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 Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:08 pm
"Food grows scarce here," the dragon said with a snarl, "You mean to say you have food?"
Marcel blinked, and went into the pack, taking out a good portion of meat. When he moved, the dragon lowered and hissed, ready to strike. Marcel moved even slower, and revealed the meat. Then the dragon looked at it, its angry eyes replaced with hunger. Then his eyes became angry once more. "I prefer fresh meat," it said, "and it has been a while since I've eaten a human."
Marcel sighed, and held the meat in one hand. "Pig," he said, "is better."
The dragon, in a blink of an eye, charged after Marcel. But he didn't hit or dodge the dragon. Instead, he thrust his hand into the dragon's mouth, and the dragon bit down on him. Then it stopped, and it looked up at Marcel, opening its mouth and eaten just the pig. Marcel's arm was bloodied by the fang bites, but his arm was at least still there. Marcel didn't flinch.
"You are either a fool, or fearless... You are right, the pig filled me right up. I would be a fool to kill you, when I could never finish you. I suppose then you may cross, but hurry before my colony arrives. They will most certainly smell your blood."
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:26 pm
Muse bowed again, though her heart was racing. The moment had been tense and she was grateful that Marcel was quick to think and that the dragon was noble.
She held out a hand to the dragon and in it a large chunk of ice formed and shaped into the likeness of the dragon. "A gift for your mercy" she told him. "Take it to the bottom of your lake and it will shine for you and your kin"
In her studies she'd been informed of the fondness dragons held for things that were bright, expensive, and exotic. Her parting gift was sincere and a guesture of respect. "I simply ask that should the Elemental Council come to you asking if you've seen one of my like that you will omit the truth of my presence. The exchange of food and gift is fair trade for our lives and knowledge of them"
Her words were steady and sure as she dared to look into the dragon's eyes, then bowed again, exposing her neck in a show of humility. Quickly she turned to Marcel and shifted to earthen form, binding his wounds quickly and messily with moss and vine even as she stumbled along and pulled him with her to evade the possibilty to encountering a dragon hoarde and thereby any notion of bloodshed.
Her token would also buy them time as a distraction, though she knew ice was hardly as appealing as freshly drawn blood. "Hurry", she whispered as she used her power to open a clearer path for them through the woods, though the job was done poorly due to her scattered concentration and she didn't have the time or energy to waste on closing the path behind them.
The cast she'd made for Marcel's arm was already wet with blood and needed changing, and she was sure his wound would need cleansing, but she was too worried about the dragons to take the chance to stop and mend him further.
"I don't know where the end of the water dragon terretory rests!" she fretted as the rushed. "We must find shelter so I may heal you if only for a few moments. I must draw my energy as well if we're to continue. Mayhaps a cave or grove?" she suggested, hoping that her information that barbarians were skilled woodsmen bore truth.
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:46 pm
"Ah-" The dragon looked at the glimmering ice, and smiled. "I'll be sure to take this to our den. The colony will be honored. Only if you don't want the human to get eaten, I suggest you hurry."
"Mmm," Marcel grunted again, and they came across a rope bridge to the other side of the river. He started for it fearlessly, though swiftly. He didn't care at all that his arm was bloodied. In fact, it was as if it wasn't even harmed. He didn't even seem to be listening to Muse, just going about and crossing the bridge to the other side.
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:21 pm
Muse realized she was being ignored and felt a momentary swell of indignation before realizing it was uncalled for in their present situation. She eyed the rope bidge warily and shifted to air form so as not to add extra weight to a structure that was already groaning from Marcel's bulk.
The longing to be able to fly again was prominent as she looked over the side of the bridge down to the ravine and river below. While she enjoyed the feel of flight she had a true anxiety when it came to the feeling of falling, equating it to the sensation of being confined in a small space.
The effort to concentrate coupled with her worry for her friend and all the energy she'd exerted in such a short time was slowing her down but she doggedly persisted to keep pace.
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Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:11 am
Once they crossed the bridge, there was a low growl, and the sound of a snap. Marcel turned around to guard Muse immediately, but straightened up when he noticed the dragon in question was wounded. He had a big gash on his right side, and he seemed like a much older dragon. "Filthy humans," He growled, "Leave immediately, I'll tear you to shreds."
Marcel paused only for a second. Then he started going the other way, as if to leave the dragon to die ad continue on their road.
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Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:14 am
Muse didn't move, staring back at the suffering dragon and biting her lip. She looked up at Marcel with apologetic eyes before heading back toward the beast.
"Please do not come onto the bridge. I fear your weight is too much for it. Stay there and I will come to you" she said, holding her palms out to show she was unarmed. "I am not human. I am an Elemental and we have a treaty with dragon kind. Allow me to administer to your wounds and ignore my human. He is my property and I will not have you steal him from me lest I am forced to rid you of your own treasures"
She spoke firlmly and calmly but her hands were trembling slightly. She shifted to water form when she was over halfway accross the bridge. "I move in peace. If you ask proof of my good intensions I will provide it"
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Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:48 pm
"Pacts mean nothing anymore." The dragon said, "Humans had a pact with us, and that has long been violated. You are either with humans or with my kind, I will not trust the friend of that filthy creature."
Marcel watched this exchange, then turned around and continued to walk away. But he disappeared only for a moment. There was the sound of plants, and then Marcel returned with a couple of long leaves, known often to work as bandages for large wounds.
The dragon's eyes widened, and he coiled and hissed before flinching at the pain. "What trick are you two playing, get out of here!"
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Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:25 pm
"This is no trick. Our intentions are sincere. Please, let us help you" Muse requested. She took a moment to look at Marcel and grace him with a touched smile. The fact that he was helping her when she knew he didn't want to meant a lot.
He'd become dear to her in such a short span of time but it felt like they'd been friends for ages in that same moment. She returned her attention to the dragon, finally close enough to reach out and touch him but waited for consent or attack.
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Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 1:59 pm
The dragon hissed again, and then there was a voice that said, "Marcel."
Immediately the dragon stopped. And looked at the human, who was pointing at himself. Marcel's face was challenging but humbled at the same time, and he said once more, "Marcel."
"That's your name, is it? Marcel..." Marcel's body twitched, and the dragon was surprised. "It is your actual name... You haven't tried to trick me. But... Why..."
Marcel lifted the leaf, and then he said, "Please."
The dragon was so shocked, he didn't know Muse was close to him until she touched him. He flinched, but the touch wasn't threatening. He looked at her. He was so confused. "Why?" He asked Muse. "What do you plan to gain from this?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 4:21 pm
Muse laughed softly but the sound wasn't mocking. "Satisfaction in helping someone in need of aid and the possibility of a new friend" she said cheerfully while bending over his wound to examine. "This is quite severe. You're a very strong dragon to be bearing the pain so well. I'll cleanse the wound but be warned that the sensation is odd and sometimes unpleasant"
She pressed her hands over the gashes and the appendages seemed to melt into the wounds. Her body became tinged a dark pink as she absorbed the dried and dirtied blood into her being, her expression strained.
Once the deed was done she held up her hand to signal she would need a moment and silently headed to a spot behind a bush where she bent over and the sounds of painful retching left her as she expelled the foreign blood from her body. Where small amounts only called for her to spit, larqe quantities forced her to vomit.
She regained her composure and walked back out, forcing a smile after she coughed a little. She shifted to earthen form and grew moss and vines to offer Marcel, wobbling a bit on her feet.
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Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 7:20 pm
Marcel didn't say a word of her discomfort, only went to the dragon with the moss and other things, then bandaged the wound.
"... My name is Shi." The dragon said finally. A dragon giving its name was considered an honor, since how important names were to their powers.
"Shi." Marcel repeated, finishing up the bandage.
"I will not forget your kindness. One day my debt will be repaid to you."
Marcel got up, and then wet to Muse, and without her permission, gestured to pick her up and carry her onward. "We're done." He said to Muse, and began to walk.
The dragon bowed once, before going into the water, the two continuing on their way.
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Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 7:54 pm
Muse waved goodbye to Shi as he left then her eyes slid closed and she tipped forward. She was exhausted from the amount of energy she'd expelled and as she fell her body shrank to her small form. Fear caused by the sensation of falling kept her conscious and she let out a frightened cry.
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Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2011 6:44 am
Marcel caught her and cradled her close. Then he pressed on, thinking he should go to another village to get Muse some help, or to help her rest. He trudged on despite the pain in his arm. He didn't even flinch, or showed any signs of pain. Not from his healing back, or upper arm, or the new pain on his wrist. All that mattered was getting Muse somewhere to rest.
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Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2011 8:31 am
Muse tried to protest but her complaints were voiced in sleepy tones. "I'm sorry" she finally sighed. "I've been training to build stamina but that was so much at once... I overworked my power"
The admission of her own lacking made her blush with embarassed shame and she curled up into a defeated ball in her perch on Marcel's arm. She looked at his new wound in concern and fell asleep worried for him.
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Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 8:33 am
Marcel looked down at her, and continued on. It didn't matter the scars and cuts he had, he seemed unaffected. He trudged on, and was actually faster to travel. Getting to the nearest village only took a few hours. He held her close, looking for a healer yet again. But there didn't seem to be one in this town, that had people who only stared at the man. It was true, he was less intimidating now with the cloak on, but the purposeful way he moved, as if on a mission, caused people to worry.
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