Aeris moved across the plains making a concious effort to find the undead that she had been tracking. It had to be close...she had felt it only hours before...and seen it too. Yet, it seemed to be gone, no where within reach of her sight, she didn't like that it had fled so quickly.

"It is gone." Aeris said softly, telling herself aloud what she knew had to be true by this time.

Aeris didn't usually bother to hunt Vampires, but this one had been a nucience reacently, killing many humans, because it could, not because it needed to. Survival was one thing, killing for pleasure was another, at least as far as Aeris was concerned. Yet it seemed gone...maybe one of the beasts had taken care of it...or she had been mistaken in thinking that she had seen it ealier that night. By now, it was nearly dawn, the creature would have taken shelter by now, if it didn't have a death wish.

Aeris continued wandering the grasslands, taking in the beauty of the place. It suprised her that she saw nothing, and heard nothing too. As if nothing lived on the Salquedor Grasslands, but she knew that was untrue. Many people crossed the plains, and even more animals and creatures lived here. The things that lived here, were good at hiding themselves when they wanted to, that was what they did, hide. That was how they survived, knowing when to get out of sight, if they didn't want a predator to take them. Still Aeris looked around her, hoping to spot something other than the plants that lived. It was odd having nothing else.

Aeris finally came across a stream of pure, clear water. She decided to stop there for a little while, to rest, and have a good drink of water.

Sebastain crouched low into the grass. His usual form of a small tiger cup was replaced by that of a larger saber tiger. His long ivory fangs caught the light when he moved a certain way. He paws pushed the velvet grass deeper into the ground as he walked yet the grass itself seemed untouched by the massive beast that had just walked through. His gray eyes searched the grass for anything to move. It's so still. He commented to himself. He smelled the water long before he saw it and stopped for a drink downwind of Aeris.

Arthur walked the grasslands looking about for any dnagers that might come at him. He knew the chance of being attacked here was unlikely but sometimes raiders would attack caravans and stuff along the plains without warning. Arthru did not want to be caught up in that. He was here to go to the out door trainign arena where he could practice his blade against opponents who did not want to kill him.

Still even then it was wise to be cautious, if anyone found out he was half-dragon there he could be in deep trouble. Some people did not liek what he was or saw him as a monster but they only saw what they wanhted to see. They never got to knwo the person behind the fearsome visage. Of course thats why he was in human form to be safe from them so they would get to know him easier.

Arthur walked for a long time not lookign anywhere particullary as there was nothign to see really. Finally he came to a stream of water and saw a person a woman resting by it and he came forward and stood back from a distance and said," May I come close and drink". He did thsi because he did not want the woman to think he was attacking so he awaited her answer.

Aeris turned her body enough that she could see the man clearly. Her eyes flickered over his swiftly, taking him in. She could see no reason not to allow him nearer, after a moment of gazing at him.

"Of course you may come and drink. I do not own the earth, therefore I have not the power to grant, or refuse, you permission to drink." Aeris said very calmly, she seemed very relaxed.

Aeris's pale skin was very noticable in the bright sun light...and her red highlights were a bit visable. Part of her hoped he would not notice, nor ask, but she had a feeling that if he did notice, he would ask questions. So, the best she could truly hope for is for him not to notice at all.

Aeris gazed out over the grassy plain for a long time, her mind wandering to the botched Hunt this morning. And thats why I don't hunt for a living. A good Hunter would not have allowed that Vampire to escape. Aeris concluded in her mind, and not for the first time either. She knew that if she practiced she would get better, but in the mean time, everytime she tried to Hunt, the fiend she hunted got away. Did it really help for her to chase the thing away from a village for a short time? Or was it just as stupid as she thought it was?

Aeris shook her head sharply as she glanced back at the male. "What is your name, Sir?" She asked politely.

Arthur smiled at the girl and observed her closely. He wanted to make sure he was in no danger. When he decided he wasn't he came forward. He paused for brief moment and thought he saw something in the gilrs hair but figured it for a trick of the sun. Arthur then bent down at the cool clear water and cupped his hand and took some water and drank. The water was cool and refreshing and it went down his throat easily. Had he been in dragon form he would have been able to drink more, but what he had taken would suffice for now.

Arthur then answered the girls question he said," I am Arthur Paendrag Tanreall, you may call me Arthur". Arthur straightened himself and asked," And you, who are you"?

Sebastian's feline ears twitched as voices came from downstream. His form shimmered as the fur disappeared and the large muscular body of the tiger was traded for a smaller form of a bird native to these parts, the only difference with him was the distinct colors of black and gray in both his feathers and his eyes. He flew close to the water and landed in the grass not far from the couple. He listened while they talked and continued to hop closer to get a better ear on the things they were saying. When he thought he was close enough, he was only a few inches from the woman with the red in her hair. He unwillingly let out a chirp and covered his beak with both wings.

"I am Aeris..." She spoke quietly, but clearly...then because it felt wrong giving him so little information, "I am a Dhampire." Aeris looked toward the stream as she spoke, wondering how he would react, but at the same exact time, not wanting to watch his reactions.

She jumped as the bird chriped. She whipped around to face the direction the sound had come from, but she didn't see the bird. It had startled her mostly because very few animals ventured so near people anywhere, much less people who were holding a conversation and moving around.

Arthur eyed the girl he had heard of Dhampires but never really met one. As they said there was a first time for everything. Arthur smiled at the girl and said," Really now thats interesting, I seem to make a habit of meeting interesting creatures". He himself was one but few could tell if they did not look into his eyes or see his ears. As long. as he was in human form few could tell the truth that he was a half-dragon.

Arthur then said," We have our own quirks, I don not dislike people for theirs, I accept them, I have my own quirks that are as strange or stranger than yours". To make an example he blew a puff of smoke through his mouth. It was a trick he had learned logn ago. Some half-dragons could not breath fire in their human form. HE was one of the few who could. Arthur then said," You see I am diffrent like you, but I am more feared, vampires have their reputations, my kind have theirs, I am a half-dragon, so we are the same in that we are often outcats in humanity".

Aeris listened to him speak, but for a long time she didn't. She took in the meanings behind his words, as well as concidered what he had just revealed. A half-dragon...well, was it that odd? She was a half vampire. What was the difference really? Sure they had different blood lines, but they were still alike. He was right...they were both outcasts. A half dragon would never be trusted because of the off chance that their Dragon halves would decide to kill, and a half vampire...well vampires made their lives in killing living being...most people distusted anything assoiated with Vampires...that much Aeris had learned the hard way.

"A half dragon. Hmmm An interesting meeting for me. Not something I'd ever imagine doing. Very interesting. Your kind have their reputations...but not all of them follow that reputation. It is sometimes just a common assumption no one wants to disprove. But then, both my parents kind, and yours have, at least in part, earned that reputation. So, people would rather asume that they are all murderers, and never know anything more about them. I'm babbleing, I'll stop now, promise." Aeris said quietly. She gazed toward him now. Just looking at him.

Sebastian chirped again and hopped atop Aeris' shoulder. He turned his head to one side and looked at the dhampire with one gray eye. "You are beautiful indeed tho." His tiny beak moved as the voice sounded. It was smooth and flowed like silk across silk. He smiled a birdy smile. "Sorry if I startled you before. My name is Sebastian Cain. You may call me Sebastian or Cain or any other nickname you can think of. Just keep it close to my real name. I like it." He turned his small head to look at Arthur. "Wow a half dragon. I have never had the pleasure of meeting one. I did not know they existed anymore. It is truly an honor." He bowed in a birdy fashion.