A new land, A new home??

[Snickerspods]

Ithil’s boots moved across the marble floor without even a whisper of sound, she moved with a natural unearthly grace that was as silent as she was beautiful. The giant cat that moved beside her was equally as silent, his feline grace allowing his gigantic bulk to traverse the echoing chamber with out the give away of noise. Both were skilled hunters, learned in the ways of the silent and agile. As a result they moved silently out of habit rather than conscious habit. Ithil rested her palm lightly on the fur at the base of Keeshah’s neck where it met his back. Her fingers deep in the thick plush fur, her clear alert gaze scanned the hall with the hunter’s precision. Every detail clear to her she didn’t miss a thing. Aware of presences in the hall though she choose to not call them out. She didn’t carry a sword, though she had a sharp elf wrought dagger strapped to her thigh her bow and quiver were still slung across her slim back. Her fine silken hair brushed across her back, somehow managing not to disturb her access to her weapons of choice.

[lioness]

A slim figure clad in black walked out from a doorway in the hall. His footsteps echoed in the cavernous area, but he didn't seem to notice. He seemed out of place, here in the grandeur of the building. A rapier at his side swung with his steps, and everytime he moved, his clothes showed outlines of daggers on various places on his body. His long black hair fell to his shoulders. The elf stopped as suddenly as he had walked into the hallway. With no noise now, he turned slowly. His dark eyes showed no surprise as he caught sight of the blue tiger and his armed companion. He turned his head, looked back at a door leading outside, as if he heard something. His movement showed a long scar, running from under his chin down. Allowing himself a small sigh, he away from the tiger, and stepped [now silently] away. His steps were almost reluctant, as if he didn't want to go, but was being made to. His dark form looked like an inky shadow on the marble of the hallway.

[Erenza doesn't really want to leave, so... yeah. ]

[Snickerspods]

Ithil’s clear sweet gaze alighted on the skulking figure, her brow furrowed slightly as she picked up on his reluctance to leave. Why leave if he didn’t wish to? Keeshah growled in his chest as his sensitive smell picked out the scent of a large animal all over the unidentified elf. He was aware that no elves were evil but he knew a few that could be down right cruel. Ithil’s hand smoothed back his rising fur and her gentle thoughts coaxed him back from his growing feline anger. His fur resumed its normal fluffiness, though he could not rid himself of the feeling of air under his fur. Ithil complied to an unasked request and dragged her finger through the fur to rid him of the feeling, using both hands to make short work of it. As she combed the slate gray and black fur she turned her serene gaze back to the retreating figure.

“Tell me stranger why you leave in a place that is supposed to be the elven lands?” her voice was pure and saccharine, and bounced off the walls in such a way that a chorus of her melodic vocals accompanied her.

She asked the question because it was one she was trying to find the answer to for herself as well, this new place did not feel anything like she suspected it should if it were to be her home. She had never felt that special feeling of home except once in her life, when she was very young. She did not suspect what it was she was missing that deprived her of that long awaited feeling and she would not begin to suspect Keeshah of knowing but withholding the precious information. For indeed Keeshah horded the information because he did not wish to share Ithil, she had been his since he could remember and she was the one thing he could always count on. Ithil combed his fur one last time before returning her hand to his neck ruff, twining her fingers comfortingly in the fur.

[lioness]

The elf turned back, his eyes a bit lighter now in the eyes of a question. He looked around the halls that surrounded him, thinking over the question. As he watched the elf maiden comb the tiger's fur, he seemed to relax , although he was still on his guard.

"I would not know." His answer was short and abrupt. "I have only been here for a few days, and have not yet decided whether or not this place is somewhere that feels safe, not only for me, but for my companion." His voice was rough, as if he had not used it in a long time. It didn't sound like he was angry, as someone might guess, but instead merely interested. With a sigh, he brushed a stray, downy feather off his shirt.

He could not remember when he had last felt at home. As soon as he could leave the place he once lived, he did, although he regretted it. Now the only one he could count on was Arindi, who was much more overprotective than she needed to be. He watched the tiger with blank eyes, wondering about the giant feline, who seemed angry. It was probably his appearence that caused it, he mused. The elf swept off an imaginary hat and bowed, his face showing none of the humor he felt. "My name is Erenza. May I have the pleasure of knowing yours?" Erenza at last let a grin slide onto his face, but onyl a small one. He could feel Arindi's disapproval even as he stood there.

[Snickerspods]

Ithil watched the feather fall slowly to the ground in that sweeping way all feathers moved with calm sophisticated eyes. Keeshah on the other hand watched the feather warily, his gaze flicking to the face of this new elf. Ithil’s soothing touch kept him level headed however and with a sound akin to one of resignation he crouched to the floor, understanding that Ithil wanted to talk to this male of her species.

Ithil’s head twitched slightly askew so that she looked at him from a minor angle. She mulled over his answer, her reasoning was not a question of safety as a hunter her life was always a battle of remaining the hunter and not the hunted and she had become accustomed to that fact. So safety was not an issue for her, she had learnt how to relax in the most tense situation and be able to spring from an almost coma state slumber into a fight with a clear and alert mind and body. But bringing Keeshah into the equation and yes safety was something she worried about, with his feline aggression and his tendency to jump straight in without a thought she had to keep a constant eye on him, which could be very draining at times. Often her will was all that kept him from almost killing himself in one of his irrational ventures.

“Yes I can see the sense of your words, and although they do not fit my own misgivings I believe they follow the same path.” Ithil asked Keeshah to rise and walk beside her; he complied and padded along beside her as she advanced towards the male elf. The whole time she kept her hand on his ruff, indicating that he was under control and would not try anything without her express permission.

She stopped a few paces off, “I am known as Ithil, my understanding of elvish is perfect but my grasp of the tongue itself is sketchy. I know my name means moon in the common tongue.”

She brought her hand from Keeshah’s ruff to the side of his face and dragged it back along his face and neck as she introduced him. “This is Keeshah.” Her hand returned to its customary perch and Ithil turned those alluring orbs back on the elf.

“Keeshah’s senses tell us that you are in close association with a bird, a large one judging by the size of that feather.” She said indicating the downy fluff, about the size of her hand. Her pretty face was smooth, though the depths of her framed eyes glittered with appreciation of his humour.

[lioness]

Erenza watched warily as the pair came closer; however, he saw the sense in the girl's hand on the big cat's neck- he didn't want to be attacked. His shadowed eyes spoke nothing of how he felt- that he wasn't quite sure of himself in a situation like this. It wasn't as if there was enough space even in these halls for a bird of enormous size to fly, and he doubted [knew] that it wasn't likely he could convince Arindi to hop around inside.

He smiled a bit as the elf maiden introduced herself as Ithil, and the tiger Keeshah. He watched with interest as Ithil interacted with the tiger. It was much like his own dealings with Arindi, besides the fact that the hawk was ridiculously uncooperative when it came to something he wished to do that she could not.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Ithil." He said smoothly, brushing back his long dark hair with slim fingers. He then turned his shadowy eyes to the tiger. "And also you, too, Keeshah." He doubted the tiger would appreciate it if he spoke only to Ithil, and he didn't wish to anger such a powerful beast.

His gracefully arched eyebrows rose slightly at Ithil's next speech, and he allowed himself to smile, this time showing more of his actual thoughts then before. Erenza was relaxing, although not as much as he would around his friends. He debated with himself in silence momentarily, then spoke again.

"Keeshah is correct," Erenza murmured. He blinked. The feather he had brushed from his clothes was large. He cast a quick glance at his clthing again, making sure he was NOT covered with the large feathers Arindi often lost. "My closest friend, Arindi, waits outside for me. And demands I return immediately," the elf added, frowning. "Although I do not wish to go so soon. I have only just begun to find my way around this place."

From outside, a piercing whistle blasted through the walls, making itself heard the building's occupants. Erenza's face tightened. "There's Arindi now," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head slightly.

[Snickerspods]

Ithil’s lips curved into a smile as he greeted Keeshah. Smart Move, she thought privately keeping the thought from Keeshah. Keeshah’s respect for the elf increased considerably and he stopped watching the man like a deer to be hunted. He responded with an audible snuffle, and asked Ithil to relay his words. “Keeshah says greetings man elf, you smell of chicken but act like tiger.” Considering Keeshah Ithil thought it was the best compliment the tiger had ever given. She grinned then, tender amusement showing on her face.

“Ever thought being called chicken would be a good thing? Keeshah thinks all birds smell like a different kind of chicken to him.” She shrugged her slim shoulders, causing her bow and quiver to rustle.

“If it pleases your friend we can talk outside, Keeshah assures me he won’t do anything hard headed.” She said pretending to rap the large tiger across the head, Keeshah grumbled good-naturedly.

Ithil clapped her hands to her ears as the screech ripped through the cathedral. But she knew better and didn’t remove them even after it had finished. Sure enough Keeshah answered the call with a hair rising demon yowl of his own, the bellow of a roar sent shivers down even the bravest souls. His yellow fangs glistened in the light as he roared, he had risen onto all four paws and had his head angled upwards to better open his airways for the mighty sound. The moment there was a break in the sound Ithil shot her hand out and placed it on his snout. Touch often helped with the communication. Obediently Keeshah stopped his bugle and sidled up closer to Ithil in an apologetic way.

“This room amplifies so one way or the other I’m going outside.” Ithil said mounting the crouching Tiger. She tucked her legs and feet up and melded her body to his, her hands gripping but not pinching his shoulders. Keeshah surged back up onto his feet and padded at a trot past the lone elf and out the door he had originally been heading for. Once outside Keeshah crouched and Ithil dismounted. She found a chair height bolder and took a seat, leaning back against the larger boulder behind it as she patiently waited for him to follow.

[lioness]

Erenza grinned at Keeshah's, then Ithil's words. "I'm glad to see that I can be an emblem of respect," he said agreeably. "Normally I'm accused of being the bad guy everyone thinks I am," he said, looking away for a moment.

The sound of the tiger's roar made him flinch, and he could feel the sound deep in his bones. With swift reflexes, his hands flew to his ears to protect them from the magnified sound. Going deaf was not on his agenda. As soon as Ithil stopped Keeshah's reply, he quickly lifted his hands from his pointed ears.

Following after the trotting tiger with Ithil mounted on his back, Erenza made his way outside. He did not stop at where Ithil sat, but went out farther, where the space was more open. With a wolfish grin, he whistled, the sound faint for those nearby but that could be heard far away. An answering shrill made him wince- his rebuke was often not the kindest, even from his closest friend- but Erenza merely smiled and waited.

Within a few moments, a large shadow seemed to spiral from the sky, until it landed with an ungracefuul thump. The bird was long crested, and predominantly black marked with white. Erenza ran a hand along her wing, caressing her feathers in a soothing way as he spoke quickly to her. The eagle's yellow-orange eyes followed Erenza for only a moment, before turning to glare piercingly at Ithil and Keeshah.

"Ithil, Keeshah, this is Arindi." Erenza seemed pleased at the eagle's reation, although her glare could have peeled paint. "Arindi, this is Ithil, and also Keeshah." The eagle shuffled closer to her companion, and ran her murderous looking beak through his hair. Erenza merely grinned and resumed stroking her. "What do you think?" His voice was proud; he had grown up with Arindi, since she had always been there for him, even when he had been nothing more than an infant, and she could not fly. His black clothes melded into her feathers without a noticable change; they had been designed for such a purpose. He waited.

[Snickerspods]

Keeshah eyed the bird with predatory intent, his nose and slight whiskers twitched. His tongue absently licked his muzzle, the raspy tongue combing the short hairs. The birds gaze was indeed frigid but Keeshah was a feline and even dragons had yet to match the animals myriad of glares.

First he yawned to show how unaffected he was, being the proud male he was, his yellowing fangs standing out starkly against the deep rich red of his mouth and pink of his tongue. His jaw stretched out to an enormous width in his indifferent yawn. As his lips came together he returned the birds piercing glare with one of his own, deadly intent blatant in the look. Peel paint the bird could, but Keeshah’s stare had the unnerving ability to make the inside of the back of your skull itch. Like he was looking into you and knew your deepest darkest secrets and fears.

Ithil’s elegant eyebrow rose as the two abnormally large animals faced off in a staring match, she was clueless on who would win this one they both seemed pretty intense. Erenza introduced the bird to Ithil and she climbed to her feet in one fluid motion, a hand and thought halting Keeshah’s sudden tensing of muscles to rise from the crouch he had elicited. Without taking his eyes from Arindi Keeshah grumbled and settled back into his relaxed crouch. Ithil made a deep bow to the awesome bird; looking up from the bow she ran her eyes over the taught form of the bird.

“Greetings Lord of the Sky.” Her tone was not mocking or insulting in the least. She rose from the bow and said in a slightly halting ancient language, “I am Elf and friend.” Keeshah rumbled deep in his chest and rising slightly prowled to Ithil’s side pressing his head briefly to her side without once breaking eye contact. Ithil put her hand down and caressed him around the ears and neck; she was awarded with a slightly distracted purr. The deep sound was pleasant and rumbled through the immediate ground, all of Keeshah vibrated with the sound

[lioness]

The eagle watched Keeshah with accusatory eyes, almost as if he had cheated her of something she had wanted, and he had stopped her from getting it. However, as the tiger stared back at her, she found herself irritated at his indifference, then impressed. Blinking, Arindi nodded respectfully, something that amazed Erenza. She was being respectful? That was a first.

Erenza smiled at Ithil's words, but didn't say anything. Arindi was the one who would feel the need to respond. She still hadn't stopped watching Keeshah for a moment. It was a distracted thought that finally made its way to Erenza, for him to tell to Ithil. "She says that she never suspected you wouldn't be a friend," Erenza relayed reluctantly, dismayed at her response. "And she also says that you must be someone great, to be in the company of someone like 'that tiger'."

Arindi nodded without taking her gaze from Keeshah's face. She did, however, manage to nod at Erenza's words to signal her agreement. The large black eagle leaned against his side, enjoying the feel of his hand gently stroking her feathers. She shook her head a moment, upon hearing Keeshah's purr, and then let a low pitched whistle emit from her beak. She was amused.

ooc: Sorry, my muse seems to have run off; I can't really think of anything creative to do or say...

[Snickerspods]

Keeshah observed the giant avian for a moment longer before he too inclined his head in mutual respect. Seemingly satisfied that the bird was no immediate threat Keeshah took up his crouch once again, resting his giant head on his forepaws. To anyone that did not know the feline they would assume he was at ease and relaxed, but Ithil knew her companion better than that and she felt his alert mind. She could feel through their bond how he was intimately aware of every little nuance about him. The only outward sign of his poised self was the slight twitch of the tip of his tail, a movement that every feline from the beginning of time could not disguise.

Ithil felt humbled by the bird’s words, she reminded herself everyday that Keeshah chose to stay with her and as such it was a great honour. “I do not consider myself great, only humbled and lucky that Keeshah chose me.” As she spoke she smoothed her hand across the back of Keeshah’s head, having to reach only a short distance down despite his crouched height.

Ooc: I believe I am in the same position as you, the inspiration eludes me.