by Kodai » 04/21/2011 2:25 PM
It was a good thing that Cipactli was not the sort of vicious predator his species was rumored to be, although rumors were hardly a reliable source of information. Brightening up some due to finding a creature that appeared to share his personality somewhat, the man answered the Hunter's question. "Ah, truthfully, I have an idea of where I'm going, but it's proven extraordinarily difficult to find my bearings. However, I am attempting to make my way to the heart of the jungle, as it were." Suddenly he was struck by something Cipactli mentioned and tilted his head in thought. "Tonuac...? Tonuac... That sounds vaguely familiar... Though I'm afraid I can't place it at the moment... Ah, well..."
He was about to shake the Hunter's offered paw and introduce himself when a new creature arrived and gave her explanation of the witchlights. At first, the man didn't seem to notice the Fellox, but after it spoke, he looked up abruptly and... squinted at it, as if he couldn't see it clearly. Sure, the Fellox was in a ghostly form, but from the way he was staring, it was like he could hardly see it at all. "Now this is interesting," he remarked, pensive. The man fell silent for some time, now more or less oblivious to everything else around him, wondering about this creature. For him to view it in this way... Surely this Fellox had to be... But it would be impolite to ask. He'd just have to become accustomed to the hazy outline of her form.
Just then, a Drakelph leapt into the clearing, joining the other three. The movement broke the man of his reverie, drawing his attention to the little critter that seemed very unhappy. Although he couldn't understand the mad chittering of the squirrel-y creature at all, the way that it was glaring at the Fellox indicated to him that the Drakelph had taken offense at her words. "I take it this Drakelph isn't too keen on being called 'scared'... or perhaps those witchlights were more dangerous than you thought." Ah, a good way to return to what Cipactli had originally said before. "Yes, I've heard of such stories. Will-o'-the-wisps and the like... Naturally, though, if you realize their purpose, it becomes easy to avoid them." Chancing to glance out into the trees, the man suddenly groaned lightly and pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. "...Unless they become persistent in following you."
The source of the man's sudden turn in attitude was a medium-sized light blue ball of flame that was slowly floating towards the group. At the man's words, the fireball darted behind a tree, as if it were afraid of being seen. "It's pointless, Valdemar," the man called, still rubbing the bridge of his nose in mild irritation. "I know you're there."
"Baah," a high-pitched male voice called back in good-natured disappointment. "I get you gut, next time." The flame came back into view, floating over to hover at the man's shoulder. "So, you have party out hier and leave me away?" Although its voice was accented, it was obvious that it was being teasing. "Not nice, not nice."
"This isn't a 'party'; we simply ran into each other," the man explained, a bit irritated. "You're supposed to be watching over the shop. What are you doing out here?"
"Ahh, you hurt me," the flame whimpered, still in a joking manner. "I go to see that you are surviving and you say 'Hallo' to me in this voice? Schrecklich!"
Giving a long sigh, the man dropped his hand and looked at the blue fireball. "Please tell me you at least locked up the store."
"Ja, ja, I do that," it responded, flickering almost happily. As the flame wavered around to the opposite side of the man's head, a grey feline suddenly appeared on his shoulders, slinking around to look at the other three creatures. A shape-shifter, perhaps? "So, wer you all are?"
"...It's 'who'. Wer is 'who', wo is 'where'. You really must commit that to memory," the man told his companion somewhat wearily, as if this mistake had been made countless times before.
"Ohhhh jaaa," the feline nodded, though it was doubtful that he would really remember it again. "So. Who you all are? I miss introductions? Or you forget, Julian?" He looked back to the man, pronouncing the name 'Yoo-lee-ahn'. "You are forget such simple things, sometimes."
"As if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black," he retorted, though not harshly. The interaction between these two was the sort of friendly 'getting on each other's nerves' that only true friends could get away with. "We hadn't quite gotten to that point yet before you so wonderfully interrupted. Though I must admit, you couldn't have had a more perfect entry; we were discussing witchlights–"
"So! My Name Valdemar," the feline cut him off, "and you call him," he gave a nod back at the man, "Julian. So wer you all are?"
"...'Who'."
"...Ja, I say that."