Yunalesca shivered in the colder moutian air. She wasn't used to these altitudes at all. Never before had she crossed the Ered Annon moutians...it kind of scared her to be doing it now. She had chosen to aviod the pass to remain as clear as possible from the Spider Caves, she was not ready to face that place for a third time.

Yuna closed her eyes, and forced herself to take a deep breath and calm down, this was no place to flip out - or get caught in memories - the moutians were a dangerous place. They were filled with all kinds of creatures...plus random drops that threatened to kill anyone not entirely focused on their path. It also didn't help that Yuna had chosen to continue traveling after the sun had set. Her reasoning was simple, the place she had been at was far too open...but was traveling after dark any safer? That question now presented itself to Yuna. She took a deep breath and forced herself to move forward. She was alert to any sound, anything that may be a warning for danger near her. By now, she was also alert for a suitable place to set camp.

Yuna climbed her way over yet another ledge. Once she reached the crest of that ledge, she looked around. She was searching for any sign of life, anything that may be hidden in the shadows of the moutians. The ledge was way too open for a camp, but it did make a good look out point. Her eyes still searched for signs of life as she began to move toward what looked like a promising camp sight. It looked like a shallow cave, somewhere that she would be able to shelter for the wind, and maybe from predators too. Her hand went toward her bow as she drew nearer, she didn't want to be taken by suprise by anything that may be laying in wait for an unsuspecting traveler to get close enough to be stricken.

Ciraxis kept a steady pace along the steep edges along the mountain. Whenever he would slip, his wings always carried him fluently to safety, right back where he was. He enjoyed the challenge, even if it may have seemed dull to others. Ciraxis was very mature, but even very mature people had their off-days. He was actually grinning off of joy and fun rather than carnage and despair. In fact, sometimes he was laughing at himself when he slipped. It was a joyful day, for a change. And the sun being set just made it even funner, seeing as how he could almost barely see where he was walking. He's almost made it to his temporary cave where he would rest and enjoy some wonderful drow as dinner. It really WAS a nice evening.

When he neared the entrance part of the cave, he slips once, and his wings flail as he forgets to get himself back up. His back gets a good scraping before Ciraxis finally pushes off and flies up again, back where he was.

"Bah... alright, I think that's enough for the evening." Ciraxis commented, in his normal, booming voice.

Ning. Ning. Ning.

Ah, so there was an echo around. Ciraxis grinned at the extra fun. Although he wanted to, he decided not to play with the echoes, lest they get annoyed. Instead, just get back home. He jumped off the cliff, and slowly flew towards home, which was, in fact, right around the corner.

Ciraxis lands in front of the entrance to the cave, rubbing his eyes in apparent tiredness, whilst he slowly walks, his steps thumping, thanks to his incredible mass. He hated sounding destructive when he was having fun, but nevertheless, it was good impression. He opened his eyes...

... and saw an elf peering towards his cave.

"Hey!" he called out. "Do you need anything from me?"

Ciraxis's tone was fairly friendly, which was honestly a change. If he was in his normal mood, he'd make a cunning remark, followed by a change in dinner. But it did not matter. He decided to be friendly for now. Let's just hope she doesn't tick Ciraxis off.

Ciraxis stood there, in a basically casual stance, as his mouth showed a toothy grin.

"No, Sir, there is nothing I need from you." Yuna said, fear coloring her tone. Normally she was hard to scare, but a dragon - or a half dragon for that matter - was not something to play around with, dragons were not Yuna's area of expertise...for all she knew she was about to become dinner. She stepped back from her original standing point, treading not so carefully upon the edge of ledge. Her hand dropped away from her bow quickly, not wanting him to think she wanted to fight.

Her eyes were locked upon the half dragon, uncertianty and fear clear in her face. She saw the toothy grin, and totally misread it, in her mind, it was something like the seer of a humanoid predator just before it choose to stike to kill. What could she do? Running was likely pointless, but maybe if she could get far enough away he wouldn't bother following. Or maybe if she ran, he would decide eating her would be fun...not to mention she'd fall, they were in the moutians. Fighting would do no good, and would also get her killed. Unlike the half dragon, she wasn't built for this terain, actually, she was built for climbing...just not moutians.

She took another step - in the wrong direction - her foot slipped. She fought to keep her balence on the ledge...but it seemed hopless. Her balence shifted too far backwards, and she began to fall. Ariana, little sister, I'll be joining you very, very soon. Yuna thought as her body began to truly fall. The fear hadn't left her face, but it was warring, indefinately warring with peace...then the peace was gone, for no one could be at peace when they were falling off of a cliff. In the moment before impact...maybe, right before the terror registered yes, oviously, but not when she knew she was falling to her death.

Ciraxis left forward with blazing speed, wings pumping.

As the girl started falling off the cliff, Ciraxis made a fast reaction and charged right towards the girl. He jumped down the cliff himself and zoomed in towards the girl, quickly catching her and bringing her back up where they were. Ciraxis was panting a small bit from the effort, but he was glad he caught her. He sighs.

"Now why'd you go and have to do that. I'm actually having a nice day today, and now you've had to go trying to die." he says, but laughs right after.

A smile is pasted onto Ciraxis's face, as he asks that one obvious question within his sentence.

"Now, I only wanted to ask because I COULD. I am not in my normal mood today, so I'm really not going to eat you. In fact, you could be the first friend. But all I'd like to know is... how'd you find me?"

Once again, that smile.

Yuna flushed a deep red at his words, and the fact that he had just saved her life, point blank. He could have let her fall, he could have killed her himself in the seconds that she was in his arms, but he set her down, alive and well, not even a scratch on her from the fall...that said something. "I didn't do it on purpose....It just kind of happened. I didn't plan on falling off the cliff...thats not an experience I ever wanted." Yuna said lightly. Even if it would let me be with Ari again. Yuna thought, but it didn't show upon her face at all. Oddly enough, she seemed calmer now, more relaxed and willing to talk, rather than hyped up and tense.

Yuna listened to his careful speech, she was getting the feeling that he didn't get to talk to people very often at all. Part of her mind wondered if that would cause trouble in their communication. "Its good to know you don't intend on trying me for dinner tonight....I don't think I'd like it much." Yuna said musing aloud.

"Finding you was actually an accident. I was trying to cross the moutians. I strayed from the pass because it cuts far too near the spider caves for my hearts comfort. I thought to cross the moutians myself. I was doing alright, for a first attempt. But I found myself unable to find a suitable camp in the place I was when the sunset today, so I continued on, hoping to find a suitable camping area before it grew too late. I came to this ridge...and while scanning to see if there was anything near that could be a threat, I noticed the cave...And then well....you showed up." Yuna spoke slowly, calmly, there was little to no emotional inflection in her words...she just said them...like she didn't feel anything at all.

Ciraxis chuckled at the monologue.

This was a rare convenience, as one would happen to stumble upon an evil dragon in a good mood. This means that they could get to talk a bit. Ciraxis seemed to like this person a bit, as it was in his expression. He seemed calm and relieved about saving her from death.

"Ah, well do not worry. I could help you out. You could stay with me tonight and set up your camp, and tomorrow I could perhaps take you to your destination. People won't mess with me, because they haven't caught my good mood. Now, does that sound acceptable, ma'am?" he asked.

Suddenly, he remembered. "Oh yes! My name is Ciraxis Yurlam, Aegis of Arda."

He smiled again. What a mischevious smile.

"I don't want to be in the way, Sir." Yuna said quietly. Very little emotion showed in those words, only something of a fierce detirmination not to be the cause of trouble. The fear had completely vanished, whethered covered up or truly gone, it was impossible to tell.

"I am Yunalesca, though many call me Yuna." Yuna's words were clear, still calm. She didn't add her race, or any other comments. If he couldn't figure out that she was Elven, that was not her problem...he wouldn't understand if he couldn't figure that much out on his own.

She looked around at the landscape. It was all bathed in shadows, what a suprise...after all, it was well after sunset. It would have been much more shocking if everything was bright. The wind blew again, gently rustling the elven girl's light brown hair. After several moments, Yuna returned her multicolored gaze back upon the half dragon.

Ciraxis smiled at the obviously elven girl. She was fine of figure, Ciraxis had to note. But there was something that irked Ciraxis. Although she had no fear, as seen, she seemed to be shaken by Ciraxis's appearance. Or maybe it was his attitude? Ciraxis pondered for a moment.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Yunalesca. You would not get in the way if you were to stay tonight. It would be an honour." he remarked.

Ciraxis was being nice, obviously. He didn't know why. Elven girls were delicious, especially when they are healthy. Good nutrients. An ogre once commented saying '[I]ELF GIRLIES MAKE YOU BIG AND STRONG[I]' one time. Ciraxis laughed then once, because it was true. But he did not decide to eat this girl.

Ciraxis hated his good moods.

"Are you sure I wouldn't be in the way? An honor, how would my being here be an honor?" Yuna said lightly. She was trying to relax, but something about his manner, it hinted to the wish to eat her, despite his so kind words. Something about it worried her...what if he decided he didn't like being in a good mood? What if he decided eating elf would be much more fun than being nice?

Yuna smiled hesitantly at Ciraxis. She was sure he seemed agitated over something. Was it something she had said? Or maybe her actions were offending him some how. She kept her eyes on him, trying to decide what was annoying him. So that maybe, just maybe she could stop it before he decided she would make a good snack.

Ciraxis nodded, smiling. Although he sometimes hated his good moods, he also hated having them. People could never consider a black half-dragon in a good mood to be actually nice. Normally, if they are in good moods, it means that they are able to kill lots of things just for the sake of it.

He sighed a bit. "You may leave if you wish. I just thought I'd give some hospitality. It wouldn't be a bother, seeing as I have two beds for some reason. But, it's your choice..." Ciraxis said. But he saw how she was nervous about him, and Ciraxis immediately added something.

"No, I am not going to eat you. I am not hungry." Ciraxis said, smiling. Sure, he may get hungry later, but he'd still stay true to his word.

(*coughs* if Yuna can get over the 'crap hes gonna eat me' frame of mind...I can see an interesting friendship forming...hmmmmm)

Yuna listened carefully to his words, just listened. After he had finished she forced herself to think rationally. If he was going to kill me, he'd have saved himself the trouble of being nice and trying to convince me he wasn't or saving my life when I fell. Seriously Yuna, you need to lay off and calm down. He's just trying to be nice...I need to get over it...its just more stero-typeing...its just like Quess, only she's a Lupine insead. Not all dragons are murderous...you know better than to think like that. Or rather, you should after everything that you've come across. As Yuna went through that chain of thoughts, she seemed to visably relax...forcing herself to think reasonably, rather than just focusing on 'omg he's gonna kill me' had deffinately done the trick as to calming her down...of couse, it was meant to, thats why she had done it.

Yuna's smile became much less hesitant, it seemed much more natural now. "If you are certian I won't be in the way, I think that maybe I should stay..." Yuna said aloud slowly. Continuing to try and cross the moutians in the night, at this point, has just as much, if not more, potential for killing me than staying here does, so why not? Yuna added mentally, but she was careful not to say it. Yuna's posture had also come to refect the new relaxing, no longer did she seem tense and ready to run at any second, rather she seemed calm, and maybe just a little inquisitive.

"Its very kind of you to allow me to stay here after how rude I've been." Yuna said after a moment of concideration. She had been quite rude in her actions, if not her words, and she knew better, worse than that, she had done better before...after all, she'd given reading lessons to a full blooded lupine...how rude was it to continue to asume someone is going to eat you when he is just trying to be kind.

Ciraxis seemed to relax a bit as well. As 'evil' as he was, he was glad that somebody in Arda trusted him enough in a good mood. He noticed how Yunalesca had visibly calmed down. Ciraxis was glad about this, seeing as even though he was a black half-dragon, some could be trusted... for a while.

"You have not necessarily been rude. You have been cautious, and nervous. I understand how people are normally scared of black dra--er, half-dragons. But you caught me in a good mood, so you're pretty lucky. All I request is you do not abuse the hospitality or anger me. Oh, and, no offense or anything, but if you try to steal my 'stockpile', I will eat your hands."Ciraxis said. He chuckled, smiling, at the last statement, even though it was basically true. Ciraxis would not be happy to have his coins stolen. He'd eat his brother - if he had one - if he stole even one coin. Ciraxis wasn't all that friendly.

He held up his arm, aiming to the cave in a welcoming gesture.
OOC: :lol:

"Why would I steal from someone who is being kind to me? That would be beyond rude." Yuna said, her eyes flickering toward the cave as he spoke. Stockpile? She thought absently.

Yuna walked forward slowly as Crixias motioned toward the cave. Her eyes flickered to him one last time as she walked passed his huge form. Something in his face made her suppress a shiver...but she couldn't quite put a name to what had worried her in his face. She turned away and continued into the cave slowly. She didn't want to get far ahead of him, in case there was somewhere he didn't want her to go, or something that he didn't want her to touch. It was only polite to make sure he didn't mind before she touch anything that belonged to him.

(*coughevilgrincoughcough* ^_^ )

Ciraxis breathed fire onto a torch, as it lit up in blue flame, simmering down to orange. As he walks behind Yunalesca, the cave lights up. There were two comfortable looking beds to right, seperate with their own blankets, which had patterns. A normal person would assume it was made by family. To the left there was an uncivilized makeshift 'kitchen', but with basic things such as granite rocks pounded to form a pan, supposedly from a fist. Wow, Ciraxis was quite the strong one, eh? Farther down to the left were a large pile of bones, some bloody and dripping, some dry and brittle. But if one were to look at the end of the cave, they'd see...

... a whole heaping pile of coins and jewelery. (Ooc: It's a fake thing, RP only. I don't actually have a bazillions of coins or whatever.)It looked remarkable, as every coin seemed polished, and shining when the torch's light reflected upon them.

Ciraxis continued down, veering away from Yunalesca, as he sat down, leaning on the front of his bed, resting his head back. It appeared he was very tired, as he sighed heavily. He didn't even care when fire blew out of his mouth from his sigh, as normally, he would hold it back, which was normally extremely easy. He closed his glazed eyes, resting his hands on the floor, as his talons rubbed against each other, apparently the toes were cracking. Ciraxis managed enough strength to cock one eye open to peer at Yunalesca, that seemed to be walking around still.

"It's not much, but at least the beds are comfortable. There's one I keep clean, but never sleep in for some reason. You may sleep in that one. But remember, if you even touch my coins, you're breakfast. I really don't want to be mean tonight, but it's a little thing. I'm still very nervous of having a guest in my home. It's not normal for me."

Indeed, this was the first time Ciraxis had ever let a guest enter his home without being eaten. The elf was calm, and unsuspecting. Well, she should be, as Ciraxis had no intention of anything other than rest. He just wanted to sleep, but he had to stay awake, just in case the seemingly innocent elf tried anything even suspicious.

Tonight was quite tiring.

(*jaw drop* he's suspcious of her? wow....thats a new one)

Yuna flushed very slightly as he spoke, feeling embaressed yet again for invading someone's private home and this time, her embaressment was founded...he was indeffinately a secritive person...dragon...whatever. Yuna's eyes widened slightly over the bones....something (dripping sarcasim here) about the fact that there were bones in his home set off alarm bells in Yuna's mind...she pointedly ignore the alarms, she had no reason to think he would eat her...at least, thats what she told herself.

Yuna saw the 'stockpile' of jewlery and coins and such, somehow, it didn't suprise her after what he had said outside, her eyes barely even widened at the sight of them. Yuna was beginning to get a gauge of just how tired Criaxis was. Yuna didn't say anything at all...getting the feeling that he hadn't expected a reply to what he had said. Hesitantly she approached the other bed, it felt somehow akward to her to be near it. It had been a long time since she had slept in a real bed.

"It is very kind of you to allow me to stay here." Yuna said softly, almost to low to be heard normally. It wasn't that she was trying to whisper...or not to be heard...she was just naturally quiet...and something about a dragon looming so near made her even quieter than normal. Kind of like Zakarias had...Yuna shook her head sharply. Forget about Zakarias! He was an angel, you are an elf. He's gone now. Get the freak over it girl. Yuna though, scolding herself for once agian thinking of him. Yuna had thought she had broken that habit...ohh well, she still had time to work on it...it wasn't as if she were human and to die so very soon.

After a moment Yuna took a deep breath and released it in a sigh. The day was beginning to catch up with her...making her feel the strain of moutian climbing...then again, Yuna knew it could have been a lot worse. She shook her head, realizing that she still stood several feet from the bed itself.

Ciraxis closed his eyes, no longer caring, as he started to rest, not even bothering to get on the bed. He was still in his regular padding, but he began to sleep. It was a tiring day, and he was sure that Yuna was tired as well. Ciraxis had a few things on his mind to ask her, but never bothered to. He just lied down, closed his eyes, and slept, wings twitching once or twice.


OOC: End of RP, UNLESS you have a reason to continue it. :D