Roleplay

@KyraTheHuntress @TheProfessor Ravuka was very pleased with Akachi's reaction. The wildclaw always had a sort of crazy look in his eyes which made it very difficult to tell what he was thinking. Together they walked deeper into the forest, careful to stay away from the glowing mushrooms so they wouldn't alert potential prey to their presence. It wasn't long before Ravuka noticed the heat signature of some small creatures a short distance in front of them. He pointed them out to Akachi, and immediately Ravuka was glad he had asked the wildclaw to join him. Like a true hunter, Akachi stealthily circled around the prey and then gave Ravuka a silent signal to show himself. He did, and the creatures, which he now noticed were duskrats, ran towards Akachi. [img]http://flightrising.com/images/cms/food/164.png[/img] A few minutes later they both had their claws full of tasty meat. "You were awesome, Akachi! Let's go show the others what we caught." Akachi seemed unaffected by Ravuka's praise. "We can't go back yet, mirror. Some of them don't eat meat, we need seafood too." "Oh... okay." Ravuka was a little disheartened by Akachi's lack of enthusiasm, but he quickly recovered. "I know where we can find water." Again they walked in silence. Ravuka wasn't sure what to say to the wildclaw. "So, I heard you defeated that big snapper?" Akachi was walking behind him, and Ravuka heard him mumble something about "stupid... messed up..." "I don't think you messed it up." An awkward silence followed, and Ravuka was glad when they reached the small river. Akachi reached in with one of his claws and scooped up some glowstars. "Now we can go back." [img]http://flightrising.com/images/cms/food/132.png[/img] "Actually, you go to the others. I think I need to check our traps one more time." Ravuka said quickly. Akachi nodded and walked off with the food. Ravuka knew he didn't need to check his traps, he knew they were perfect. It was a small lie because he didn't want to take another awkward walk with Akachi behind him. Ravuka waited around for a bit and then walked in the same direction as Akachi. He was almost back when he heard a faint call for help. Maybe an intruder got caught in his trap? A little triumphant he ran towards the pit trap he had dug. It was too dark to see who was inside but the heat signature was unmistakable. He couldn't help himself and his chuckle quickly turned into a roaring laugh. Nightsong was not amused, but eventually she could laugh about it too. She did warn him "And no one will [i]ever[/i] hear about this, Ravuka." She said it with such an air of authority Ravuka didn't dare to protest. When he got back to the clearing Akachi had not returned yet. Did he get lost? Or did he eat everything by himself? Ravuka chuckled. "Why are you looking to smug?" Epictetus was awake. "I don't know. I caught some good things today." Ravuka replied, thinking with a smile about Nightsong. Epictetus looked at him and cocked his head. "You know you don't stand a chance, right?" "Maybe you should mind your own business." Ravuka snapped at him. "Maybe I don't take advice from a dragon who's [i]just a hunter[/i], my dear [i]regular clanmate[/i]...". Ravuka froze. He had told Epictetus and Lucky about Nightsong, and now he regretted it. This had hurt him very deep. His smile was gone and he stormed off into the woods again. Lucky had watched them and after Ravuka stormed off she looked at Mikazuki. The old imperial was also awake. "To be young again, right?" The imperial nodded. "To be young again. When every small thing seemed like the most important thing in the world."

@KyraTheHuntress @TheProfessor

When Ravuka stormed off he knew he was being childish, but he was just too angry to care. That's exactly why you shouldn't tell others anything. They'll only hurt you! He said to himself.

He didn't notice the other dragon until she stood in front of him. "Ravuka. Tell me what's wrong." Nightsong almost commanded. When Ravuka saw her he was happy she had come after him. She looked a little worried.
"It's nothing, really. Epictetus said some things, and..." He stopped. Is it safe to tell her? He didn't know, but she kept staring into his eyes. The gaze of another mirror was always more intense, other dragons just never knew in which eyes to look. He didn't have a choice but to tell her.
"Fine. I sort of told Epictetus and Lucky about you and what you said back when we were on the run, and he poked fun at it."
Ravuka looked down. He expected her to laugh or snap at him again, but instead she started apologizing. He looked up and at that moment he realised she was a true friend. Before he knew it, he embraced her tightly.

Ravuka didn't really know how to act after that, and by the looks of it neither did Nightsong, so he just walked away.
"Hey, where are you going?" Nightsong came after him. Ravuka had no idea where he was going.
"Ehm, I'm... going hunting. You want to join me?" Nightsong agreed.
"Hey, maybe you can show me how to set some traps, too."
"Absolutely, setting traps is actually my preferred method of hunting." Now Ravuka was in his element. Nightsong noticed this.
"I think tracking is much more effective." Ravuka knew she was probably just teasing him, but he would have none of it.
"I know tracking prey has it's advantages too, but it can take a lot of time and it never guarantees a payoff. Plus, one dragon can only track one prey at a time. If I set traps, I can catch enough food for a month in just one day!" He looked to his side, Nightsong looked like she was caught off guard by his serious enthusiasm. She shook her head and opened her mouth to say something, but then they heard rustling in the bushes. Nightsong jumped behind a treetrunk just in time.

Akachi stepped out of the bushes, his front claws still filled with food. Ravuka had not expected to see him at all.
"Hey uh..." Was all Ravuka could think of to say. Luckily, Akachi looked just as surprised as him.
"Hm... Why are you here." Ravuka quickly recovered.
"Looking for you. Did you get lost?" He pointed behind him. "The clearing is that way." Akachi looked a little offended.
"Don't insult me, mirror, of course I know where our camp is."
"I was just kidding." Ravuka said quickly. "But now that you're here, I was wondering, what do you think is the best way to hunt? Setting traps?" Ravuka knew Nightsong would be listening and he hoped Akachi would agree with him. The wildclaw thought for a moment.
"Attacking head-on would be the honorful way, but ambush-hunting is the most effective. Traps take too long." Ravuka was very disappointed.

Suddenly, Akachi froze.
"What's wrong?"
"That tree, I think it's laughing at us." Ravuka looked to his side, at the tree Nightsong stood behind. Loud chuckles were coming from it.
"Should I take it out?" Akachi's eyes were glowing dangerously.
"How would you take out a tree?" Akachi clearly had not expected that question at all. He probably wanted to eliminate anything dangerous out of instinct, and had not thought this through. The dangerous look disappeared form his eyes.
"Ehm... With a shovel?" Now Ravuka was laughing, and even Akachi gave a weird smile (that still made Ravuka shudder).

Nightsong stepped away from the tree, still laughing.
"Hi Akachi."
"Nightsong. What's so funny?"
"Oh nothing, just his face." Akachi gave Ravuka a questioning look, but the mirror didn't explain.
"I think I have to take this food to the others. See you around." With that Akachi quickly walked away, to the clearing.

Ravuka looked a Nightsong.
"That wildclaw doesn't know what he's talking about. Traps are the way to go."
"Sure, what does an assasin know about hunting?"
"Just be quiet, you. You're alerting every prey in the woods with your loud talking." He playfully tried to hit her with his tail, but she gracefully dodged it. It reminded him of the fact that his tail wasn't as long as it used to be. "Now, let's gather some materials to make those traps."



Back at the clearing, Lucky was getting restless. Everything was way too quiet, and she didn't like the fact that hey were just waiting around. She wanted to be useful, but before she could do anything, she needed more information. Again, she turned to Mikazuki.
"When do you think Ashtree will be back?"
"I don't know. Soon, I hope." This was of no help. Time to ask more direct questions.
"I was wondering, why does Soluna Tree care about a couple of lost familiars?" Mikazuki hesitated, and for a moment Lucky wondered if she had asked too much.



Meanwhile, Epictetus was feeling bored. He had expected an adventure, something to tell stories about when they got home. He walked to the ridgeback, who was getting better from the fight from before.
"How do you feel?"
"Well, considering my ribs and skull were cracked, I'd say I feel great." Darkstorm joked. "I'd feel better if anyone in our group had any healing abilities though."
"I can't heal you, but I can try to make you feel better." The ridgeback looked curious.
"Try me."
"Alright, let me tell you the story of a very young wildclaw. He hatched with beautiful butterfly-wings and his parents couldn't have been more proud. That is, until they found out their hatchling coulnd't use his legs. So the hatchling they first showed to everyone so proudly was suddenly shoved away every time anyone came to visit. It didn't matter how nice, smart or helpful the hatchling was, all they focused on was his one flaw." Epictetus paused for dramatic effect, then he continued. "But as the hatchling grew up, a cure was found and he could suddenly walk just like everyone else. Not that it mattered to anyone, in their heads they had already decided that the young wildclaw was useless." He paused again. "The end. How do you feel now?"
"Confused." Darkstorm replied honestly.
"Than I'm done."
"I don't get it, what was the point of that?" But the wildclaw was already gone. Instead, Fierceheart approached him.
"Mom said you should rest."
"I know, just getting frustrated by the wildclaw. Did you hear him?"
"Yes. I think he means you shouldn't give up on something just because there is one thing you don't like. Things can always get better."

Epictetus was listening from the distance, pretending not to hear them. He was glad at least one dragon understood him.

@KyraTheHuntress @TheProfessor

Epictetus watched the fight break out. He wanted to help Fierceheart, because he liked him the most, but he didn't dare come between them. Instead he went to Lucky.
"They're fighting over there, what should I do?" Lucky was in conversation with the Soluna Tree-dragons and she was annoyed at his interference.
"Go away, Epic, tell your stories to someone else."
Epictetus wondered for a moment if he should ask Strongclaw for help, but the big guardian was eating with a ferocious enthusiasm and Epictetus didn't dare disturb him. He then heard one of the imperials talk about the mirrors being in the woods, and he quickly ran away, trying to find them.



Lucky was having a hard time trying to get information from Mikazuki. It was obvious he was dodging her questions intentionally, all she could do was wait for him to let his guard down.
As the dragons shared their meal together, Lucky had a perfect opportunity to study the others. Mikazuki was a very attractive dragon, and she wondered for a moment if he and Ashtree were mated. Maybe she should ask him. It would throw him off, if nothing else.

Epictetus interrupted her thoughts, saying something bout a fight. She was in no mood to fight, so she sent him away. Then she decided to ask Mikazuki.
"So, are you and Ashtree mated?"



Ravuka loved playing with Nightsong. It reminded him of his hatchling-years, when he and his siblings would train their fighting skills on eachother. He was never a strong fighter, and relied on strategy to win. Their mother was impartial to their playing, but their father would always interfere when their playing eventually turned into a full-on fight. But his father wasn't here.

At first, his claw-swipes were innocent enough. Nightsong kept dodging him, and she called him on it.
"Come on, Ravuka, why don't you hit me? Are you afraid I can't take it?" Ravuka just growled in response. Nightsong smiled and swung her tail at him. She wasn't even trying, but it hit him right in his face. Okay, he thought to himself, now it's on.

Time for some strategy. He lunged at her and clawed at her right leg, three times in a row. Nightsong dodged, of course, but the fourth time Ravuka went for her left leg. She had not seen that coming and almost dodged that one too. Ravuka felt his nails make contact with her skin and felt victorious for a moment.
"Ha, see! I knew I was better at fighting than you!" Nightsong looked at her leg, where two very small scratches were visible, then looked up with a dangerous smile.
"We'll see about that!"
Nightsong didn't waste a second. She jumped in the air, so Ravuka stood up on his hind legs trying to hit her in mid-air, leaving his underbelly exposed. He couldn't reach her, and when she came down she hit him in the stomach.

Ravuka felt like all the air was punched out of him, and he needed a moment to catch his breath. Nightsong didn't give him a moment. She started hitting him in the head with her tail and all Ravuka could do was try to dodge. Then he remembered another piece of advice: the best defence, is offence. And again he jumped at her, she stood up on her hind legs to catch him and together they fell down and rolled over the forest-floor, each trying to pin the other to the ground. Nightsong was getting the upper hand, but Ravuka used his tail to grab her leg (which was not completely healed yet from her fight with the spiral from earlier) and pull it away from under her. Now he was on top, his instincts screaming at him to go in for the kill. He completely bared his teeth and his claws, and took a deep breath.

Nightsong suddenly noticed the creature watching them.
"Wait, Ravuka, stop."
Ravuka was so caught up in their fight, he didn't hear her. He grabbed her headcrest with his teeth, and tried to force her face down. But Nightsong didn't want to play anymore, and with great strength, she kicked him off her. Ravuka yelped, got up and backed away from her.

Nightsong received a letter from the creature and calmly read it. Ravuka barely listened to her, the sudden gulf of guilt and pain almost overwhelmed him. Instead he looked at the far end of his tail, which was starting to bleed again thanks to Nightsongs kicking. But he felt like he deserved the pain in his tail. He had gone too far and lost himself in their fight, he hoped Nightsong hadn't noticed.

He looked at Nightsong, and she looked back with a questioning look. Maybe she asked a question and he hadn't heard her?
"Ehm... you go ahead, I think I'll check the traps one more time."
A little ashamed of himself, he walked off and climbed one of the larger trees. It felt good to watch over things from a tree. He watched as Epictetus came running and he said something to Nightsong. Ravuka could here her reply from up here.
"WHAT? What are they thinking?!" She sounded so angry, Ravuka made a note to himself to never do anything to make her mad. Ever.
Nightsong ran of with Epictetus, leaving Ravuka to his thoughts.