OOC: This is an rp to introduce Ares, I suppose. I have no idea where this is going to go, but I am curious to see who can interact well with Ares's big ego and thirst for battle. Anyone is welcome to join.

IC:

Ares stood on a hard, jagged rock that overlooked the hot desert plains. The wind, dry and warm, whisped along the sand, picking up little particles in its dance. The sky was clear of clouds and the sun radiated down in a merciless wave, though none of this fazed Ares. He welcomed the heat, more than that, he enjoyed it. The sun warmed his feathers and fur, and his muscles felt relaxed and ready for action. He opened his wings in a fluid motion, almost strutting, as he hopped off the rock and onto the sand to look for small lizards that may have been slithering under the sand.

With luck, he spotted a rattler trying to make its escape to cooler shade. In a motion so fast no one would have spotted it, Ares pecked at the snake and pulled it to pieces, savoring its flavor. When it came to the desert, one wasn't picky about the menu.

Since Ares was unnaturally large for a gryphon, he needed extra nourishment, and often had to go looking beyond the Hadarac Desert in search of good food to eat. However, today he was completely rested up and was looking for a battle to fight. He hadn't been in one for quite some time, and felt out of practice.

OCC: Mind if I join? Paito and Seroc could use some exercise.

Paito sipped water from his canteen as the hot wind blew past him, whipping his short dark hair into a frenzy as Seroc glided low over the hot sands. It was good to be able to ride his dragon during the day for a change, something he rarely had the chance to experience. Then again, there wasn't much to see here. Paito was dressed in his warm weather clothing, with his short sleeve buckskin shirt and lightweight buckskin pants.

"These updrafts don't make me expend as much energy as usual." Seroc declared casually.

"Just keep an eye out for trouble. Your scales should blend in with the sand if you stay low." Paito replied, stuffing the cork into his canteen.

Seroc added"I just hope we don't run into another sandstorm."

He glided above the sand dunes, keeping fairly close to the ground, taking advantage of the thermal updrafts.

The Hadarac Desert was a strange new place to Paito and Seroc, as they usually stayed within the forests to the north. However, they had made some enemies up there and decided it would be best to wait for things to calm down before returning. Meanwhile, this bleak desert looked like a good hiding place. Surely nobody would come looking for them here. Then again, the desert posed its own dangers. The lack of water and aforementioned sandstorm were only a couple of them.

As Seroc flew above a cliff, he thought he saw something out of the corner of his eye...

OOC: No, it's fine, go right ahead.

IC:

Ares finished his meal and picked his beak clean of any leftover scraps. He lifted his head, sniffing the air around him. There were intruders, someone was invading his territory. He would have to make his presence know, and very clear.

With a leap, Ares took off into the sky, flexing his talons in waiting anticipation. Finally, a chance to practice some battle moves he learned recently. He worried that his technique was getting rusty, but with practice, he was sure he’d overcome the little shadows of doubt lingering in the back of his mind.

Who is out there? Ares let out the call, his screech low and crackly, unlike a normal bird’s high-pitch sound. This is where I have set up territory, unless you were too blind to realize I left markers among the rocks. He spotted them, two shapes through the thin line of sand. It appeared to be a human and a dragon. A dragon…oh great, he grumbled. Dragons were not exactly his cup of tea, as he had had problems with them in his earlier life.

Indeed, Seroc did see something. Presently a large griffon, which had appeared seemingly out of nowhere, was flying up toward them.
Paito noticed the griffon when he saw Seroc looking in its direction.

"I wonder what it wants." he said. They were about to find out.

"I don't know but it doesn't look too happy!" the dragon responded, keeping an eye on the griffon's movements.



Apparently they had accidently flown into this griffon's territory. Paito did not wish to make more enemies seeing as how they already had plenty to worry about.
"We've already got Galbatorix's goons after us. This is just what we don't need, Seroc. Tell him we don't mean any harm."

"I'll try to tell him, but it that doesn't work we're getting out of here." The dragon then said to Ares "Wait, we did not mean to intrude upon your territory! We don't want to start any trouble."

(OCC: I guess we'd better wait for Astralwing to come back.)

OOC: Sorry, I have had exams to study for and...it's been very hectic. I have warned you all beforehand... jk And of course you can join Dark! sheesh...

IC:

Ares let out an annoyed screech. If you didn't mean to stumble onto my territory, then why are you out here? I know this isn't a place to exactly hang out. There is barely any water resources and little wild life. Tell me then, what are you doing out here?

And you! he added in a shout, looking towards yet another intruder keeping themselves well hidden from his sight. I know you are out there, present yourself at once, otherwise I'll come out there and drag you out here myself! Ares's eyes dialated, when he realized the invader was not exactly human, but it still had a human body. What creature was it, he wondered...

[OCC: I understand. I have school for 12 hours every day. It's a mess.)



"What does he want, Seroc?" Paito asked as he watched the griffon continue to approach them.

Seroc sighed. "He wants to know why we're here. Frankly I don't see why it is any of his business. Should we tell him?"

Paito said "I hope he isn't friends with the Empire. Go ahead and tell him.
Be polite about it though. We're technically tresspassing."

Seroc snorted "Well if he is then he won't live long enough to tell anyone about us."

Seroc was not in the mood for this. He replied to Ares "We came here to get away from Galbatorix's goons who insist on chasing us all over Alagaesia. My rider and I were only looking for a safe place to stay for a while."

Neither Paito or Seroc had ever dealt with a griffon before and neither was sure what this one would do.

(OCC: Astralwing, It's your turn again. I'm sorry if I seem impatient.)

OOC: lol um...I guess you would have a reason to be impatient since it's been four months since this has been written in...I'll go now...And yes, CDG, you can The more the merrier.

IC:

Ares let his feathers lay flat against his neck and his wings went to his side when he realized the dragon and rider were not enemies. He took a step back, keeping a cold gaze in his eyes towards the two. If you're not here for attacking...I suppose if you'd like a place to stay in a hot desert, be my guest. He felt himself go rigid at the thought of these two perishing without anything to drink in the formidble sands. Come with me, I'll show you some water, he added.

To the strange being, Ares snapped his beak closed and chuckled. Immensly, he said sarcastically. Why don't you stop glaring and get some water? The sun's doing enough for you. He glanced up at the pulsing intense heat of the feiry sphere in the sky and turned his gaze towards a disturbance nearby. More guests? Or intruders? Ares wondered to himself.

OOC: Yeah, sorry about that, I promise this should be the last time I'll need to be reminded...hopefully lol.

IC:

Ares merely nodded as he took off, making sure that his guests were following, and led them to his personal oaisis. It was a small gathering of trees, with an underwater spring flowing into a pool filled with cold water. He landed next to the pool and looked up at the small group.

There's also fruit growing in some of the trees if you need the nourishment or something for the road ahead, he added. Meanwhile, if any of you are willing to share why you've decided to travel in the desert I'm quite curious.

He flexed his talons as he stretched out on the rock overlooking the pool. Ares felt anxiety as two others were making their way away from the desert. At least they weren't planning an attack...but he had heard something...getting out of the desert in a few days...

Are you sure you'll be able to find another oaisis in the middle of the desert? he asked in private speak. You don't have to necessarily stay here for a couple days...if you need water and food for the road ahead, feel free to take some and then you can be on your way, he suggested. I would feel guilty if I knew someone had passed up on water and food and died within the next couple of days and I did nothing to help them.

Seroc followed the griffon over the desert. The heat rising from the desert floor provided good thermal updrafts which meant he did not have to expend as much energy flying as he normally would. The dragon followed the griffon to an oasis and landed by the pond, kneeling so that his passengers could disembark.


Paito refilled his canteen and said to Ares, "Thank you, kind griffon."

After taking a sip from the canteen Paito explained, "Seroc and I came here to lay low for a while. Apparently we caused Galbatorix some grief when we freed a slave labor camp while looking for my father. The dark king has been sending his minions after us so we came here to hide out until things calm down again. If there is a cave or any place we can stay, we would be most grateful."


As for finding food, I can fly across the desert very quickly. If necessary, I could fly to the other side of the desert and bring back food for us. Seroc added as he curled up on the ground next to his rider.

OOC: Sorry for the really long wait. I didn't notice it was my turn when I got my account back.

IC: Snare stared down at the ground. Away from the outside world, it was all that she wanted, nothing else. With a sigh she replied to him, "Who wouldn't want to be away from it all? Other than the tyrrants and other things." she sighed and replied, "I wouldn't mind just living out here for the rest of my life. Gets me away from everyone." She looked around at all of them, at the humans, she suppressed rage from coming to her. Vile, all of them, reaching for her sword she let it go, she couldn't do anything, she'd be overwhelmed. Besides, the griffon had offered for her to stay here, she was sure he wouldn't appreciate it if she went and killed the humans with them.

OOC: If everyone wants, we can continue this rp? Yes? No?

IC:

Ares did not judge the shape-shifter harshly, or of that at all. Instead, he studied her for only a brief few moments but in that amount of time, it felt much longer in his gryphon brain. She obviously was discomforted around the other humans, what with how she was acting around them. He could smell the other part of her that was not-so-human in her rising. Why don't you take a rest in the shade? he suggested quickly to avoid any fights. Though he was particuarily fond of battles himself, he didn't want one over strangers who had just met. There was no need for disputes when there was none to begin with.

He turned his attention to Paito. You seem surprised as to why I had not known about Galbatorix. You see, I have lived for 200 years of a solitary life. I rather be alone than in the company of...other creatures, he replied trying to refer to anyone in particular instead of singling out dragons and humans. It's not a personal dislike towards anyone, that is just how I like to spend my free time. I often travel the desert, enjoying the heat and the sun on my back.

But what you have told me is quite disturbing, he added with a distasteful murmur. I certianly hope someone, somewhere, is building a resistance to face him and take back the land for the people rather than one individual, Ares said, though he would not admit out loud that he would rather this Galbatorix person would be brought down so that Ares would not lose his freedom and territory to the likes of a single human.

I agree with that completely, Ares said to Nardia and her companion Allinya. No matter where you go, you could always find an enemy or a threat as you assumed me to be, he added with a dry chuckle. As I said, your affairs are your own and I will take kindly to leave myself out of it. I only wish to provide nutrients and water for a trecherous journey. The Hadarac Desert is...quite unforgiving, Ares murmured blackly, his green eyes glinting with dark memories of his past, battles he faced with creatures and mother nature alike.