued to stroke his hair before Aurura walked out. The great dragon smiled faintly. "Dominius will be here in five minutes.."

[Baka]

After making sure that Mithoo had departed she settled back down, sitting on her legs but shifting to get more comfortable from time to time as she really underestimated how comfortable depositing herself in such a way could be. She leaned over a bit to her friend and whispered. "Nah, just make sure to eat your food and you can have a treat afterwards, alright?" It wasn't going against her Nightmare's wishes, it was rather just bending the rules a bit.

Halli started in with a long and irrefutably infuriated rant, which is why Izumi, as well as the author, decided to tune them out as she nodded. "I know Souris, I know. You and Halli both, remember? But it won't climb that much farther, I promise. And remember, patience is a treasured virtue....."

Laboris's ears perked straight up, but he refrained from moving otherwise, the goatlike chimera blinked and looked up to Aurura with the interest a very young child might have as they asked one of their first questions. "S-Seriously?"

[santingo]

After several milliseconds of silence, Dominique quickly settled back onto his bosom, legs crossed in their usual butterfly-like pattern. "I'll do my best but I won't make any promises," The young lad smiled at his fellow companion. "I just hope.." He whispered. "You won't make me drink blood or devour raw meat. I'll go bloodlustic again.." He whimpered at the mere thought.

"Of course. Patience is a treasured virtue," Souris repeated to himself, settling back onto the obsidian rock despite his hydrophobia. "Just enjoy your time in the ocean Izumi." He smiled.

Ragizere barely responded to this news, still stroking his woolly coat lovingly. "Indeed," The great dragon nodded. "Five minutes to be exact. I'm terribly sorry but I must depart now." She opened her massive wings. "Ragizere, you know what to do."

"Oh yes. I know," She smiled.

[Baka]

"Oh come now." Akkedia reprimanded in the same tone a mother would reprimand a child for some small misconduct as not saying please or thank you. "I would never force that on you, especially not after something like this." She nodded softly at her own words and wove her hands together so her fingers were laced about eachother gently.

"Yes, indeed it is... Thank you, Souris... Halli, you can learn alot from him...." Izumi smiled a bit and went back to dwawdling inside the salty water.
Her sister however, was not so easily convinced. "Patience, smatience, if we sit and wait around all the time, our lives will be dull.... I say we go do something exciting! Instead of sitting near this trecherous bout of blackwater that may sooner swallow us than have pity enough for us to keep its own monsterous form at bay. It's been five hours, I think we've been waiting long enough!" She huffed up her lungs to make her seem bigger, more absolute in her decision of sorts.

Laboris blinked softly, though he said nothing more. He figured that all would be explained shortly, why rush things?

[santingo]

Dominique drooped his shoulders in slight shame, feeling simply moronic for saying that. As a close friend, he would anticipate that his fellow companion would avoid bringing discomfort. Besides, he was comfortable even with the idea of eating but his fellow companion did insist on giving him a treat afterwards. "I really appreciate that," He smiled faintly. "Plus, Alzon is going to be surprised when he learns that I'm actually going to eat..."

"What?!" A voice cried out from the darkness of the thick bushes. "Do my ears deceive me?" It was none other than Alzon himself with Drakmur by his side. "Dom, is this true? I don't have to force you to eat anymore?"

Souris dipped his handsome head in acknowledgment, which caused his messy bangs to cover more of his face, giving him a feral look. Despite the prejudice earned from strangers, both of his companions knew he had a big heart aside from his volcanic temper, one could say. Not helping himself, he giggled at Harriet's protests. He prepared to answer both of their statements but he saw Horis, Belle and the rest of the traveling party advanced towards their way. "Bonjour monsieur!" Greeted the Shinoux, jumping off the black rocks.

Meanwhile, inside of the cave, the entire rancid corpse of flesh began to glow brightly. Slowly, it began to twist and form into the shape of a man, Dominius. Ragizere knew what was happening, deciding not to intrude until Dominius walked out when he was ready.

[Baka]

"It's true!" Akkedia rejoiced with a rather pleasant smile. That and her gentle and appreciative tones of speech would and ofted had lead one to go and believe that she was not capable of killing as deftly as she'd proven to do. During these rare but frequent occurances she did very much seem to be a nice sort of gonbe. Ha! A nice Gonbe, until having met Alzon and Dominique she had thought those mere words could never be held together inside the same sentence! "And me and my nightmares shall help in any way we could afford, Mithoo should even be coming back shortly...."

Halli jumped up, her single bound as though from some sort of turbo-charged springs. This was only a result of her strength versus her hollow bones and light mass. As she fell from the jump she almost seemed to float, but it was only the graceful way she seemed to fall and land oh so skillfully on her feet. She wasn't a bad kid, but her irritance showed almost as much as her impatience did. "It sure took you long enough..." She muttered discurteously before receiving a reprimanding clout from her older sibling.

Laboris felt his heart fleeting, pounding loosely against his ribs. To think, that soon he himself would be in the pressence of the Dominius of legend! It was an honor he never even fathomed being able to have, if someone had come up to him a week ago and told him of this news, he'd have thought them a wishbone short of a turkey, but wow! Not much could show the excitement scribed into his features, the anticipation and anxiouty. He was desperately a respectful youth still, it was almost a naive enthusiasm that sprung up from his person.

[santingo]

"Oh how wonderful," Alzon clapped his strong hands together. "After all these years, I finally don't have to feed you anymore." The handsome lad chuckled lightly, scurrying over to sit down next to Dominique who gave an innocent gesture with his glistening eyes. "Oh but I might let you on a little secret." The infant Gonbe whispered to Akkedia. "You might want to be careful with your..Dommy here..he sometimes regurgitates..." Those were the last things to come out of his mouth before his fellow sibling playfully pushed him onto the ground.

"That's enough out of you," Dominique smirked in victory. "Don't spill the beans.." He hissed.

Souris was delighted to see Horis at last, some of his hydrophobia subsiding. Black boots left large marks on the golden sands which each footstep. His furry tail swished happily, brushing the microscopic grains from side to side. Horis smiled kindly at the party of three, practically ignoring Harriet because of more important manners. "Souris.." The father began, Belle folding her delicate hands together. "I've come with bad news. The reason we came so late was because we were attacked several times by heartless monsters. Worst of all.." He paused. "The book was kidnapped. A kivi in the woods took it away from us. We're terribly sorry Souris! However, however, we can get it back. Our nightmare friend, Mithoo, he promised he'll get the book back." Souris did not know how to respond. Lifting a strong hand, he covered both eyes where both pupils have slanted.

"Horis, I am not mad.." He rasped quietly. "I am rather disappointed."

The white mass of rancid flesh twisted and turned to form the outline of a young adult no older than nineteen. This was the legendary Dominius himself, a man of myth, infamous background and a sealed destiny. Golden amber eyes burned furiously, like a flickering flame, in the pitch darkness of the damp cave. A grown or two could be heard resonating from the back end of the small cave. Groggily stretching onto twos, the handsome lad slowly made his way outside, stumbling once or twice before achieving full balance. Lifting a strong hand, he shielded his eyes from the intense rays of light from the descending golden sun. It had been a hundred years since he last saw the golden sun or smelt the salt lingering in the ocean air. Messy yet silky locks of brown hair with caramel accents gave him a rather feral look. Oddly, four strands of hair had been braided down by a small rubber band and a white feather. His furry tail had been brown, identical to his hair, and swished back and forth softly. Dominius had been dressed in the very garb he had died in. His feet were covered in brown boots, carved out of the hide from a mammoth. His trousers were tan in coloration, with several rips and tears here and there. His shirt had been white and pale. Over the shirt was another shirt but much longer but did not creep past his elbows and brown in coloration. Around his neck was a small rope tied around with the small skull of a ram. More white feathered decorations, consisting of white feathers and brown beads, were tied around his waist and neck. There was even a single piercing on his left ear, with a dangling white feather. The last feature was the ugly scar running below his left eye which stretched to the middle of his cheek.

[Baka]

Akkedia listened earnestly smiling at the two brothers, as she could easily relate to them as that. "Ah, I bet it's probably just the conflicting diets... But we'll be watching your intake now, don't you worry. I'm sure that Mithoo will know just what to do to help remedy that..." She didn't mean to rely on the old guardian nightmare so much, he seemed to just always know what he was doing. Meanwhile this same guardian had procurred quite an array of different things, from roots to a variety of fruit and berries, natural lentils, and several other items such as fish and avians that he'd gathered to help give the young hybrid a meal that would retain to what he supposed was both a kivi and gonbe diet, and he was being very particular of his motions and ingredients, mind you.

Halli, being a quick female that she was, soon found a snug place besides Souris and waved. "Hey Horis, hey Belle. What's this about the book not being amongst ya now?" She paused, but way to brief a pause to expect an answer. "So you don't have it then?" She tugged lightly then on the sleeve of her friend's clothing. "Soury Soury! We waited five hours for this?" She managed to, in a matter of moments, change her attitude from being an irritable impatient brat to a kindled, soft, and skittish little girl. The firebird had to keep an appearance, after all.

Laboris, upon laying eyes upon the aid to the savior of the world, could only flinch. How was he supposed to react? He knew that as a self respecting chimera of his sort, he ought to not rush up and practically worship at this being's feet, even if to him that seemed to be what was most called for. He still quivered a bit in anticipation, though he retained himself well for dignitie's sake. He looked over then to Ragizere, to observe and know, if a bit, more proper conduct to use when communing with this reliving legend.

[santingo]

Drakmur only managed to grin, exposing his ivory fangs. Alzon was surprised that Dominique actually managed to summon enough strength to pin him over but his victory was short lived. Due to the act that Alzon had more mass and muscles than his fellow sibling, he quickly pinned the young hybrid, a strong hand on his jugular and another on his chest while using a single knee cap to pin his belly, preventing him from fleeing. Dominique only whimpered, trying his best to flee by squirming out. "Oh, I always thought it Dom did it on purpose not to have food in his stomach," The infant Gonbe persisted. "I forgot Dom was half Gonbe. Quiet actually, I never knew it myself until I learned just a few hours ago. I'm not sure if it's because I'm too young but I didn't smell his Gonbe-ness. Did you?" He questioned their fellow female companion curiously.

"Hello there Harriet," Horis waved.

"Hello," Belle waved calmly in her direction.

"We don't have it because two monsters took it away from us," Horis answered her questioned. Souris blinked innocently once the Qi phoenix began to tug on his sleeve. With a gentle hand, he placed it on her shoulder, as a sign to relax herself.

"Harriet is right," The Shinoux began. "We've been waiting for hours for this important book. We have traveled from a long distance to get this book. We've crossed unforgiving lands and cold territories just to get this book. I am very disappointing. However, we can come to a compromise." He lifted a single digit. "You will find us a room to stay for an entire week. This 'Mithoo' of yours has seven days to get the book back. If not, I will get it from this monster myself.." He warned.

Dominius's glistening eyes averted to the majestic waves of the ocean blue. His sensitive nostrils drew the salty tang of the sea air. The tan skinned lad had not responded quickly to the presence of the chimera or even Ragizere herself. Ragizere gave Laboris a reassuring pat to greet her companion as she slowly stretched. "Hello Dominius," She said softly, opening her arms to hug him lovingly to only get a loving hug in return.

"Hello Ragizere," Dominius greeted in return, voice deep and rumbling out from the deep pits of his throat.

[Baka]

She observed their endeavors with a most whimsical of smiles, one that in actuality lit her whole face with the joyous expression, which lighted her features in a way that surprised her. How could it cause her such a happiness, such bliss simply to observe her comrades in their playful a manner? it was the fellow Gonbe's inquisition that made her repose fade into a state of dulled awareness, and she pondered it. "No, I don't believe I did notice it... Not at all... But then, maybe that was what drew me here, after him... It was of random events conspired that I became aqquainted with you lot, remember?"

"Hi there, Horis, Belle!" Halli mentioned excitedly before peering up at her role model lightly, regarding him to a loose circumstance that she didn't take too seriously, though she knew these others would. That's how they were with her Shinoux friend, and usually things got done because of him....

Laboris, silent still, only observed the two and noted any familiarities between them with a keen gaze, trying to determine for the life of him the mannerisms acceptable by the great Dominius. Oh how it would have been so much simpler should he know that no matter how great a being there is always the innate goodness to be found within them and to approach him almost as he should approach any other of this goodness, just with a higher aqquired regard of respect.

[santingo]

Alzon smirked in victory as Dominique was rendered pinned against the verdant grass. But his small victory ended quickly with a single blink of an eye. Before the handsome lad could answer, the young hybrid pushed him to the side with a shove, climbing back onto his knees. "Of course I do," Dominique smiled. "And I'm glad you did. I would have been dead.." Before he could say any further, he winced as Alzon kicked him on his exposed left flank, causing him to fall onto his hip.

"I'm personally grateful you did," The infant Gonbe answered. "And it was kind of you to give Dom here the antidote and see if Hiraru was alright."

"..and it would mean the deal's off," Souris concluded, crossing his strong arms over his chest to observe Horis's reactions. Belle stepped to the side while her burly father heaved his broad shoulders. "No book. No money." The Shinoux clamped his jaws shut for the second time.

"You have my word," Horis mumbled. "I'll go locate you three a nice, cozy and toasty room." Souris would have answered but he allowed Izumi and her sister to do so. His attention was captured by the stunning beauty of the Silverback Mountains. Crimson eyes averted towards the forest, as if on high alert. He had good reasons to. Alzon and his goons, which he liked to call, would surely discover his presence and of course, not take it lightly.

It was like two old friends meeting each other after thousands of years. Ragizere was delighted, evident by the slight wag of her feline tail. Even though it was difficult to locate a single trace of a smile, Dominius looked surprisingly content. He opened his mouth to speak but the growling noise in his empty gut stopped him from uttering a single word. "Before you do anything, you must eat," Ragizere concluded.

[Baka]

She couldn't really bring herself to respond to Dommy's remark, not wanting to indulge in his sentiments or dispute them even as she usually might have for the sake of drawing out an arguement. She did blink at Alzon's comment however, gaze dropping slightly in thought. "Well thank you, it was..... Well, the least I could do.... An act of kindness, it doesn't go as far as it used to in this world but... Well, it does go far, right....?"

"Yup." Halli echoed like a parrot. "No book, no money.... And make sure the room has a nice view! I love looking at the marvels of these plains, so extravagant but in such a small way it hardly ammounts to the eloquence of much more splendid wonders... But it shall do..." She nodded quite eagerly to have this be their punishment, though Izumi had come up the slope by then, slow as she'd moved her fears of heights spoke for themselves even at this small interval.

"I don't believe." Commented she in a low-throated response as she tried overcoming the painstaking task of climbing she'd taken to prior. "That's too fair though." Her eyes were still a cold, bloodred hue, but sparked with a bit of warmth that was sometimes characterized in her attitude at small decibles. "They've suffered misfortunes, and claim to get our book back in a timely manner, I don't think their efforts should go empty handed...." Izumi had taken notice to the wariness of her comrade, but she determined to bring it up after the humans left their pressence, as to talk about it on more personal a manner, should personal matters it be.

This was a term that brought Laboris into a state of animation as he cautiously approached the two, his ears flickered back softly at his slow gait. "Well I'd be glad then to be of assistance in fetching you something to eat..... Ehhh..." He paused and froze as he fumbled his statement, but it took a moment for him to regain himself. "What would you preffer....?"

[santingo]

"Dammit Alzon.." Dominique gritted his teeth together tightly. In precaution, he massaged the sore section with a gentle hand. "Any harder and you might have broken my poor skinny bones." Alzon only scoffed, pretending to behave innocently and oblivious from the incontrovertible truth. "Still, I'm surprised you followed me..despite how arrogant I was." The young hybrid responded to his female companion in a compassionate tone.

"You're welcome," Alzon smiled at his fellow gonbe companion. "And of course it does. It's barely noticeable but it's there." He recited before gaping as Dominique quickly punched him in the chest, which surprised him as it had been unexpected. "Ouch, that..hurted." Dominique only repeated what he said, moving his lips to form the exact words but no voice, in a mocking manner. When he was done, he straightened himself and smiled innocently as his brother had done before.

Belle stuffed her delicate hands into the pockets of her muddy-stained trousers. Her father, more on the apprehensive side because they were making deals with inhuman creatures, only nodded in understanding. Chuckling at Halli, the human listened to Izumi before exhaling loudly once again. Souris would have chuckled at Halli's comment but much of his attention had been focussed on the perimeter of their vicinity. The Shinoux shuddered at the thought of an ambush attack from Alzon and his goons. "..and they won't," The Shinoux muttered after a few moments of awkward silence. "This Mithoo character has an entire week to get it back. I prefer three to five days but seven is my limit." He repeated himself so the message was understood.

"We understand that," Belle said quietly. "But it wasn't our faults. We were attacked." Souris opened his mouth to engage in their discourse but closed it as more of his attention was drifted in the stunning beauty of the Silverback Mountains.

Dominius blinked subconsciously, as if he haven't understood the significance of the growling protests in his empty stomach.When Laboris questioned him, the legendary hero tilted his head downwards to face him. Ragizere remained silent, allowing the two brutes to converse amongst each other. "I would be honored," Dominius answered. "Anything to get my stomach from protesting."

"It's been a hundred years," Ragizere began. "..since you ate last. You must be terribly hungry considering your host barely ate to began with. We'll fetch you.."

"Not a feast," Dominius shook his head in protest. "I can't inspect the damage this year's calamity had caused on a full belly. It'll impede my efforts."

"What do you want then...""

"Anything..something fresh though.." He muttered.

[Baka]

Akkedia stared at her two comrades in muse, a most wry grin splayed across her lips, their antics very much reminded her of those of children, it took all she could muster not to burst into a fit of well-intended laughter on their behalf! Oh innocent souls, she thought grimly of how their innocense only crossed to a particular extent, but she shook such thoughts out of her mind. All beings had things to repent for sooner or later. "Well I'm quite sure I wasn't the best behaved during our initial meeting too...... I am only glad our feelings of one another could be resolved... And that you were more welcoming of me than I originally pictured.... And I agree too, it isn't that noticable, but I believe..." She echoed vaguely her beliefs, though wavering voice mentioned how unsure she was to do so. "That if the power of love overcame the love of power, one day yet the world may be at peace...."

"Should you." Quickly commented Izumi, whom was taking good advantage of the silence of their friend, whom Halli would agree with and outnumber her should he form too strong an oppinion on any situation. "I mean, should your friend retrieve us the book in the allotted time, we'll still compensate you, of course you understand we'll have to dock you a bit or the wait, but I believe the room and the misfortunes of your group would be docking enough for such a chance. However Souris has a point, we'll wait for no longer than the expanded limit he has so generously decided apon...." She crossed her arms over her chest, not saying much more as she felt satisfied with the current reiteration of her point.

"Very well." Replied Laboris softly, much more casually than he'd managed to do originally; and straightened out his posture as his ears flickered about to and fro softly. He glanced periodically to Ragizere before his gaze would initially return to the legendary hero. "Anything in particular, then?"