Home Again (open)

[Nyah ++ [lfrog]]

The grass was long and pale green as it waved in the chilling wind. If the air wasn't so dry it would be snowing, the dark gray clouds looming above in a foreboding way. The dark gryphon looked around her as she took in everything around her. After journeying through Hertuk Desert, feeling grass brush against her legs again was like a dream.

It had been nearly a year since she had left this world behind her, planning to never return. How, she had to wonder what she would meet upon her return. Would she find her old Gypsy clan? And if she did, would they let her join them? Or would they reject her, just like when she was young. And more importantly, would she even wish to join them. Probably not, she thought. They had shown her nothing but hate and rejection. She felt nothing but contempt for them.

Not sure where she was going, she padded forward, deciding to just live in the moment. She was home, she had nowhere she needed to be, and she needed to rest her wings and find something to drink. She fanned her winds out, allowing the wind to cool them off as she flapped them up and down slowly to work out the stiffening muscles.

Number of Words: 216
Things To Know: Nyah was born here and left shortly after becoming fully grown. She has only just returned.
Character: Nyah
Anything Else? Nyah is half gypsy

[flippedside]

It was not the first time that Blade had been in this place. He enjoyed the tall grass that rolled in the wind like ocean waves, the slight spicy scent of the grass, and the faint, teasing scent of hot blood. Blade walked slowly through the grasses, his golden body with the faint striping down his legs blending him perfectly with the brown grass, dead from the icy winter winds. The golden-brown of his eagle half blended less well, but he wasn't hiding, so he wasn't bothered by this. The wind whipped his feathers, and tousled his fur, driving the cold against his skin. Blade sat and ran his beak carefully over his fur, smoothing his thick coat down to keep the biting chill of the wind out. He fluffed his feathers around his neck slightly, creating a warm ruff.

Blade looked up in time to see another gryphon walking towards him, her wings spread as though she were ready to take flight. He blinked and looked at her in surprise. Where had she come from? Must have flown in while he wasn't looking. He quickly sized her up. She appeared young and small, her body mostly black with gray mixed in on her chest and face feathers. The black made distinct marks faded, but her silhouette stood out sharply against the brown and green of the grass. With the dark clouds behind her and her wings spread, Blade was briefly reminded of some sort of avenging gryphon goddess. Not that he truly believed such a thing. He stood and stalked towards her.

"Pleasant day for a storm," Blade called cheerfully. He didn't think she'd seen him yet. Oddly, he was in a friendly mood, content after bringing down large prey and gorging himself. Normally, he would have ignored the strange gryphon and let her go her way without ever noticing him.


Number of Words: 318
Things To Know: Blade is usually a jerk, but right now he's in a good mood.
Character: Blade
Anything Else? Trinity and I are working out all the conjury skills that gypsies, bards, and healers have, so we'll get that up as soon as it's done. ;D

[Nyah ++ [lfrog]]

Nyah's eyes fluttered shut as she felt the cool breeze against her warm wings, the drastic change in temperature shooting shivers through them so that they twitched. As crazy as it might seem, she missed the cold winters here from her childhood. She could remember when she and her brother and sister would play in these very fields on days not so different from this one. Not only that, but it also made you appreciate the warmth that came from spring and summer that much more. She was amazed she'd lasted as long as she did away.

A cheerful voice broke her from her thoughts and as she opened her eyes she scanned in front of her, almost instantly having her sights fall on a fellow gryphon. His appearance surprised her, having thought she was alone in the pains area. Doing a quick glance over, she wondered what to make of him. Was he friend or foe? He seemed to give off a good enough first impression, but she'd been deceived too many times to trust them. Still, she was in a good, if somewhat tired mood at the moment, so why not have a bit of a chat?

Dipping her head in acknowledgment her eyes flickered up to the darkening sky. "It'll be a big one if these clouds are any indication." she agreed. It almost seemed fitting for a storm to break up as soon as she returned. She'd left during a storm, and now she would return with one as well. It was almost poetic really, in a forlorn way.

As the other gryphon approached Nyah's eyes scrutinized his appearance. He wasn't young, but he also wasn't too old, and if it weren't for the many startling scars that were etched across his body she might even consider him to be handsome.

Number of Words: 314
Things To Know: Nyah finds it difficult to trust anyone, but she's also in a good mood so is willing to talk.
Character: Nyah
Anything Else?: cool, thanks for getting that all straightened out ^^

[flippedside]

"Hm." Blade glanced up at the sky, watching the rapid shift of the clouds for a moment. "I've always liked a good storm," he commented thoughtfully. A good romp through tall grasses whipping in the wind and rain suddenly sounded appealing. Odd--Where had that come from?

He turned back to the other gryphon. "Are you from around here?" Blade asked politely. He hoped she wasn't part of some local grex--he rather liked this place. It was full of food and a nice stopping place on long flights--unlike the desert, which he hated. No gryphon was meant to live in the heat and dust of that place. Though now he thought of it, he supposed that it wouldn't be too hot this time of year. Cold and dust, then. Still no food, either way. He pulled his mind back to the present moment, fighting off the urge to let his thoughts roam free.

Danger lurked most when one wasn't paying attention. Blade studied the other gryphon briefly. He didn't sense any danger from her, but he also could see that she wasn't weak. Not that this concerned him, but it did remind him that he needed to stay aware. Life as a loner could be quite dangerous...Especially when you had as large a collection of enemies as Blade did.


Number of Words: 228
Things To Know: Meh. Rather museless at the moment...I guess cause it's late and I'm tired.
Character: Blade
Anything Else? Nada.

[Nyah ++ [lfrog]]

As the other gryphon looked up Nyah did also, examining the churning clouds overhead. Listening as he spoke she stayed quiet, considering her words carefully. Was she from around here? That could be answered a few different ways. She had been born and raised here, but had left almost a year earlier. It wasn't really her home at all anymore. Since than she had always just... been. But now that she was back, did she want to continue that way, or did she want to tie herself here, in this land so different and varied, yet also so familiar?

She could feel the wind pick up slightly and felt the grass caress her legs, the ground feeling moist compared to the sand of the desert she'd spent that last week in. Now that she'd put so much effort in coming back, would she want to leave? And did she actually want to tell this strange gryphon anything of herself? He sounded like he was making more of an effort at politeness than actual interest.

"Yes." Nyah finally answered, "But I've been away for awhile now." There, simple and sweet. "What about you?" Something about him told her he didn't stick to one place, but he had asked so it seemed only right that she should too. Either that or she was seriously bored and desperate for a little bit of companionship after so long without seeing another living thing, let alone talking to one.

Number of Words: 249
Things to Know: my sister is making me strain my creative juice at the moment with writing on one of my fanfics, so this may be kinda bleh.
Character: Nyah
Anything Else?: nope, nothing i can think of

[flippedside]

In the distance, thunder muttered. Blade turned from the female gryphon to feel the wind whipping against his feathers. It picked up in a blast of icy air that hissed through the tall grasses. The faint patter of rain picked out the heavy scents of earth and green growing things. Blade shook his head and fluffed his feathers to keep dry. The water ran off his thick pelt, leaving his pale undercoat dry. He turned back to the stranger.

"No, I'm not from these parts." He shrugged. "I like to travel about, though." He was speaking without really thinking his answers through, feeling himself to be easy and relaxed. It was rare for Blade to feel that way around other gryphons. The distant flash of lightening sent a shiver of pleasure through his body.

Blade listened to the wet smack of the grass as it was whipped sideways, enjoying the sound of the rain as it fell across the grassland. He knew that sitting there getting wet, he would eventually grow irritated with the rain and hunt out a tree or a dry space. But for now it felt alive and refreshing.

"I love a good storm. Well, most days, anyway." He grinned to himself. He was talking as much to himself as to the other gryphon. He turned towards her. "Nice place, this, though I suppose being in a place this open to all the elements could get old." He peered into the sky, squinting to keep the rain out of his eyes. "So you are a loner like me, then?" he asked. It was possible she was part of a group of roaming gryphons, but Blade doubted it since she was alone.


Number of Words: 285
Things To Know: Grr. Just missed 300.
Character: Blade
Anything Else? Nope.

[Nyah ++ [lfrog]]

The soft rumble of thunder sounded in Nyah's head like a kind of alarm or reminder. She hadn't been in a real storm, actually out standing in it, for a year now. The last time she had, the first thing that had warned her of it was the thunder. She'd then looked up to see the dark sky hanging over her, and seconds later the heavens opened up on top of her as she sat in this very field. She'd been left behind then, and was sitting alone, truly alone for the first time in her life. And in that moment, she'd made a hasty decision. Without a second thought she'd left her whole world behind her, flying out across the desert in search for, what she hoped, was a better life. That wasn't what she met though.

As she recalled the events of that fateful day she felt a small droplet of rain land on her head. Looking up into the sky she felt her eyes flutter shut for a moment as the glacial winds blew through her. A smile tugged her Nyah's lips at the other gryphons comment on storms. She had always loved them too, save for that one odd year. But now that she was back, she suddenly wondered why she'd detested them so. At the moment, she just felt a great wave of relief at finally experiencing another winter storm, back at home.

She pondered his question, a wary smile tugging at her lips, "Yes, I suppose I am a loner. Though out of desire or merely being," she paused to think of a accurate work, quirking a small smirk as she continued, "unwelcomed by most, your guess is a good as mine." To this day she was still unsure if she'd ever accept an offer to join a gypsy clan if it ever arose. She still held a great deal of resentment towards her kind.

Number of Words: 331
Things to Know: i actually got over 300 this time ^^
Character: Nyah
Anything Else?: Nope, notta

[flippedside]

"Unwelcomed," Blade considered the word, rolling it on his tongue. "I am familiar with that. It seems that most kacha are unwelcomed most places, no matter their nature or class." He twitched his head to the side, enjoying the cooling rain against his thick pelt. "Then again," he added, eyes gleaming, "I suppose some gryphons are considered more dangerous than others." He groomed his chest with his beak, smoothing his feathers against the wet.

Standing, Blade shook himself, and then settled again to preen his wings. He watched the female out of the corner of his eye, trying to judge her response to him. As yet, he was doing nothing intimidating, letting the rain soak away the threat of darkness.

Lightening ripped the sky, blazing across Blade's eyes. He jerked and blinked, briefly able to see a sea of whipping grass lit in silver. In another moment, it was gray and dim, hissing with the wind and the pounding rain. Blade fluffed his feathers, enjoying the wildness of the storm. Thunder rumbled.

Deep in himself he felt an echoing rumble and touch of wildness that wanted to fly straight into the heart of the storm, ripping with talons and claws and screaming with the roar of the wind and the strength of the thunder. He stayed put, half-dreaming of touching the storm with raw strength. In truth, a storm like this would be likely to strike him down from the sky, raining his own blood and feathers on the ground below.

He chased his dreams away. "Nice as this storm is, I think I wouldn't mind hunting out somewhere drier." Blade glanced about. "Course, that's easier said than done." The emptiness reflected the wild storm beautifully, but...The lack of trees dragged a bit against his skin. "Since you've been here before, I don't suppose you'd know of a dry spot nearby?"


Number of Words: 320
Things To Know: Um...Blade apparently likes storms. I know I like storms...from inside next to a nice fire. lol. i do love thunder and lightening, though. but rain is only good so long as i can return to dry clothes and a warm house. traveling in the rain sucks.
Character: Blade
Anything Else? geez. sorry for the looong wait...i'm usually faster in replying but i've had finals and...bleh. insanely busy with homework and projects. anyway, i promise to be better at replying...for the next couple weeks, anyway.

[Nyah ++ [lfrog]]

Nyah thought about his words as she ruffled her feathers. "Yeah," she murmured slowly, "it seems only natural that some gryphons would be more dangerous than others." Glancing the older gryphon over briefly, she couldn't help but feel that he happened to be one of these said gryphons, though if he was he had yet to show it.

As lightning streaked across the sky the young female jumped slightly, the light momentarily blinking her and causing her to blink rapidly for a moment to regain her sight. Thunder rumbled soon after, telling that the storm was almost upon them. Nyah wasn't sure if she should feel this was a good or bad thing. She enjoyed the wildness that storms brought, but this was already a big one, and it could end up being quite dangerous.

She nodded in agreement to his desire to find a drier area, briefly realizing that she didn't even know the gryphon's name. Not that it mattered much, she thought. They'd likely never see one another again.

Considering the area she thought back to her childhood and the years after that she had spent in the plains. She hadn't been there in over a year, and she knew things could have changed in that time. "It's been a year since I was last here, but I think there is a small patch of trees that could provide a small covering in that direction..." she murmured, more thinking out loud as she pointed to her right. "It would be quicker to get there if we could fly, but I'm not sure if that would be a good idea in this storm."

Number of Words: 282
Things to Know: Nyah likes storms too, and apparently has an idea of where they can hide from this particular storm... and I'm pretty much just making this up as i go...
Character: Nyah
Anything Else? that's okay, and sorry it took me so long to reply, I forgot to check to see if you had finished your reply or not.

[flippedside]

Blade looked in the direction that the female gryphon's beak pointed. The rain had started coming down in sheets, and it was impossible to see very far. He narrowed his eyes and blinked against the water that was continually running into them. "I'm all for some trees, at this point. This storm could get nasty." He turned and bounded off through the wet grass, the wind whipping his fur and feathers back, the grass shushing as he wound through it. Blade was a good runner, his body long and lean and made for powerful leaps and thrusts. Even his forelegs were solidly built, able to take the pounding strain of a good run. Though he generally preferred flying, the storm made that too dangerous.

As he bounded ahead, Blade glanced back to make sure that Nyah was following. He wasn't sure exactly where the trees were located, and in this storm, it might be easy to miss them. Normally, the sight of dark trees breaking up the flat plains would be an easy sight. Then again, the plains weren't truly flat, but slightly rolling, and he wasn't in the air, either. Also, the rain and darkness made sight difficult and Blade knew it would be easy to miss the sight of shelter without the help of someone who knew the terrain.

He paused to half-spin, so that he could look at his new companion. "How far?" he called, shaking the water off of his pelt. Not that it did any good--his fur was just as wet a moment later as it had been before.


Number of Words: 271
Things To Know: It's raining here at my house, just like it is on Blade. Only I'm inside and he's outside getting wet.
Character: Blade
Anything Else? Nope.