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MoondustManwise
Helix paused a moment atop a hill, admiring the view it afforded of the Starfall Isles. Around him were the familiar littered bones of home. He had always had a morbid fascination with where the two territories met, pink stone and pretty vistas melding into the squishy meatiness of the Wastelands, and made an effort to stop by once a month to look for anything cool. Specimens were rare, as the residents of Arcane were quick to pick up anything of scientific value, but the odd half-melted rock was common enough and made for a decent conversation piece. Indeed, one particular chip of glowing Chalcedony seemed
very enticing. Helix began to climb down a bit to reach for it, then instinctively froze - he could see someone moving just a few lengths away, slinking towards the border. He shifted, trying not to be seen, and send a few loose rocks scittering down the hillside.
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MoondustManwise
Helix paused a moment atop a hill, admiring the view it afforded of the Starfall Isles. Around him were the familiar littered bones of home. He had always had a morbid fascination with where the two territories met, pink stone and pretty vistas melding into the squishy meatiness of the Wastelands, and made an effort to stop by once a month to look for anything cool. Specimens were rare, as the residents of Arcane were quick to pick up anything of scientific value, but the odd half-melted rock was common enough and made for a decent conversation piece. Indeed, one particular chip of glowing Chalcedony seemed
very enticing. Helix began to climb down a bit to reach for it, then instinctively froze - he could see someone moving just a few lengths away, slinking towards the border. He shifted, trying not to be seen, and send a few loose rocks scittering down the hillside.
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MoondustManwise
He couldn't believe it. He hadn't been spotted. The wave of relief that swept over him was tangible as he reached out and swiped his prize, placing it gently into the padded satchel that wrapped around his waist. Then his elation vanished as quickly as it had come, with the realization that there would be no way of getting back across the border without an interaction with this stranger. Not that he was intimidated, of course. Not that intimidated. Maybe just a little. Regardless, he knew what he had to do if he wanted to get back home. Helix cautioned a greeting. "You there! Ah...hello?"
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MoondustManwise
He couldn't believe it. He hadn't been spotted. The wave of relief that swept over him was tangible as he reached out and swiped his prize, placing it gently into the padded satchel that wrapped around his waist. Then his elation vanished as quickly as it had come, with the realization that there would be no way of getting back across the border without an interaction with this stranger. Not that he was intimidated, of course. Not that intimidated. Maybe just a little. Regardless, he knew what he had to do if he wanted to get back home. Helix cautioned a greeting. "You there! Ah...hello?"
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interestingword
Agape tossed her head back, and let out a startle screech. She then snapped her jaws shut, looking slightly embarrassed.
Oh, uh, hello!
She paused.
I'm uh, I can explain why I'm on your territory, I swear! H-hey wait, you're on mine!
Impressed as she was by the very, very glittery spiral in front of her, something told her she shouldn't be taking kindly to having her space touched by a guy who lived around disease and filth.
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interestingword
Agape tossed her head back, and let out a startle screech. She then snapped her jaws shut, looking slightly embarrassed.
Oh, uh, hello!
She paused.
I'm uh, I can explain why I'm on your territory, I swear! H-hey wait, you're on mine!
Impressed as she was by the very, very glittery spiral in front of her, something told her she shouldn't be taking kindly to having her space touched by a guy who lived around disease and filth.
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MoondustManwise
He blinked, bewildered. "Yes, I...I suppose I am."
Helix couldn't remember crossing, but there was no denying that the line of rocks marking the border was quite distinctly in front of him. Well, there went any moral high ground he may have had before.
"I'm very sorry? It was quite on accident, I assure you." For good measure, he added, "I had a good reason."
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MoondustManwise
He blinked, bewildered. "Yes, I...I suppose I am."
Helix couldn't remember crossing, but there was no denying that the line of rocks marking the border was quite distinctly in front of him. Well, there went any moral high ground he may have had before.
"I'm very sorry? It was quite on accident, I assure you." For good measure, he added, "I had a good reason."
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interestingword
Agape didn't exactly know what to do after someone crossed the border. Nor did she really want to find out, since they were both doing it- and she would be in just as much trouble. Instead of getting huffy, she decided to shrug it off.
Eh, don't worry about it!
She "casually" swung her head around from side to side.
So, uh, nice place you have here? I haven't ever been much further than the space my clan takes up before, what a crazy looking biome! They don't go nearly into enough depth about this place in all the books Cypera and Rinus make me read.
She did her best to ignore all the animal bones. Did they really eat this many animals here? Who even thought that was a good idea?
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interestingword
Agape didn't exactly know what to do after someone crossed the border. Nor did she really want to find out, since they were both doing it- and she would be in just as much trouble. Instead of getting huffy, she decided to shrug it off.
Eh, don't worry about it!
She "casually" swung her head around from side to side.
So, uh, nice place you have here? I haven't ever been much further than the space my clan takes up before, what a crazy looking biome! They don't go nearly into enough depth about this place in all the books Cypera and Rinus make me read.
She did her best to ignore all the animal bones. Did they really eat this many animals here? Who even thought that was a good idea?
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MoondustManwise
"Oh." He heaved a sigh of relief. "Alright then, thank you." Carefully, Helix began picking his way back up the hill, stepping over to his side and standing a short distance to the side of the other spiral. She seemed friendly enough, and curious about the locale. He certainly had never seen anyone with a gene such as hers before.
"Er, yes, we have a very fascinating ecosystem around here. Very unique compared to the rest of the continent, without even factoring in the enhanced reproduction of pathogens. Not much in the way of flora, you'l want the Tangled Wood for that, but fauna? Plenty." He paused, looking around at the familiar sight of home. It felt wrong to just walk away and leave this stranger here - after all, they'd just admitted to never having been here before, and that was a recipe for never coming back. Think, Helix, what was a natural conversation to make?
"So, you've read books about this place?"
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MoondustManwise
"Oh." He heaved a sigh of relief. "Alright then, thank you." Carefully, Helix began picking his way back up the hill, stepping over to his side and standing a short distance to the side of the other spiral. She seemed friendly enough, and curious about the locale. He certainly had never seen anyone with a gene such as hers before.
"Er, yes, we have a very fascinating ecosystem around here. Very unique compared to the rest of the continent, without even factoring in the enhanced reproduction of pathogens. Not much in the way of flora, you'l want the Tangled Wood for that, but fauna? Plenty." He paused, looking around at the familiar sight of home. It felt wrong to just walk away and leave this stranger here - after all, they'd just admitted to never having been here before, and that was a recipe for never coming back. Think, Helix, what was a natural conversation to make?
"So, you've read books about this place?"
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interestingword
Agape stuck out her tongue playfully.
Only a million! Cypera and Rinus insist that all of us young dragons to have a "proper education". All that means is a bunch of boring hours reading books when I could be flying through the treetops, or gathering bugs for dinner, or just having fun!
She looked at him suddenly, tilting her head in confusion.
You sound pretty well read for a plague dragon; I always assumed it was a bunch of cutthroats who could barely survive these wastes- let alone spend time expanding vocabulary and stuff.
She paused for a moment, then flushed in embarrassment.
Uh- no offense.
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interestingword
Agape stuck out her tongue playfully.
Only a million! Cypera and Rinus insist that all of us young dragons to have a "proper education". All that means is a bunch of boring hours reading books when I could be flying through the treetops, or gathering bugs for dinner, or just having fun!
She looked at him suddenly, tilting her head in confusion.
You sound pretty well read for a plague dragon; I always assumed it was a bunch of cutthroats who could barely survive these wastes- let alone spend time expanding vocabulary and stuff.
She paused for a moment, then flushed in embarrassment.
Uh- no offense.
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MoondustManwise
Helix cracked a smile, amused at the young dragon's perceptions. "Ah. None taken. I'll admit we have a lot more negative stereotypes than any other territory, but we're just as polite and civilized as any other once you get to know us."
He paused a moment, now uncomfortably aware of the sun-bleached femur he was stepping on.
"Plus, I'm not all Plague. Took an apprenticeship in the Crystalspine Reaches, before joining up with a clan here. Lived there for most of my life."
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MoondustManwise
Helix cracked a smile, amused at the young dragon's perceptions. "Ah. None taken. I'll admit we have a lot more negative stereotypes than any other territory, but we're just as polite and civilized as any other once you get to know us."
He paused a moment, now uncomfortably aware of the sun-bleached femur he was stepping on.
"Plus, I'm not all Plague. Took an apprenticeship in the Crystalspine Reaches, before joining up with a clan here. Lived there for most of my life."
