Some kind of dragon au

[occulthymns]

[Before you lies a picturesque kingdom of forests and fields and farmlands. Mountains rise up in the distance, and set at the edge of a massive lake is an elegant castle with tall spires. It looks out over the land - forests surrounding the lake, a small but pleasant medieval town pushed up against the castle walls, farmer's fields further out.

The land itself is fertile and full of wild game, unsual plants, and natural wonders like crystalline caverns and waterfalls. Rivers of all sizes wind their way down from the mountains, which alternate between covered in fir trees and bare, jagged rock with mazes of caves hidden within.

Dragon AU go!]

Comments

Locale shift~ <3

[dark_to_dawn]

[Hm?

The pounding of water isn't enough to bar the sound of wings in the air. Sunlight flashes off the falls as it pours itself into the foaming basin at one side of the small gulf, fresh water spreading out into a pristine lagoon, and the reflection in the water shifts as a pair of aqua eyes open halfway, vertical pupils of ebony shrinking at the encroach of light. The pair of them shift towards the encroaching arrival and the larger head lifts from its current curled position. Enough to catch sight of a gold flash towards the opposite bank. A visitor... or prey?

The silver dragon remains silent and still as the gold approaches the lagoon. He's still an adolescent, in respects, perhaps a little older than the newcomer, but he's almost a third larger in both size and weight. No motion until claws touch the sand-like shores of the lagoon. And then promptly unfurls himself. Wings spread in a mixture of imposing and threat and his maw opens just enough to allow a dim of glowing aqua and ebony teeth. The spines crowning a line from the top of his head to the base of his neck tense, stretching a sail of glass-like skin between the quills. He's not attempting to make himself look bigger out of fear, instead just revealing exactly what the intruder is getting himself into.

A long tail remains half-concealed within the water, though the ripples that drift the surface suggest its presence. What are you doing here?]

*^*

[didneyworl]

[ It still catches the goldscale by surprise, enough that he squeaks a little and shuffles backwards until he realizes he isn't being charged or anything. That's a good sign.

It's also about all Ven needs before his posture goes from wary to curious as he cants his head and barks out a yap in the silver's direction, earstalks perking up a little. ]

o/

[dark_to_dawn]

[The edges of his jowls curl just a little, but upon seeing the shuffle backwards, his maw closes at least. It's not important enough to charge. Yet. Good sign's pretty hollow, actually.

He regards him with something mostly irritably dismissive tinged with the barest of interest. That little yap merely begets a silent rumble in his neck and he lowers his head again, the twin spires of horns crowning his head gleaming like blades in the sunlight. Not taking his eyes off him, he crosses one front leg over the other at the “wrists,” claws resting absently on the stone. For all intents and purposes, it's a pure body language of: Get lost.

Sulky wants to sulk.]

[didneyworl]

[ The request it totally denied, because Ven barely even understands it. He knows that body language is standoffish and unwelcoming but that's about all he garners before gargling a few clicks in the back of his throat and trying again--yap #2, inviting and curious and basically whelpish. ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[The silver's eyes lid slightly and he turns his head enough that this time, the gold can hear the soft growl in his throat. His tail shifts in the water, threatening to rise and do... something. That little innocent yap and silver bleeds from the water as his tail pulls out. A wing flares and comes down between them like a shield. Or fan. Or wall. Better.]

[didneyworl]

.... [ That makes him deflate a little. This was absolutely not friendly behaviour, and as his ears droop he chances two or three careful steps forward, before he tries again: one more unsure little bark. ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[There's a reason for not friendly behavior, pup. His own senses perk when he hears the tentative steps forward, the ripple of water around the other's claws. And then that finally bark and the silver's wing pulls up with a folding 'snap' of air. Those aqua eyes are back and the sail on his head and neck rise again. A piercing stare spears across the pool.]

What?

[didneyworl]

[ Oh good, communication! Ven perks up almost immediately, negative grumpy attention or not. ]

Hi!

[dark_to_dawn]

[Someone's optimistic... His spines remain flared, but he's not making much motion at the moment. His tail stops leaving the water at least. Flat expression (as much as a dragon can make).]

... that's it?

[didneyworl]

...? Is there more? [ He's going for friendly introductions here, and he thought he did pretty well! ]

[dark_to_dawn]

I'm hoping not. [Somehow, he gets the feeling that's not going to be the case. Looks like one of the younger golds. Friendly. Unconsciously stubborn. His tail finishes slipping from the water and he slips it around to curl against his legs.]

[didneyworl]

[ Goldscales are hopelessly social creatures, even before their more gorgeous molten-gold coats moult and grow in. Here's hoping Riku has patience, because Ven is going to try a few more steps, hia gait more of a pup's waddle. ]

I think "hi" is pretty good!

[dark_to_dawn]

["Lucky" him. There's a reason he's in this secluded area. Same reason that's gone right over the other's head. He snorts at the response and rests his head on his crossed paws, eying Ven.]

Your right. [It's shallower.] Before you walk off the ledge into deep water.

[There'd be no rescuing here. After all, he's one one side of the lake and golden voice is on the other. For now.]

[didneyworl]

I'll...walk around then! [ Someone had been getting "ooh, new friend" tunnel vision. But he's back to looking where his feet are now, flapping his wings a little before he moves back towards shallower waters. ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[Hence the directions... Unless the goldscale doesn't want to get his feet even wetter. The silver blows a quiet, but obviously exasperated sound through his nostrils and presently takes his eyes off the gold.

The breath causes his sides to constrict a little, a darker color dribbling through the silver scales for a moment before leaking away as he breathes in again. It was tempting... but too late now.]

That wasn't an invitation. [And probably too late for that now too.]

[didneyworl]

Well...I won't scent anything. I just want to meet you. [ Totally innocent, totally whelpish. He's already moving around the lake's edge to make his way towards the silver, tail swishing happily behind him. ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[That earns a lift of his head, enough to reveal the large wing-shaped, v-styled scales running down his neck and chest. Focused on him now.]

Better not.

[And yes, that's deliberate vague on whether he's talking about scenting or meeting. For his mood, could be both. Innocent whelp. It's easy to tell the order of this gold's clutch. He's dead last.]

[didneyworl]

[ He's going to take it to assume the former, because he's toddling his way on over to the other no matter what, coming to a stop only when he manages to get within twenty yards or so. Then he holds, and wiggles his haunches eagerly. ]

I'm Ventus.

[dark_to_dawn]

[Should've figured. He eyes him, canting his head to the side enough to take him in at full glance. Claws rest silently against the shoreline he's propped on, back legs tucked under his haunches, though for now, the back half of his body, save for his tail, is hidden behind tent-folded wings.]

Fascinating.

[He flops his tail over his crossed forearms. In case someone gets a little too close, he'll use it the heave-ho into the lagoon. Simple enough.]

[didneyworl]

[ And rude. But Ven hasn't taken notice of that and just hops a few more steps forward, before sitting himself down on his haunches and yawning, flicking one ear. ]

Who're you? Do you live here?

[dark_to_dawn]

[He's not social... Riku closes his eyes and sinks down a little like he's going to try and sleep. Emphasis on try (and fail). At least the gold's found a "limit" to stop at.]

It's my territory.

[Yep, the whole lagoon, waterfall, surrounding areas. And yes, he ignored the "who" question for now. Someone's not earned that right yet.]

[didneyworl]

[ He's a butt, that's what Riku is. But Ven seems pleased even with only half the answers he sought, perking up. ]

The whole thing?? What about around it?

[dark_to_dawn]

[For now. He misses the physical perk, but it's all over the gold's voice. A wry snort huffs through his nostrils.]

All the way to the spring.

[The one feeding the river that eventually became waterfall and lagoon.]

[didneyworl]

That's huge...!

[ And impressive. ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[Now you're stroking his ego. His eye parts just enough that the nigh-glow of his iris can focus on him.]

Really...

[Curious. Not from around here much, is he?]