"Ok, let's settle down." Kaze laughed, trying to lighten things up some more. He was getting sick of the bickering. It wasn't doing any good, he thought. Looking below at the ground he clenched his teeth and began to climb back down. If only he felt comfortable with the group, he would have used his power to shift his form. Flittering down on a light body like that of a bird would have been much easier than climbing. “So, it’s to the city!” he said as he took his stand upon the ground. He was trying to get himself excited.

Damon rolled his eyes, manipulating himself and easily sliding through the wooden boards and hitting the gra.ss below. He looked up at Hailie.

"A promise, love."

“Oh dear…” Kaze blinked, stopping in his tracks behind Taylor. ‘So, the city isn’t supposed to be such a great place’ he thought. The wonderful metropolis he had envisioned in his head took several paths to a negative outcome. He had several new possibilities thought up, each its own killjoy. Now he wasn’t sure what to expect, knowing he would only find out about the city district upon seeing it. Letting his thoughts wander he tried to stay happy, even if it meant forgetting what he had just heard.  

Kioko sighed quietly at the other's arguing.  "They barely know each other, and they're already picking fights." she thought unhappily.  Typical.  People were the same no matter what planet they came from.  The white haired girl suddenly found herself very homesick, and hung behind the others as Taylor led them away.  When there was enough distance between her and the group, Kioko turned around and headed back to the forest, walking quickly away.

It crossed her mind that the girl and her unusual pet would probably be mad about her intentionally separating from the group, but at that moment she didn't care.  She needed to be alone for a bit, to settle her mind, and she wouldn't be able to do it while around the others.  Putting distance between herself and the group, she sat down at the base of one of the strange trees, and held out one hand.  A small flame flickered to life from her palm, and the girl began to manipulate the fire idly as she became lost in her thoughts.  The fire twisted into a variety of strange shapes, occasionally changing colors as she thought.  The girl was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't notice the quiet rustling of leaves in the underbrush.  It wasn't until she felt the sensation of being watched that Kioko snapped out of her thoughts and looked around the small clearing.

"Great.  Shadowfax has probably found me and is going to lecture me," the girl thought sourly.  "Hello?" she called out quietly.  "Look, I'm sorry I left the group.  I just needed to think for a second."  Silence answered her, and she felt a prickle of unease.  "I should go back to the group," Kioko thought, standing up and beginning to pick her way through the forest.  As she did so, she caught a flash of movement out of the corner of her eye and the white haired girl spun to her right, trying to pin down whatever had moved.  "Look, whoever's there, show yourself.  This is annoying."  She held up one hand and produced a handful of flames in warning.

At first she thought whoever was there would simply stay hidden, and she sighed in irritation.  It wasn't until the girl began to move again that the underbrush parted.  Kioko turned back to it, preparing to deal with whoever it was that had found her.  She gasped in horror as a large, black and white mottled creature slid out of the bushes, dark eyes trained on her.  The lizard like thing was at least two feet taller than her, and twice as wide.  It looked at her and parted it's mouth, exposing rows of sharp looking fangs.

"Crap!" Kioko dashed in the direction she believed the city to be in, hoping she wasn't wrong.  She twisted around the strange white trees, hearing the creature as it chased her.  "I knew this place was going to be awful" the girl thought as she dashed behind a random tree, no longer hearing the lizard like creature.  Panting and shaken, Kioko summoned a handful of flames, preparing herself for the creature's next appearance.

After a few moments, she had begun to think it had simply given up, until a set of sharp claws ripped across the side of the tree and sliced through the fabric of her shirt.  She stumbled away from the tree, feeling blood trickling from the cuts.  Kioko raised the hand holding the fire, staring down the creature.  "I hate this place," she muttered under her breath.

((Yeah, I'm... sorry for abandoning this role-play like I did *shame*  Real life is hectic.  Hopefully this extra long post will make up for it?)) 

Shadowfax's ears pricked as he heard rustling in the forest. The dangerous hiss of an angered reptile reached his ears and he jumped to his feet. He leaped down from his perch on an overhanging branch of a tree and landed nimbly on the forest floor. A girl, Kioko, was running through the forest and Shadowfax could see a colorful reptilian animal slithering after her. She hid behind a tree and as he watched, the animal launched a surprise attack, raking its claws across her torso. Shadowfax watched in horror as the girl held flames in her hand. Stop, don't attack it. That will only make it worse. Trust me. He said.

As Shadowfax spread his mind out to Kioko, the lizard's large, yellow eyes moved to him. Shadowfax walked up to the creature calmy and brought hung his head low to the creature, not looking the beast in the eyes. The lizard was at least twice the size of Shadowfax, but at its gesture, it flicked its tongue out at him and cocked its head.

Shadowfax held out his right paw to the creature and the lizard flicked his tongue out again. With a quick swipe of its paw, the lizard slashed at Shadowfax with outstretched claws. The cat flinched, but made no move to attack the beast. Shadowfax met the beast's eyes and the lizard drew back, its anger ebbing away.

He sat down and licked his paw with a rough tongue, the salty taste of his blood filling his mouth with a sour taste. So you decided to stray from the group? You probably stumbled across the creature's territory and angered it by scaring it with loud noises in the forest. To walk safely here, you will have to learn from us. Since you've strayed from the group, there will be no hope of catching up now. I don't want you to walk through the forest just yet. That lizard was still angry. I can tell you what they're seeing if you come with me. Better yet, I can show you. If you trust me. He explained to the girl in a flourish.  He gingerly stepped n his paw and flinched as his weight caused more blood to dribble from the wound. He sighed and put his weight on his other three paws and began to limp forward.

I suggest you come. I don't want you to get hurt again. Back at camp, I'll stitch you up. He said to her.

[[No, it's fine. I haven't been on Res for almost 3 weeks so I know what you're talking about. ^.^]]

"My planet is not 'ew!'" Hailie said, placing her hands on her hips. "It's georgeous. But, I will take your coat, thanks."

Shadowfax let out a gentle purr of amusement as the girl offered to stitch his wound. Either way, we'll have to wait to get back to camp. I have to wash the poison out before it spreads and you must do so with yours. Don't worry, the poison is not fatal. It will just make you sick if not taken care of within the hour. He padded softly through the forest and soon, the sound of the river reached his ears again. He gingerly placed his paw on the ground and winced as he walked down to the bank of the river. I'm sure Taylor wouldn't mind giving you one of her shirts. You seem to be about the same size and we could always scavenge for more. He said as he pushed his paw into the river. The lazy current lapped at his paw and sucked the poison out quickly.

Shadowfax shivered as the cold water made his paw feel numb and he pulled it out when the poison leaked out. He craned his neck upward and was happy to find that he had walked straight to camp.Their tree house home loomed above them and a taught rope dangled from an opening in the wooden boards supporting the tree house. When you're done, climb the rope and we'll stitch ourselves up. He said to her before spreading his wings. With a large leap into the air, he snapped his wings open and beat them against the air, rising up to the tree house.

Once he pa.ssed through the lichen that served as a door, he rummaged through Taylor's bags until he found a loose-fitting T-shirt. He bundled it up and grasped it in his teeth. He pa.ssed through the lichen again and laid the shirt on the railing of the walkway. He then leaped up to the railing himself and peered down at Kioko, his eyes light. And I'm glad you trust me.