[Rebel_the_Proud]

'And so begins the Journey.'

A thunderous step marked the beginning of the search for either, or both, of two elusive and rare creatures amidst the Basantha Shrine. A low rumble arose from the throat of the brute as he started his decent into the Halls of the Lost, no fear in his dark eyes. Darkness was nothing to fear for this Paragon, as he spent most of his time in the dark, moving only at night. His senses heightened so that he may hear for a potential threat, the great Primal Paragon used every advantage he could, even that of his own flaming tail, which threw off a green glow around him to give just enough light to see where his feet fell. However, though the great beast looked to be alone, a small shadow followed quietly beneath the great beast, flitting between the two trunks of legs of the Paragon.

A little Kodile hovered between the great legs of the beast, his eyes wide with fear as his tiny body trembled, afraid of this dark place. Though he had only met Sogekihei a few days before, Koori had grown quite attached to him, but though he trusted him, Koori feared this strange place and wondered why they had come to such a dark and scary place.

"S-soge? W-why are we h-here?"

The tiny voice reached the hearing of the Paragon and he let out a sigh. Taking in the young Kodile wasn't perhaps the best idea Sogekihei had thought of, but even thinking these thoughts, Sogekihei didn't believe them for a moment. He knew the Kodile was in need of someone and if it had to be the Paragon, it had to be him. In a rather quiet voice for such a large Paragon, Sogekihei replied to the trembling creature, not slowing his pace.

"We are in search of either a Hunter or a Mekkayena. Now remain quiet. We must listen for them."

Silence followed his words, Sogekihei knowing that the obidient Kodile would listen and remain silent until spoken to. Whoever had raised the young creature, had certainly raised him with manners and obedience and Soge had to admire that. Continuing the trek through the dark of the Halls of the Lost, the Paragon did not slow as the darkness swallowed the two whole.




~6~

~6~

[Kestrel]

"Sparthisus, be silent! We're on a search here!" A tiny, bossy voice came from the ground. Sithrah flitted in and out of the great big (to her) Imuet's legs. Her feathered wings were a blur, most of the flapping just to keep herself from sinking to the ground. Sparthisus would never step on her, she knew that, but the higher up she could be, the better. She squinted her eyes in the gloom. Was that two other creatures she could see ahead? That could complicate things. It would be hard enough even finding a Hunter or Mekkayena, without having to deal with others also searching. But perhaps they weren't a hunt for one of the few wild creatures. Perhaps they were here to... sightsee? What sightseeing was there to do here, in one of the three ominous tunnels of the shrine?

Sparthisus wondered what Sithrah wanted this time. When she explained that part he wasn't listening. Or had she even explained it at all? Sithrah brought him to a lot of places without telling him why. He didn't mind. It was great to be able to see the world, even if it consisted of dark, humid places like this. He liked the heat, but detested the darkness. He wasn't scared of the dark, oh no. He just didn't like it. As in the why-does-this-even-exist-it's-so-stupid-and-is-a-waste-of-space type of dislike. He perked up at once when he could see moving shapes ahead of them. It was other creatures! Perhaps they could help on Sithrah's search. He liked company. Sithrah was nice, but she wasn't good at continuing a conversation.

{1-1}{1-1}

[Rebel_the_Proud]

The Paragon halted with a snort, whipping his head around as claws dug into the stoney earth. Something, or someone, was behind them. Sogekihei could feel the Kodile immeadiately cling to his leg, knowing that there was something the matter. In a demanding and unwavering voice, Sogekihei called them out, a growl of warning following his words.

"Who goes there?! Show yourself!"



~7~
~7~

[Kestrel]

Without a second thought, Sparthisus strode quickly to the two voices. He didn't hear Sithrah's enraged protests about being left behind, since she was (obviously) too far behind to hear. He slowed as he neared the two forms, then stopped completely. There was what looked like a Paragon and a tiny Kodile, though he couldn't tell the coloring of the Paragon through the gloom. By now, Sithrah had caught up, and he had to endure her lecture.

Sithrah was very mad. Sparthisus really was too excitable. He lunged forward once he heard the voice, not caring at all if what was ahead was friendly or not. Of course, he thought they would be nice and sweet, being gullible like that. She put her wings into overtime, pumping frantically to catch up with him. Surely scarabs that didn't have feathered wings were so much better off than her. Someday, she'd find a way to get her wings to carry her farther without pumping them so much.

"Hello!" Sparthisus called out excitedly. Sithrah groaned. He really was an idiot. Who used a tone like that to complete strangers in one of the most suspicious and dark places around?

{1-2}{1-2}

[Kestrel]

------ Finally Sithrah caught up to him. Using a combination of her wings and Sparthisus' back, she scaled to the top of his head, and whispered furiously into his ear. "Sparthisus!" she said commandingly, and he answered by attempting to turn his head to her. Obviously, it didn't work, as she was perched on his head. Sithrah mentally groaned. She did that a lot. Surely he hadn't been this dumb when she first met him! "Sparthisus! I don't have time to tell you exactly how wrong that was, so repeat after me. 'Who are you and why are you here?'" Sithrah ordered.
------ "Who are you and why are you here?" Sparthisus whispered obediently.
------ "Good good. Now, say that to those to creatures up there.
------ "Who are you and why are you here?" he called two the two figures up ahead.
------ "Now say 'My name is Sparthisus and this is my companion, Sithrah,'" she ordered.
------ "My name is Sparthisus and this is my companion, Sithrah," he repeated to the Paragon and Kodile.
------ Sithrah, now satisfied with him, fly off his head, and promptly dropped almost to the floor. She sighed. There were actually some perks to sitting on a hot, sweaty, thick-furred Imuet's head. You were higher up then usual, but that was about it.

{1-3}{1-3}

[Kestrel]

------ Sparthisus, noticing that Sithrah hadn't spoken to him in a while, took this chance to examine where they were - as much as he could see, anyway. His eyes swept the tunnel, but all he could see was grime, filth, and muck. Or many they were all the same thing. He wasn't exactly sure.
------ Some might consider the Imuet rather dim, and the fact that Sithrah could easily order him around only added to this thought. But he wasn't. No one expected an Imuet to know their words that well, did they? It wasn't like they had gone to any type of school, after all. As for the ordering around part, it was simply because he instinctively trusted Sithrah, as he did all others. Therefore, this led him to believe every word she said, including the part where she said that she knew what was best for him, and therefore he should always listen to what she told him to do. It never had crossed his mind that the little scarab could be using her for her own gains. That was simply not he thought.

------ Sithrah buzzed impatiently around Sparthisus' feet. She knew that Mekkayena's were hard to find, and that they hadn't been here that long, but she was still impatient. Waiting wasn't part of her nature. It just wasn't something she did easily, or happily.

{1-4}{1-4}

[Kestrel]

------ Finally, after several moments of frantic flapping, Sithrah lost the strength to continue hovering at the height she was at. She alighted on Sparthisus's front right foot, and crawled up to rest on the thing between his ears. She could never figure out what it was, or why he had it. Wouldn't it just hinder him? Of course, huge, feathery wings didn't really help her that much, really, but the thing she was now resting on seemed so useless. At least her wings made her fly, though not very high. It was still flight, and that was all that mattered. In her mind, anyway.

------ Sparthisus decided to sit down at last. His tail swept away the floor, ensuring that no cobwebs, dust, or who-knows-what stuck to him later. This rather sudden action, however, dislodged Sithrah from atop his head, and she landed with a small thump at the floor near his tail. He didn't notice this at all, however, as she was so small, weighed so less, and made so little noise.

{1-5}{1-5}

[Rebel_the_Proud]

ooc// eep! I am SOOO Sorry!!! My muse for rping died. x.x I think its best if I pull my guys out. Sorries!!! =o

Sogekihei remained silent. He did not care much for conversating nor did he care much for hunting with another being... aside from the Kodile, whom he had to take care of. The beasts eyes narrowed, flicking from one area to the other, looking for a way to slip out unnoticed. Lowering his head quietly, the beast whispered to Koori.

"Go..."

Without a word, Koori obeyed and flitted away towards the exit.

The beast watched the beings before him, remaining cloaked in darkness, and then shoved his great, bodily mass across the floor, claws clattering along the floor as he took to the exit, in no rush. They would hunt another day.

~8~

~8~

[Rebel_the_Proud]

((Just coming in to complete my 5 posts to get my charries out))

Koori was afraid of the dark but he knew where the exit was; he just had to get there. He could see the dim light of the exit ahead and he could hear Soge's huge feet clatter on the floor as his nails drove through the hardened ground. Koori flew faster, not afraid of the great beast but just wanting to be ready for him outside. Koori flew out of the opening and quickly halted himself to wait for his guardian.

{9}

[Rebel_the_Proud]

Sogekihei followed, well not really, the Kodile. His eyes shone brightly in the dark, enabling his sight to be far greater than most. As his heavy feet plodded against the earth, clattering with each footfall, it only showed how much closer he was getting to the opening and before long, Sogekihei emerged into the sunlight. He did not slow or stop, or even look, for Koori, continuing on his walk, sure the Kodile would follow; and that he did. And the two disappeared.

{9}