What The Heck (Priv/Ayato)

It was.. Hot. Hotter then she expected. Or maybe that was just her Ice Wyvern blood talking. The humid heat was washing over her like a wave over sand, heating her till she was at boiling point. At any moment, Athena half expected to burst into flames. She wouldn't be surprised, considering her luck.


Her feathers were damp with sweat, leaning over each other to press against her back, their once bright cyan colour reduced to a dark blue. Her breaths no longer came out in misty white clouds, no, the air she was breathing out was warm too. Great. The wind brought no cold, and the sand that was swept up from the ground stung her eyes like a thousand bees. Why? You're probably asking. Why, in the name of the Gods, is she out here?

Curiosity.

Yes, it was curiosity that led Athena to the borders of the Ki'Sha. She was wandering along one of their edges, wondering how savagely she would be torn apart of she so much as stepped into their lands. The Ki'Sha weren't like their peace loving neighbors, the Stormcallers, but they weren't very nice either. It was a hard life, only the strongest survived.

Funny, that was rather appealing to her.


If one had looked, they would, have seen a white Wyvern, sticking out like a sore thumb against the sandy dunes, looking rather weakened from the heat, staring into the territory of the Ki'Sha as she paced their borders. A rather strange sight, one might say.

Ayato did not actually have a reason to be here, wandering the edges of Ki'Sha territory - of course, he wouldn't step out without a valid reason, because he had a feeling that he would be ripped apart (probably literally) if he vanished into the rogue lands without a good reason to protect himself from a painful death.

He readied an excuse for himself lest any Ki'Sha notice him and report him; Ayato would say that he was patrolling the territory, doing some extra work (because it wasn't his turn to do so, not yet, but no one would be punished for a little bit of extra effort).

That was when he noticed her, lingering along the edges of the large swathe of sandy land that his brutal Tribe claimed as theirs. She was so close to stepping in, and something about her expression held a possibility that she might, but he would not approach, would not warn off (physically if needed, but Ayato, while he was brutal, did not have a tendency for mindless aggression, so he'd just give her a scratch or two, enough to stay as a reminder), unless she actually was foolish enough to enter uninvited. Until then, Ayato would just watch.

She was slim, with dark blue feathers; they would have been beautiful if it weren't for the fact that they were stuck to each other by sweat, beading on her white forehead and falling in rivulets.

He was standing in plain sight, the dark blue that was the colour of his well-groomed scales stark against the yellow-white of the sands that fanned out around them in every direction. Ayato felt that there was no need for a surprise attack, instead feeling that his presence would be enough as a first warning. So he stood there, watching.

The female, unlike most he encountered, did not seem feminine or gentle, instead giving off the impression of a fighter, a scar stretching over a blue eye that shone bright and fierce, her expression holding a peculiar expression hovering somewhere between curiosity and a wary, alert look. It occurred to Ayato that she might actually know what she was doing, and he stilled himself into attention, ready to shift into action.

Inclining her head slightly, Athena bent down to sniff at the borders. Nobody has passed by in a little while. Perhaps some of the guards were slacking? Or maybe they were changing shifts? She had no idea. She knew, however, that at the moment, she was alone. For now, at least.

For a few seconds, Athena contemplated going inside, just for fun, but then she remembered that the Ki'Sha were perhaps the most hostile tribe of them all, and wouldn't take kindly to a stranger trespassing on their lands. Understandable, she supposed, so she stayed where she was, scanning the dunes for any sign of movement.

It was then, as her head turned a little to the left she caught sight of him. Almost immediately, her tail lashed into place by her side, the blade standing to attention as she fixed her royal blue eyes upon him. The dragon that stood a few metres away was a tad smaller then her, but had an aura circling him that would make anyone think twice about challenging him. As her vision focused on him, Athena noticed the purple scarf wrapped around his neck and wondered why anyone would wear anything in this humidity. At first glance, the male appeared black, but as she looked closer she could make out the various shades of blue decorating his scales.

For several moments, Athena was completely still, locking eyes with him. The blade at her side was pointed at him, but after a few seconds, it lowered to the ground on the sand next to her. She didn't want to give the impression she was looking for a fight. Should I leave? She wondered. Or will he try to stab me in the back as I run away?

The female had not noticed him yet - surprising, considering that she looked like a formidable fighter - and weren't all warriors, before anything else, taught to be always be alert of their surroundings?

Ayato continued surveying her through narrowed eyes, a look of displeasure briefly passing across his face, like a spray of water as the sea lashed at the rocks lining a shore, as he noticed the height difference them - she dwarfed him by at least twenty feet, and Ayato supposed that he would have to make it up with speed.

Size wasn't everything - a single hit from a larger, stronger opponent could decide the fight, but his smaller size also meant that he would be able to move faster, deliver blows to the necessary places and cripple the female. He eyed her tail - or more specifically, the two wicked-looking half circles gleaming in the bright sunlight on either side of its tip, its edges thin and cutting. Something that he would have to avoid - or cut off, if he could.

She seemed to be aware of how close she was to the offence of trespassing into Ki'Sha territory, and yet, Ayato noticed with annoyance, was actually deliberating on whether she should do it, evident on the thoughtful expression that lingered on her face, pulling her eye-ridges together and curling the edges of her lips downwards so slightly.

Here was a dragoness with a very expressive face, Ayato thought, some of the tension draining from his body as the female seemed to decide against her foolish act. Then her eyes turned to him, and tension was once more tightening Ayato's muscles, his narrowed eyes calling a warning, attention following the swift movement of her tail as she raised her weapon.

A challenge? Or maybe an instinctive act of self-defence? Ayato's wings spread slightly, revealing the grey membrane hanging between each finger of his long wings, still not yet completely unfolded. A silent response, daring her to step forward - to make him attack her, but she lowered her tail, the curved edges of the blades protruding from her tail catching the sunlight and flashing white. It was as Ayato had suspected - she had done it purely out of self-defence. She, however, did not leave, and the male wondered what, exactly, she was thinking, and continued to watch her.

As her gaze fell to him, the male tensed, pupils thinning to form snake-like eyes. The large wings tucked into his sides were extended slightly, revealing steel grey membranes. Either he's preparing himself to run, which is unlikely, she decided. Or he's challenging me. For a moment, Athena considered taking him up on the 'offer,' her pride urging her to dominate him. Then she realised, such an act would provoke the wrath of a male who was trained by perhaps the roughest tribe in the land, as well as his tribe.

Not a great idea, she decided as her tail came to rest by her side. She didn't curl it back just yet, she kept it by the hooks at the end of her wings that substituted for feet, ready to use it at a moment's notice. As she did this, she decided she'd best speak, before he decided she was a big enough threat to leap at her.

Funny, she said, in a firm voice. I thought the Ki'Sha's security was tighter then this. Probably not a wise choice of words, but the whole situation was making her antsy, and therefore, sassy and stubborn. As she gauged the male's reaction, she wondered A: what he was doing out here alone -she assumed guards went out in at least pairs- and B: what he thought of this whole thing.

The female was actually considering attacking, Ayato realised with a brief moment of surprise when her stance shifted slightly, annoyance quickly taking its place. Couldn't she just back off and make his life easier?

She reminded him of his stupid older sister, now residing within the safety of the Stormcallers, a peaceful Tribe that the Ki'Sha scorned and refused to acknowledge as their neighbour, and his expression twisted slightly, his lip curling as a flash of his emotions showed in his eyes. Not now, he reminded himself.

Now was not the time to think about Kathyea, who got to stay while he went off into the wild on his own. Ayato tugged his thoughts away from that sensitive topic.

He noted now her tail did not completely relax, how it lingered by the hooked claws of her wings, but did not comment, his eyes remaining on her face, showing no sign that he had noticed anything, and the only thing that had broken his still expression was the curl of his lip, which was now gone. Ayato could not afford to show emotions at a time like this.

"Perhaps," he drawled, "it is a trap to test the foolishness of uninvited rogues who think that they can go around nosing into other territories without permission." There should be three guards here by now, and he could feel their presence somewhere further behind. Their normal routine was to first go to their designed spot, before spreading out to scout a particular area, sending up a signal to have the others hurrying to one spot if something ever happened. They had not come here yet.

Ayato made a mental note to adjust the scouting teams a little bit.

Rather abruptly, the male's expression changed, his lip curling back. As he did so, Athena glimpsed bone-white teeth, smooth as a dagger and twice as sharp. Yikes. His eyes flashed with something red hot and angry, resentment, perhaps? She couldn't tell. Unlike her, he was very hard to read. Either way, Athena had a funny feeling that such anger wasn't directed at her completely. Still, at the shift in mood, her tail twitched. Not one ounce of trust had been produced from her quite yet.

The eyes that were fixed on her face were a dark blue, like the deep ocean on a summer day. They were stone cold, like her own, and she wondered why they had come to be that way. All eyes had sparkled once, his no longer did. His mouth stayed trapped in a thin, tight line, betraying nothing to her.

At his response, Athena arched a white brow. Perhaps, if it is indeed a trap. Someone like me could be stupid enough to pass these markers and have their throat ripped out. Still, considering the age we live in, an insufficient level of security could enable a dangerous dragon to slip through your defences. This male intrigued her. She didn't know why, but his words, the way he held himself, he wasn't a milk drinker, but he wasn't a mindless savage. Perhaps it was just her stereotyping, but she had always thought the Ki'Sha were completely and utterly hostile towards strangers they seen at their borders, that they'd disembowel them without a second thought.

Slowly, Athena sat down, not taking her eyes off him. It wasn't an invitation for him to come closer, not at all, merely a signal that she wasn't here on hostile terms. The few Ki'Sha I've met weren't very nice She said. You're not entirely charming either, but you chose not to attack on sight. Why is that? the question she popped was perhaps strange, but the warrior was honestly curious. She knew she would have decapitated herself if she seen her lingering at the borders. So why didn't you?

I like how you described Ayato's eyes as dead and lifeless :D. Never actually thought of that, but come to think of it, it would fit. --

Ayato's deep blue eyes lifted to meet the female's, confidence filling every inch of that gaze, which would otherwise be dull and lacking emotion - save for flickering anger like a hidden flame, hastily shoved deep under in an attempt to hide it. He was waiting - for her next move, whether it be a wise choice (retreating) or a foolish one (staying), and Ayato couldn't help but wonder why, whenever he talked to anyone, familiar or not, it was like an important game, each move requiring careful thought before carrying it out; each word carefully chosen, each change in stance closely monitored. Was it his own fault, or because of his history and upbringing - the decades he spent in the Ki'Sha?

Ayato couldn't help but wonder, as his eyes locked with the rogue's, her vibrant eyes possessing a sharp intelligence and hidden energy, what it was like to be so free. He quickly kicked the thought away - he wasn't supposed to think that! Ki'Sha was where he belonged, and he liked how their belief matched with his: The weak were trampled on and discarded once they were useless, and the strong survived. It wasn't the first time such a thought had appeared in his mind, though, and Ayato wished he would stop doubting his decision to come here.

Think about sister... And where he ended up. Weak. She's weak.

...I won't end up like her!

"Wow, thanks a lot for the advice," Ayato said sarcastically, some of his personality finally showing through his emotionless exterior. "I'll make sure to take your words into account and make sure that security's tighter in the future." He watched as she sat, but moved no closer: Her body language said enough. Stepping forward would probably earn him a stab to the face. At her question, Ayato couldn't hide the surprise that flashed across his face, but stated simply, "I do not kill unless you give me a reason to."

(I IS A SMART CAKE :D)

Athena felt somewhat small when the male locked eyes with her. She herself was confident she could get herself out of this if this turned into a fight, but there was that.. aura around him. She didnt know what he was capable of, fighting wise, and she admitted, that unnerved her. Usually she could scan an opponent and tell their strengths and weaknesses with a little observation. This male? He betrayed nothing to her. If he chose to attack, she would have no idea how to defend herself. His eyes displayed his comfortableness, hers betrayed her wariness. She kept still, the only sign she was unnerved the occasional twitches of her tail, which in turn caused the blade to wink in the sunlight.

"Wow," he said. "Thanks a lot for the advice." Athena raised a brow, biting her lip to stop herself smirking. As he said he'd 'make sure security's tighter in the future' Athena was unable to hide the tiny twitching in the corner of her mouth, amusement getting the better of her. Ooh, fiesty, she wanted to say, but knew she'd probably get herself torn apart by uttering such daring words.

At her inquiry, Athena glimpsed a hint of shock spreading across the dragon's face, but it was gone as soon as it appeared. At his words, an eyebrow was raised. I always figured the Ki'Sha members were a 'kill on sight' type. Seems I was wrong, you seem to be an exception. The warrior was taken aback, assuming she'd have earned a few new scars and a kick in the backside when she came here.

Leaning back slightly, the feathers on her back rose slightly. I was actually seeing if this tribe would take my fancy or not. See if i'd like to join. She blinked, the motion burning her eyes. Although, when they said 'it's a bit hot,' I didn't think they meant this hot. She allowed a small smile to appear on her face.

I'D EAT YOU --

Ayato found it hard to break eye contact - firstly, it was, to him, a sign of weakness if he was the first one to do so, as if he was unable to bear the intensity of another being's gaze; and secondly, eyes held so much life and depth to them, such that it was always like exploring a new universe. He, however, did not do it often, typically because the dragon closest to him was either not worth acknowledging, or of such high rank that holding the other's gaze for too long could be counted as impertinent and possibly earn him either a public scolding or worse, punishment. As an Aliugaan, he had to avoid both.

At all costs.

Not only because of his rank. He had other reasons too, that he really wouldn't like to call forth to his mind lest unpleasant memories or emotions accompany them, and really, showing too much feeling in front of a stranger, much less an experienced warrior with observant eyes, would definitely be used against him. Ayato spotted the eye-ridge that she raised, and her clean white teeth sinking into her lip in an obvious attempt to prevent a smirk of some sort to appear on her face.

But was that a hint of wariness lingering in her eyes?

Ayato stared at the female coolly. "Ooo! I'm an exception! Nice to hear! Now, why are you here? Out of pure curiosity, I assume?" His head tilted a bit to the side, curiosity openly showing in his eyes now. "Join...?" he echoed. "Feel free to do so. I'm not stopping you. And you'll have to deal with the heat. The more you complain, the weaker you seem." He blinked as her twitching tail reflected the light of the sun, right into his eyes.

He turned as he heard footsteps, almost inaudible, but still managing to catch his ears. A male, taller than him by at least ten feet, was approaching, steel-grey shining through narrowed eyes, almost in a hostile or rude manner, but he bowed his head. "Aliugaan," he greeted in a flat tone. It was considered rude to directly use the name of the superior, unless you added their rank before mentioning their name. Getting straight to the point, he said, "This one nearly got in, but I'm in control of the situation. Continue patrolling."

"Yes, sir," came the gruff reply, and that was that. Ayato did not smile at the female, only said, "I'd love to see how much they're suffering underneath all that armour." Indeed, said dragon was clothed from head to toe in thick metal that was a dull grey colour, words engraved into the surface in the Ki'Shan language.

(NOOO, WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?! I have a wife and family!!)

"Ooh!" The male cried, his eyes enlarging as he proceeded to feign complete and utter surprise. "I'm an exception!" he exclaimed. It occured to Athena that this was perhaps the most sarcastic dragon she had met in a while. Aggressive sarcasm, perhaps, but sarcasm. How quaint.

He proceeded to ask her what her purpose for being here was, and when she answered, his eyes seemed to light up as intrigue seeped into the dark blue sea that was his irises. "Join?" He echoed. Athena half expected him to say no, that they didnt take outsiders like herself, -and she probably would have killed him for that- but he stated, instead, that he wasnt going to halt her progress. Lovely. As he mentioned her 'complaining,' the warrior's pupils thinned slightly, forming slits that would have reminded one of an irritated big cat, just before it struck. Complaining? Commenting on an understatement of heat isn't complaining, her temper got the better of her and Athena's tail tapped against the sand, flashing repeatedly as irritation seeped into her voice.

She opened her mouth to spout a few choice words, but at that moment, the sound of approaching footsteps entered her ears. Her damp feathers rose as her head turned, fixing her gaze upon that of a larger male, who didn't look nearly as.. Placid. Placid wasn't a term she'd use to describe the stranger, but it was the best she could come up with at the time.

The new dragon came closer, and Athena's tail began to inch upwards until he lowered hishead, and addressed the male as 'Aliugaan.' Athena raised a brow and lowered the tail back to the sand. The blue male proceeded to state he 'had the situation under control,' and in an effort to 'prove his point,' Athena whipped her tail behind her and lowered her head slightly in an effort to appear more submissive.

When the male departed, and was safely out of sight, Athena raised her head, but left her tail in a peaceful position behind her. At the dragon's words, she allowed herself a chuckle, a real one, a brief, small smile appearing on her face that quickly melted into a smirk. They must be melting underneath that armour, she said, blinking as a sudden wave of sand got into her eyes. She raised a wing and rubbed the substance out of the corners, but it still stung like an angry wasp.

I should leave before any more of your friends show up, she said, rising steadily to her feet. You might see me around if i decide to join up, she shrugged.

If the male had nothing else to say, she would depart, turning around and spreadingher white wings. She would run forward, take off, and disappear over the dunes.

I'll spare you and your family. c: --

Ayato allowed a smirk to cross his face, and lifted an eye ridge, obviously quite satisfied with her annoyance. "Tch, since when have I ever said you were complaining? I only told you not to do so," he responded, taking note of her short temper and how she didn't bother hiding it. Her tail began tapping against the sand, leaving a mark where it had come in contact with the grains, which quickly shifted to cover it, only to be once again parted by her tail. 

He couldn't help but feel a flare of amusement in him when he saw her act to look submissive, and couldn't help a snort once the dragon was out of sight. Their expressions were almost identical in their smirks as they watched the Ugaan continue his patrol, dull armour seeming to slow him down slightly, but they were trained to bear with the weight and the heat.

He shrugged, the only good-bye Athena would receive, and turned, already intent on returning home, yet she lingered on her mind. He was oddly interested in her (perhaps because she was for once not a female that tried to flirt with him?) but his thoughts were blown away by the wind that had morphed from tame and pleasant to harsh. This was okay; he was used to it, and narrowed his eyes against the fine spray of sand that sought to enter his eyes. 

More and more sand was soon whipped into the swirling, roaring air, obscuring the blue of the sky and everything around him. A sandstorm. A gods-damned sandstorm, now of all times? He loosened his scarf to wrap it around his mouth and nose, and turned, trying to find a place to hide until the sandstorm was over. And what about the rogue? The strength of the wind, accompanied by sand, was sure to drag her down. Rather reluctantly, he stepped out of Ki'Shan territory, following the dark figure of her shadow.

Athena knew when she was beaten, and merely let out a huff of indignation in response, shooting him a brief glare. If he has a mate, she must have the patience of a saint, she thought, staring at him with barely repressed frustration.


As she touched down on the other side of the dune, Athena had to turn her head as a cloud od sand came her way, barely missing her eyes. She huffed and continued at a brisk walk, deciding to go and explore the Stormcaller side of the desert. After all, if she got thirsty, she could just fly out of here. As she began her little adventure, Athena felt confident and sure of herself.


That is, until the next burst of sand hit her, and the next, and the next. As the wind picked up, Athena's feathers lifted, her body stilling as she listened to the sound of the shifting sand. Uh oh.. And then, as she looked up, Athena saw the vast open sky be swallowed by the sand.

No.. No! Spreading her wings, she leaped into the air. The wind was howling now, pressing against her in an effort to throw her off balance. No.. You are a warrior! A dragon! You can move mountains, tame seas! She urged herself, beating her wings frantically, fighting a battle against the wrath of Nature. It was a futile effort, and a sudden gust of wind blew her off course, sending her spiraling to the ground, where she crashed into the sand.

Spluttering, Athena tried to open her eyes, but the sand was getting into them and burrowing intot he cracks beneath her scales. The wind was too strong for her, forcing her to stumble to the right. She couldnt see, she didnt know where she was. Athena was afraid. Even a warrior knows when she is fighting a loosing battle.

As she wandered aimlessly through the dunes, Athena became aware of the heat. The sands seemed to take the anger of the sun with them, each burst that came against her sending waves of boiling hotness over her body. Cursing, Athena did the only thing she could think of, and sat down, curling up to cover herself with her wings. The wind and sands battered her from all sides, her wings barely sheltering her from the elements.

Dammit, she thought. Im in serious trouble.

With the wind came sand; and with sand, blistering heat that was horrifying in its intensity.

Waves of it hit his face, one after another, and Ayato tugged his scarf further up, turning away so that he wouldn't continue having his face lashed at by the wind, which was steadily growing in strength. He walked forward almost blindly, trying his best to see through narrowed eyes. Dragon eyes were tougher than human ones, yes, which was how they could dive with their eyes mostly open, but it stood no resistance against solid objects like sand.

He spotted a flash of blue-white amongst the sand, quickly swallowed up by the golden-yellow grains, but her shadow remained, fighting desperately to fly high up to escape the sandstorm; it was, however, too powerful, soon bringing her down to the ground. Ayato wasn't going to offer his scarf - he needed it for himself. So he watched her, standing some feet away, a curled-up figure. He poked her back with his tail, yelling, "You better join the Ki'Sha!

He didn't quite know why he remained, only that he had to ensure that she got away safely. Ayato didn't care much about others, but neither did he leave them to die (unless they were worthless weaklings, but he detected a curious spark in this female). The sandstorm was relentless, continuously hurling sand grains at them, boosted by wind. Altogether it was quite an unpleasant experience, even for Ayato, who'd survived through a few. His wings he couldn't spread, for they were sensitive and felt pain so much more acutely than the rest of his body.

It seemed to go on forever, the feeling of grains of sand slowly swallowing her and the wind slicing at her scales like a knife. Athena felt vunerable. She felt weak. She felt unprepared. This was something she wasn't expecting. Here she was, grounded, unable to get away, and this was an enemy she couldn't fight. For once, she was the one getting beaten up. The wind howled, a thousand voices taunting her, belitting her. Weak, they seemed to whisper. You are pathetic, curled up like a cowering hatchling. Athena shuddered as her body began to overheat, being slowly cooked like a chicken on a fire.

She didnt even hear the male approaching, didn't notice him until he prodded her back with his tail. Even then, she barely heard him speaking over the din of the storm. When she heard him, however, she parted her wings slightly so only one eye, halfway closed, was peering out at him. I suppose so! she shouted over the screaming wind.

Using a wing to cover her face, she uncurled herself so she was half sitting up, shielding her eyes. What the hell do we do now? she yelled.