[Kallile]

It had been a long trek through unforgiving terrain. It had been an even longer boat ride past Jawan—Malu’s home and rightfully where they should have gone. But this was important; this was something that needed to be delivered straight to Kallile no matter what. The look on her face of pure disbelief and pride: ah yes, Malu could see it now. She smiled a little in her half asleep state.

Matrix was not so content. He could see the shores of the Dead Coast and the sun was coming up fast. This would all be worthless if that mutated sea serpent boiled alive in the new sun. He grumbled, stalking the ropes of the ship with constant aggressive snarling.

Clave was less than thrilled with the extent of this trip as well. He sat pressed against the side of the ship between two secured barrels, glowering and being generally displeased with the current state of things. This is not what he had had in mind for a trip to a new home. How…primitive. He kept his smaller eyes on Argus and Malu, his larger ones watched the shore draw nearer. “It’s about time…” He hissed, not caring if he awoke the sleeping lady. She was over there all snug and secure by her knight in tattered fur. Clave would have to admit, it was hard to apply his 'skills' when he was truly on the brink of jumping overboard and saying 'forget it' to this whole situation.

Malu {39} Matrix {38} Clave {8}

[Citanul]

Argus cared not for the seafaring journey, but he would be content for now. Malu's trainer was supposedly near this Dead Coast... No matter. The Akail would go with them and it would not take too long to find the trainer.

"Hush, Akail." Argus gently nosed at Malu to wake her, moving to stretch and ruffle his feathers before smoothing them again. Getting off of this cramped little ship would be amazing... He couldn't help but not be too attracted to the water.

"Malu. We will be ashore soon."

[Kallile]

Clave took noted offence to the hushing. Giving a swift raising of lips to flash sharp fangs, he glared at the Gyrraptor. There was not much more to this action—a simple threat—a warning that he was still capable of dealing damage if so forced. And he was getting to the point of feeling forced.

“I will hush when I am good and ready, Gyrraptor.” He said in lowered tones—meant to sound more menacing rather than obedient.

Matrix clung to a rope above Argus and Malu, watching the pair. Malu was too content right now…too…

He didn’t have time to finish this thought—the boat came coasting into the dock and bumped into the numerous tired tethered to the sides for such occasions. Tiny claws grated across the top layer of the rope—shredding both claws and rope as the little Bleeder tried not to be launched overboard.

Malu, while slowly and peacefully waking up by the gentle coaxing of Argus, was suddenly jarred awake by the shock as the boat hit. Giving a sharp shrill, she scrambled for any hold her claws could find—not coherent enough to understand exactly what was happening.

[Citanul]

Well, it really wasn't a menacing sound to Argus. After hearing the war cries and battle sounds of an army, a quiet growl from an Akail was nothing. Sighing he shifted and just nosed Malu again.

Well, that was before the boat jarred them ashore. Growling Argus dug his claws into the wood of the boards, his thick frame allowing him more control than the others. Once steady again he shook his body and went to help Malu up before looking around for the rest - as much as he detested Matrix being there.

"Are you alright, Malu?" He asked soflty as he looked to her.

[Kallile]

Malu let her shock widened eyes drift up to a blurry Argus silhouette, blinking a few times to make him appear more clearly. Bottom jaw quivering with fright, she slowly nodded and shoved herself to her feet—promptly wobbling once there. She hadn’t notice, laying down the whole trip, how uneasy to wave of the ocean and her own unsteadiness made her stomach feel.

“I…” She began, the muscles in her neck constricting rather suddenly. “I’ll be alright. Can we get off now? Please?” Her scales looked a bit green around the rims, as her eyes were beginning to look a little blood shot.

From his two footed grip on the rope, Matrix gave a soft cackle. “You never could stomach anything.” He jeered down at her, prying his claws loose before scampering down the rope and onto the docks like a common rat.

Clave—not half as jarred as the others thanks to his current station, stood up and gave a quick stretch. “For once, I agree with the female. Let’s get off this thing.” There was a sour note to his voice—not one of sea sickness, but more of regret. Had he really selected the right crew for this new home project of his? So far, they weren’t seeming like much. Hopefully this famed trainer of the Serraptor’s would be worth this torment.

The deck hands were busy now: lowering sails, tossing thick ropes ashore, and lowering the plank for their few passengers t exit. Malu eyed this precious piece of slated wood with envy for the stable ground it would soon deliver her to.

[Citanul]

"Just wait for a moment, let them get the board down." Argus bared his jaws at Matrix before taking a few cautious steps on the ship. Being only on two legs he and Malu would have a difficult time adjusting to the new senations - Matrix and the Akail at least had more balance.

Waving his tail a little to help keep his balance Argus shifted to help Malu steady as they got off of the ship, thanking the deckhands for the ride. "Where do we head to now, Malu?" He asked as he looked around the salt-covered sand. One could make a life gathering it... Salt was essential to those who kept food for long periods of time, to preserve it. A high dollar would be paid in far-off lands for such a rare commodity for them.

[Kallile]

Matrix was already on the sands—his tiny claws making grating sounds against the compacted sand that made up the earth here. He had a strong distaste for this place already. The ship ride and left him no worse for wear (it could be assumed Bleeders may not have to deal with things such as balance issues—being of the non-living) but it had left him with an appetite. He looked over his shoulder to Malu. Her sickness and the misery it caused would do as an appetizer for the time being.

Clave was slow to exit the ship, giving hateful glances at the sailors. He was, after all, a rare and untamed beast—he need not leave them completely unharmed. When he noted one staring a little too long, he gave a quick lunge and bluffing hiss at them before hitting the dry sands. He lifted his claws away from it. Such an awful feeling after being used to the smoothed rocky floor of the Caverns. And what was this? Stuck?

Indeed—there was sand compounded between his toes in just the first step. He gave a soft, almost kitten-like hiss at the substance before shaking his foot violently. This trip needed to end…rather quickly at that.

Knowing Argus was in the same boat (no pun intended) as herself in balance, Malu tried not to lean to heavily on him. It was hard though: the world around her continued to rock and sway like the waves and her stomach continued to churn angrily. She was glad she hadn’t eaten in a while. She blinked a few times, trying to look around to the best of her abilities. “I’m…not sure. Basantha Shrine in the mountain range…wherever that is.” She replied weakly. Everything on the horizon looked a little mountainous at the moment.

[Citanul]

The old Gyrraptor never minded bearing the extra weight. He held steady as Malu regained her balance, pausing for a moment on the shore to take in the scenery. Not for his own benefit, mind you, but the ocean had a way of throwing off one's senses.

"Well, one can only assume the Mountain range is towards that rocky outcropping there." He nodded his head slightly towards the way. "I cannot say I have been here many times before, but I am sure there will be someone to show us the way."


A mechanical laugh turned into a true Hyena's laugh as the Mekkyena padded towards them, mechanics seeming to all work today since his gait was smooth. "So we meet here, old one?" Another of the hysterical laughs.

"I know the way to the Mountains."

"I am sure you do." Argus scoffed, feathers ruffled as he hissed softly, Malu still held close by his side. "We need no leader like you on this journey."

"Like me? I should take that as an insult." Kerberos still held that smirk on his maw, bi-colored eyes watching the little group of pets. "I have more endurance than your little rag-tag band put together."

[Kallile]

Matrix was already a good distance away from the group—his barely organic body stinging with every step as the salty sands touched cuts he had not (until now) been aware of. Argus had given him a good bruising—that was for sure. He hissed a little at the thought, stopping to let the others catch up. That joke of an Akail could make himself useful as a chariot…

Malu was more than taken aback by the appearance of the Mekka. She had heard of them, of course, but had never seen one outside the pages of a book. Now here she was—woozy and faced with another monster. She blinked her eyes groggily, trying to shake the feeling of sickness from her mind. Now was certainly not the time. She wrapped her head behind Argus’—hoping not to watch whatever was going to happen.

Clave was, perhaps, the only one intrigued by this new guest.  Not only because it seemeed he could be a beast of true worth—but if he knew the way he could get them out of this blasted sand stuff faster.

But—he had to remember his character. Wild—yes, yes. Puffing himself up he opened his mouth full of slender fangs. “You accuse me of having no endurance, metal one? Group them as you will, but know that I am a class altogether different.”

Cold eyes kept their focus on the Mekka, whip-like tail lashing at the ground behind him in a mock-taunt. Of course, Clave had no intentions of fighting this God-created beast, but he could not stand by and take such insults to his ‘wild heritage’.

[Citanul]

Bi-colored eyes scanned the group as a chuckle left the Mekkyena, shifting easily on his paws. It seemed the salt and sea did nothing to hinder his movements. Baring teeth he watched the Akail, his gaze holding an obvious malicious intent. "I did not adress you specifically, Creature of the Caverns."

Argus growled deep in his chest, continuing to watch over his little band. "Let us through, Kerberos."

"No need to be so protective over your troops." The Mekka laughed, the sound bone-chilling as he moved out of their direct path. "I will see you at the Expanse, Raptor. And you better not be bringing this trash with you. We need no more overzealous know-it-alls there."

[Kallile]

Clave sniveled up his lips again to the Mekka, letting a low hiss whisper out from between his fangs. Oh yes—he liked this metallic hound. Too bad it couldn’t have been the Mekka who he had found in the Caverns. He supposed that for the moment that was an irrelevant thought—the sun was going to start rising soon and even if it would not strongly affect his eyes, it would affect his sensitive skin. As things stood—he was a sitting duck.

Malu lifted her head a little and looked to Kerberos only to find there were three of him—spinning slowly around each other. She took a long few blinks, lifting her head back up. “You need not fear me showing up at your home.” She said effortlessly, as if the word “garbage” was said to her on a regular basis. Though, that said, she did raise her Mohawk a little to him. She wanted so badly to make another comment…but she couldn’t. That beast would be ripping her limbs apart before she could even finish. She just bowed her head back, whispering to Argus softly. “Let’s just go…”

Matrix had stopped a short distance behind Kerberos—admiring the mekka. It wasn’t often one would spot something so evilly manufactured. He smirked a little, staying in the big dogs’ shadow as he removed himself from the path. Maybe it was time for him to start up some more fun—his stomach was rumbling again.

[Citanul]

The Mekka laughed easily, the sound getting rather metallic towards the end. "So even she agrees, this little band of yours is trash. Worthless. Have fun freezing in the mountains, Reptiles." With a smirk he loped off easily towards where he had come from. This would not be the last they saw of him... No. He was planning on doing much more than scaring them slightly.

Shaking his head Argus watched her, nuzzling her soft mohawk of feathers as he nudged them on. "The cover of the trees will save your skin from being burnt, Akail." Leading the way they were soon under the cover of the trees, shade in the early-morning hours. They would have cover until they reached the mountains, and even then hopefully find her Trainer so they need not venture farther than need be.

[Kallile]

Matrix was still close behind the Mekkayena—crawling up onto one of the metal platings on his arm. The little beast was practically light as air—and he hoped not heavy enough to truly disturb the Mekka.

“Going to trust a troop of reptiles to go it alone?” He whispered in a rasping voice that sounded like the voice of Death itself. “If you want your home to stay pure—I’d watch the look the two raptors give one another. Let it continue…you may be overrun with little claws...”

Quickly the Bleeder detached himself from Kerberos and rolled behind him again. While his hopes rested in not being seen, he was positive this beast was smarter than to believe his voice to just be one that appeared in his head.

Clave said little as they walked through the sparingly spread trees. It was shaded, though patches of skin still got a few fleeting seconds of sunlight. The burning sensation wasn’t nearly as painful as trying to pretend that he could barely see. Holding the feathers of Malu’s tail in his mouth, eyes squinted, he tried to follow as blindly as he could.

Malu seemed uneasy by the new attachment on her tail, though she kept moving. She was feeling a little bit steadier and less woozy—both good signs for sure. However, this also meant that she got her first real look at just how far away the mountains were. “Oh no…” She mused, shoulders slumping back. “Maybe we should have just taken him to Jawan…I never meant to cause you this much trouble, Argus.”

[Citanul]

Kerberos was no idiot. He knew the voice came from somewhere... But as he turned to move he felt his mechanical leg stiffen, making him limp. He was just a little too slow, but caught sight of the little Bleeder. "I am not leaving them alone. Distance must be kept to make sure they do not suspect me." He growled softly in his voice, non-mechanical ear flickering. "We will not be overrun with little claws. I will not allow it."

Argus would have made sure that the Akail was clamped onto his tail, but his was too short to be of much use. Claive would be stepping on the back of his claws, which would only hinder their movement. "Don't worry, Malu. The journey will not be as long as you think. Nightfall we will be out of the forest... Then we can scale the mountains to find your Trainer.

[Kallile]

Matrix grinned, a little extra ooze dripped from his mouth as if he was drooling in anticipation. He moved back into the Mekka’s sights—more confident after seeing his mechanical leg lock just slightly. He was small and quick enough that he was sure he could outrun the big brute. “Then perhaps you and I can strike an alliance of some sort…”

Clave grimaced at himself. What was he doing? Holding this females tail in his mouth and letting himself be led around like a dumb dog. This trainer had better be wonderful—no—phenomenal, for him to endure this. He had picked his player, though he began to grow worried as the mood began to change more somber and loving. He was not fully prepared to shift into another persona, nor was he quite sure how a wild beast would handle such things. But before he could think things fully through he found himself talking.

”I am surprised a warrior such as yourself would take such a mate. She hardly seems to hail from royal blood…so she must be your mate for you to assume such protective measures over her.”

Malu did not turn her head at the comment. But her eyes went wide and her heart felt like it stopped. Were they acting like mates. Oh Gods…were they. But Lono—her real mate who had lost his life for her—was she really betraying him so suddenly?