Monsters, M o n s t e r s! (open)

Ambiance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jeyrt0A6fAI

The picture is set with a young dragon walking through the forest near the Crystal Sea, taking in his surroundings, he decides to come to a rest finally, setting his satchel off to the side and rolling his shoulders in relief his gaze falls onto the trees surrounding him, the air is very still and the sunlight is a soft orange gleam rising above the distant ocean filtering through the swaying trees like a river.

This FireWing went by the name of Compass, he left home recently and set off on his own path. He is greatly intrigued by the influx of monsters from the past two years and hopes to study them more in detail today.

"Lovely day, lovely day..." He muttered under his breath as a bluejay passed by singing chords of chirps. He picked up his map of eastern Pyrria and began tracing his claw over it, until finally settling on his location. Looking up from the parchment his excitement began building at the thought of what he might find in these sunrise-drenched woods.

Poem, A name he found on the very weapon he found next to him. He walked across the beach at a steady pace. His wings glistened in the light, casting a purple hue across the ground. while his outstretched paws splashed against the surface of the water as the tide washed slowly in and out. he felt his tail softly skipping across the surface of the water, with the blade following behind. he felt at home here, everything this place has offered him has been a blessing. food, water, serenity, no dragon could possibly want more. well, that's what he feels. he has never seen the outside world, other than the very line of ocean and land he has walked over hundreds of times.

he walked awhile longer, pausing every once in a while to close his eyes and take in the beauty of his surroundings. eventually, as he walked he spotted another dragon. one with fire. he paused, and a strong beat pulsed within his ears. "A Dragon, other than me" there was clearly a reason to retreat. but something was different, this dragon had a map.

Maybe now he can figure out where he is and maybe who he is when the time comes. Poem slowly crawled back into the water letting the salt sting his gills. he felt his sinuses fill with water as he let go of his breath. He flexed the webbed spines on his back to stabilize himself in the water and began to slowly swim toward the stranger. his head poked out of the water, he was left trying to determine if the other dragon would kill him. the dragon was a dark red and was glowing purple in the sunlight. Poem got closer, the eyes were black. but this dragon had a sense of calm to him, one Poem could trust.
and now he realized he had a new hope, making a friend.

((This is Baldirak. Just so you know, Poem, Compass isn't on the beach. He's in a forest, so it's not likely you'd have seen him. ))

Siris looked down at the glistening water below him. Several small islands dotted the gulf and to the northwest was the coast. There was a human city at the western end, but the rest belonged once to the SeaWings. To the north of their land territory, unclaimed land which housed a small forest. It paled in comparison to the massive forest in EarthWing territory.

According to Mae, this gulf was known as the Crystal Sea. It seemed like a good place to relax, but alas, Siris had not time for such luxuries. The ElderWing leader was searching for more survivors to potentially bring back to one of the Tal's safe zones. The Ilos looked to his right, at the GateKeeper. "Durval, have you spotted any Kreu?"

"None yet, Ilos, but I'm sure the buggers are about. Don't worry, yer the first to know if ol' Durval spots the spawn of Yamickh, haha! Ah! But I do see a wee one in the sand."

Siris scanned the coast. Sure enough, there was a SeaWing slipping into the ocean. "Your eyes are keener than mine, old friend. Greet our Predecessor and aid them if they need it. I will continue to search, perhaps further inland, in that forest."

"Yes, Ilos." Durval closed his wings slightly and dove down. He went right into the water and swam after the SeaWing. "Greetings, Predecessor! Durval is me name! Are ye by yerself lad?"

Siris, meanwhile flew on toward the nearby forest.

Compass, unknowing of the sudden newcomers from behind, delved deeper into the wood. Sloppily slinging his satchel back over his shoulder and down his waist, he padded onward to the sounds of a river...river? He stopped. There was no river on his charts-his pointed ears pricked to the sound behind him, not a river, but flapping dragon wings. The trees blocked his view of the source of the noise, but he realized he was not alone in these woods.

Unknowing if the creature would be friend or foe, he continued on his trek, stopping every once in a while to examine moss or leaves, or the occasional hill of ants. Wanting to see if the situation is safe, he climbed the nearest tree, knocking down several branches and sending pine leaves falling down beneath him until he reached the very top. The tree swayed under his weight and the wind as he watched the distance for signs of life.

Poem was a little unsettled, he hasn't heard a hello in years, or he just forgot the last time he did. " yes I am alone." he had his blade ready to strike if this was another Assassin." why are you here?" he hopes he won't have to kill another dragon.

Compass eyed the feathered dragon suspiciously, it seemed quite friendly enough. "I suppose I am no longer alone now" he said with an air of slight discomfort, this tree didn't exactly seem stable. Compass didn't even want to start on the dragons strange way of addressing him, "Predecessor", or whatever they meant by it. At the top of the tree Compass could see into the distance and spotted a similar looking dragon down by the waters edge, seemingly speaking to another, he guided his eyes back the dragon before him and spoke, "excuse me, do you mind if I ask, what is it exactly that you want? he hoped he didn't come across as rude.

Poem Wondered if he should listen to this stranger. and what did he mean by a predecessor? he slowly paced in a circle where he stood, "what tal, if you mean family or tribe I have none." he once again waded in the water. and with no intention of leaving, Poem laughed. "anyway why would I need to be protected?" he quietly laid down and caught a small fish with his jaws and ate it whole. he intently glared at the stranger and waited for him to talk.

Compass, despite his want to explore the world, was kind of born under a rock. He did not know of this "Twilight Imperium" or "Kreu" but based off how the Elderwing regarded them he assumed it was some strange way to call monsters. "I'm out here by m' own choice" he stated matter-of-factly, "I do not need escort, but thank you for the offer"; he turned to leave but hesitated, this dragon looked as if he'd seen battle before, perhaps he'd know where to find the strange beasts?

"Question, have you seen any of these uh 'monsters' around here? Anything that's not primal fauna?" He felt rather stupid saying "monsters" but that's all he could think to describe them as.

Poem loved the water, he never thought he would leave it behind. but he thought deeply about what Durval said. if it is true that there are monsters out there that can kill us, maybe it would be best if I go, but only for a while. " fine I will go." poem looked around one last time admiring the feeling of the wind and salty air, a small feeling inside told him that this place will be waiting for him. he turned back towards Durval. " but there is something I have to tell you, I cant fly."

((I'll try to reply to this today, if not, then tomorrow.))

Poem felt his new weightlessness, as he slowly lifted out of the water. he panicked and flapped his useless wings helplessly, but he did not move. he just hovered there above the water. the strange dragon in front of him smiling, staring right back at him. Poem's talons dangled a few inches above the clear water, fish swimming below him in the noon time sun. the only thing helping was the he was told that he would still be somewhat wet as the stranger said but he was very uncomfortable with being in the air. he tilted himself forward to move a little. Poem panicked and started thrashing to make it stop "Please put me down!" he continued to go faster moving forward almost hitting the stranger, "Stop please, make it stop!" and then dove headfirst into the soft dirt a dozen feet away. He once again hovered above the dirt, now a little muddy."why cant I go down" he glared at the odd Dragon in front of him.