*his

Where do you get on earth, autocorrect?

(NAH I'M JUST SLEEPY I MISREAD)

At king Qiguan's abruptness and harshness, Coldfire snapped. "How can you say that to her??" he shouted, hands balling by his sides. "How dare you treat her like this?? She is suffering and is desparate - she's dying - and yet you dismiss her so carelessly?" He clenched his teeth furiously.

The shifter bared his teeth. "But how can you tell flatly that you can't help? You haven't even tried!" he shouted.
When Giranja spoke, Coldfire looked to her, a desparate look in his eyes. //Giranja, I can't risk losing you. I'll do whatever it takes to help you,// he thought achingly. He pulled his gaze away and faced the king again.

(Pfft so he is)

"I will if I have to! I'll do whatever it takes to save her life!" He added more bitterly, "Because I actually care."
He paused and looked in confusion when Giranja grasped his arm. "Giranja, what are you doing?" he asked, bewildered.

(Coldfire: What is "careful"?)

Coldfire shot Giranja a glare and yanked his arm away, too caught up in the fight to listen to her. He faced the king with a dark face. "I -know- so. What other damned king would exile his own daughter!?" he shouted furiously.

(Coldfire: Why, that's the point! He'a not getting away with that!)

(Ok!)

(Lol it is)

(Also I'm having a hard time keeping my eyes open, so I'm gonna have to quit for tiniggt. I'll see you tomorrow or whenever we continue!)

(Haha alrighty!)

Coldfire spead his arms out. "And who decides the laws? You're the highest power in this land. You can do what you want," he insisted, assuming their system was just like his back home. The Tundra prince added hotly, "A good father wouldn't have punished her at all."

(I turned off autocorrect and typing has been so much esier. X'D)

(Except in that case right there)

(Also, are you currently on AEDT or AEST?)

Coldfire hesitated, stumped by Qiguan's comebacks. Then he clenched his fists and retorted, "Of course not, but I know that there's little to like in a petty father who sumbits himself to others like a coward!"

(Coldfire: When you can't out-argue them, throw insults)

(Thanks!)

(And g'mornin!)

(Hahahaha x'D

Most likely, poor girl. Who does she defend in this situation?)

Coldfire's face reddened, and he stalked forward a few steps. He raised his voice in fury. "You dare assume that about me?? I've had it rougher than you can dream of! But I know this: with enough power, you can change anything you want!" He opened his arms wide. "I could conquer your kingdom and show you that change can be made! And I'd take Giranja out of your bloody hands, and you wouldn't touch her ever again without losing your head!"

(Pfft hopefully, getting in a physical fight is not the best way to develop a relationship

Lol yeah he's gonna get it from her. Depends on how far the fight goes haha)

(Very much so)

(Pffft)

Coldfire clenched his teeth as he sized Qiguan up, his tone turning livid. "Don't challenge me! She's not -yours,- bastard!!" Before he could stop himself, the shifter flung a fist toward the Zilariun king.

(Oh yes)

(Aaaand now they're fighting, physically)

A flash of satisfaction rushed through Coldfire when he struck Qiguan, then surprise when the king drove his fist into his gut. He coughed and staggered backwards, clutching his stomach, then lunged forward and swung another fist at him, aiming for his face again.

(I have a feeling Qig's a better fighter than his age suggests)

(Emphasis on "delicate?" Ahahaha)

A jolt of pain flashed through Coldfire when Qiguan's elbow managed to hit his spine, and he stumbled down onto all fours. Making use of his fall, he spun and swept his leg around, sweeping Qiguan's feet from under him.

(Oooh nice. Coldfire's a generally good fighter too, but he's also a hot-headed idiot)

(I doubt he would)

(Not at all. x'DD I was expecting a bit of arguing and then Qiguan giving in and helping. I forgot he's not a pushover)

Coldfire rolled onto his back and leaped onto his feet as Qiguan gained space between them. More ready this time, he raised his fists as the Zilariun charged. He whipped a fist out and parried Qiguan's attack, then ducked down and drove his fist into the king's stomach. //That's payback,// he mused venomously.

(Wonder what Giranja's up to during this time)

(That is true, but Coldfire doesn't want to accept that lol

Hopefully, otherwise he'll just consider him a useless twerp and execute him or something)

Coldfire leaped back after attacking and calculated what he would do next, not expecting Qiguan to recover so quickly. But then the king was flying forward again and swung his leg at him. Coldfire ducked, but his leg still whacked part of his head. The shifter stumbled, vision spinning from the impact, and he backed away to recover. //How is he so fast??//

(She had to do the same with Coldfire and Thuun. Poor girl has a respectable amount of patience. x'D)

(Brb)

Coldfire yelped from the pain of Qiguan's blow, though his breath was cut short as his diaphragm was crushed. He grasped onto the king's hand and squinted up at him. "Damn you," he wheezed. He kicked at Qiguan's leg, trying ro disbalance him.

(Or it's just Coldfire

I very much respect her)

(Thank you!!)

Coldfire collapsed to his knees and clutched his gut with a strained groan. "I'm not... done yet," he croaked with a dark glare. But when Giranja broke in, he looked over to her through pained eyes. //What -am- I fighting for? My pride?// he thought.

(Really though X'D)

Giranja's disappointed look made Coldfire's insides twist with shame. He dropped his gaze to the floor as they spoke. When Giranja held out her hand, he studied it a moment but stood on his own, though he remained hunched over slightly. He shot Qiguan a weary glare before starting for the exit, hot with humiliation.

(Lol X'DDD)

(I haven't tried drawing my girl's tail yet, though I have drawn her horns. She has a lot of horns.)

Coldfire glanced at Giranja when she spoke but avoided meeting her eyes. He turned his head away. "I was trying to get help for you," he muttered sourly.

(Lol I love it though)

Coldfire scowled at her. "He didn't even make any effort! He just... He basically said he didn't care about you," he growled. "How am I supposed to let that insult slip by?"

(Yeah the fina are a cool addition! Hehe she's all decked out in bling~)

Coldfire flinched when Giranja's gaze fell on him, but he kept speaking. "He could at least try to figure out for himself how to cure you! He gave up without even trying!" He clenched his fists, thinking back to the conversation before the fight.

(Definitely. X'DD

i mean the gems! Though accessories would be cool too)

"Why? Why should I just let him off for that?" the Tundra prince challenged, glaring at Giranja. "I know what it's like to be hated by my own father. I'm not going to tolerate it when tou receive the same treatment from your father - someone whom you actually love."

(Oooh nice nice! What kinds of accessories do you think the deities would wear?)

"He wasn't dealing with just me. You're the reason we came to him in the first place. And if he 'doesn't need to be concerned' with you... How can I believe he really loves you?" Coldfire broke his gaze away and stared out the passing windows. "Sure he does... Those who have any worth to him," he replied bitterly.

(Oooh nice! I'd love to give Eiruza some jewelry to add to her character, if that's alright. Dunno what I'd put on though lol)

Coldfire went silent as she replied, at loss for things to say in response. "I don't get it," he finally muttered in a weary voice that made him sound lost and confused. "Why do you defend him? What is it between you two?"

(Haha alrighty! Thanks!

Yes please, that would be helpful!)

Coldfire's heart ached wistfully as he listened to Giranja talk. //Is that what I've missed out on my whole life? If only I could experience the same thing.... No, it wouldn't work. Father is too obsessed with power and cleaning us up to inherit the throne in our time. Bonding with him would be impossible.//
"Why is he like that?" Coldfire questioned. "Why would he sacrifice so much for you?" //Or rather... What is it he has that my father doesn't?//

(You can do the gems as well if you'd like! Though I doubt I'll draw them the same way with each drawing. xD But to see how they're colored would be nice!)

Coldfire listened quietly, then turned his face away and sighed, breath trembling a bit. "I'm happy for you," he murmured. "Even if you don't have other friends."

(Sweet!Thank you!)

Coldfire pulled away from Giranja's hand and scowled at her, face growing red from embarrassment. "I didn't mean it like that," he complained. He brushed his hair back into order with his hands. "And where are those friends? In Sylyore?"

(I just realized how well Fly On The Wall by TFK suits Coldfire's past)

Coldfire eyed her skeptically, then shrugged and looked off, rubbing his head where Qiguan had kicked him. "I didn't know you could make friends with other kingdoms. Every kingdom here seems so... hostile with each other."

Coldfire raised his brows in interest and slight confusion. "Huh. That's an odd way to coexist with the other Houses," he remarked. "If Hjino's so bad, why haven't they tried to take over yet?"

Coldfire watched her. "They actually took over? And you were here?"

Coldfire felt sick at the thought of Giranja being married off. //I never would've met her if she had been captured by Hjino...// "Well, so long as we stay out of any kingdom business, we shouldn't have to encounter any Hjino scum." He slipped his hands into his pockets.

(Whoops back)

Coldfire should have been used to Giranja saying random dark things thanks to her feral Zilariun instincts, but her remark still made him nervous. He scowled at her recommendation, highly tempted to retort, then rolled his eyes and looked out the windows. "Tch. Whatever," he grumbled. //What does it hurt if I insult him? I'll be ready next time if he fights me,// he determined inwardly.
After a few moments, he let out a stiff breath and said, "My stomach hurts. I need to sit down."

(Ah okay! How about a grayish-green, to contrast the purple?

Lol that is actually kinda funny. xDD And very typical of a boy in love)

(Coldfire: Oh, crap)

Coldfire scanned over the room, vaguely impressed by the rich decor, then found a sofa and sat down, exhaling slowly. He rubbed his gut gingerly. "For an old man, he's got an unforgiving punch," the shifter admitted with a wince.

Coldfire chuckled faintly. "No kidding. But next time, I'll be ready. I won't get caught off guard that easily," he said with a knowing smirk. He leaned back and stretched his arms above his head. //Wonder if he's feeling my punches as well as I'm feeling his,// he mused somewhat dryly.
"A while back... You said something like your father had lost a limb. Were you serious?"

(That's alright!)

Coldfire grimaced and averted his gaze when she gave him the serious look. When she answered, he looked back at her with one brow raised. "His wing? So he can't fly now?"

"Prosthetic wing, huh? Didn't know those could be made," he mused aloud as he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. In his idleness, he poked and fiddled with his mechanical fingers. "For ones who don't use much magic for construction, you Zilariuns sure have some advanced technology," he commented.

Coldfire chuckled at the thought of Kori rambling about the miseries of creating prosthetic wings. He distanced his prosthetic arm from his face until he could see the intricate machinery of each finger. "Your magic can't bend it? Never heard of a material that your own magic can't affect. My ancestors specifically built our kingdom from the material we can create through magic, so we'd be able to shape it at any time while others wouldn't be able to."

Coldfire shrugged. He crossed one leg over the other, then placed his elbow on the armrest and rested his head in his palm. He watched her softly. "You sure seem to love this place."

(Lol! XDD)

The shifter sighed and let his gaze wander to the floor. "I feel like I'm constantly trying to drag you out of your comfort zone, away from your home and family. I don't want to keep hurting you." He glanced up at her, expression remorseful, then he looked away again. "Maybe I should gather info on the Krege on my own, while you stay here and reconnect with your family." He hated the thought of leavin her side, but at that point, he wasn't sure what would be best for her.

(Pffft that is true

The more colors, the merrier)

(Oops just quick check, did she sit on the armrest on Coldfire's sofa?)

(Lol I figured)

(Alrighty! Thanks!)

Coldfire sighed as Giranja listed off the dangers of traveling alone. He watched as ahe came over, then lifted his head off his palm and used his hand to rub one eye tiredly. "Well, yeah, but... Well I could take a Zilariun guard with me..." He trailed off, knowing that Giranja would still insist she accompany him herself. He laid back and turned his head to look at the Zilarun princess. "You really want to go? We'd be traveling for days, maybe weeks."

Coldfire gave a heavy sigh. "Fine. But don't you dare get hurt or in trouble while we're out there. I can only protect you from so many things," he said warningly, though not bery strictly. He yawned, then asked, "What's Eskwua?"

(Just so you know, I'll be heading out in a few minutes!)

Coldfire blinked slowly for a few seconds as he processed her short explanation. "Oh... That makes sense." He rested his cheek in his hand again and closed his eyes, clearly sleepy after all the events in the day. "How's your migraine been?" he queried quietly.

"Well, keep being boring. Maybe he'll decide to come out," Coldfire suggested with a shrug, not yet realizing how insensitive he sounded. He opened his eyes and let them settle on Giranja a while. "We'll find you a cure," he promised again, voice quiet. "You'll never have to worry about a Krege again."

(I'm gonna head out now! This session was certainly interesting, and very unexpected. XD Thanks for the fun!)

Coldfire studied her with a soft gaze. Then he let his eyes shut and leaned his head into his hand. He intended to rest his eyes for just a moment, but it wasn't long before he was breathing deeply in light slumber.

(During their journey, do we want them to have any others accompanying them, or will they stay just the two of them the entire time? They'll definitely be meeting people along the road)

(I'm thinking they'll meet people along the way who might tag along a bit, but it'll be juat them inbetween)

(And sure! Though sometime we need to give Coldfire coffee. X'DD I can skip us to right before they leave, or even when they're leavng)

(Hmm, alighty then. e-e

Okay! One moment!)

The next norning, after sending Coldfire's soldiers back to their homeland and saying their farewells to Chirnagon, Coldfire and Giranja left the castle in search of a cure for Giranja. They both carried bags on their backs and had cloaks with them, though Coldfire waited to put his on because of how stuffy and warm they could get. They tromped along a pebbled path, the castle behind them. "So, where are we headed first?" Coldfire asked Giranja.

(Pffft but it's your world x'DD)

(We need Charbel)

"Zdero, huh?" Coldfire tried to recall the map of the country theychad bought some time back, though he couldn't remember which one was Zdero. He stretched his arms in the air, then crossed them behind his head. "Strong winds are fine. I'm used to them because of Teltundra." He added, "I'm assuming you're allies with Zdero?"

(Pffft I do that sometimes too though
I feel like you drew the map of the place before, but I can't remember now...
Get up
When you're body's screamin out
Get up
When your hope is fading now
Get up
The light is dimming down
Get up
And your strength is waning

Just kidding you're on break, stay in bed)

"That's good, for a start." Coldfire lowered his arms and crossed them. As they walked, the weather steadily became cooler as the wind picked up, indicating they were nearing Zdero terrain. Coldfire decided to pull on his cloak. "What's the plan first? Ask around?"

(Lol XD Well, you could do the classic hand-drawn map look and just draw a bunch of triangles for the maps. XD

Lol! Aww bummer)

"Hopefully we won't have to resort to libraries," Coldfire muttered under his breath. He glanced around at the changing terrain. "The rulers wouldn't happen to know where we could start, would they?"

(Gotta go for an hour or so! Brb!)

(Lol, I noticed no mountains had been mentioned since areiving there
Hahaha sweet!
Pffft that's nice, very informative meaning)

(And bork)

Coldfire turned his gaze to the path ahead. He thought he spotted a Zilariun form sweep by up ahead. "This'd be a lot easier if we flew there," he teased, somewhat dryly at the end.

(That does make sense xD That's cool!!

Lol X'DDD)

Typically, Giranja jinxed themselves. The Zilariun who flew by pivoted and winged their way in their direction, When she was near enough, the Zilariun landed on a rocky outcroping above them. "Are you of Chirnagon?" she questioned.

(That's neato! It is good to know)

The Zilariun snaked her head closer to scrutinize the two strangers. "This one's not a Zilariun, or human," she hissed suspiciously with a nod toward Coldfire.
"I'm a guest of Chirnagon," the shifter responded.

The Zilariun pulled her head back with a disitnerested look. "Very well then... You may continue on." With that, she spread her wings and took off, pebbles flying in her wake. Coldfire shielded his face as the dragon left, then sighed. "Are all Zdero citizens that grumpy?" he mused.

Coldfire raised a brow and rubbed his arm as he followed. "Then I take it you'll be doing most of the talking..."

(I'm working on that comic. x'D)

Coldfire kept his gaze on the path ahead to avoid tripping on anything. "How can they not all know the human language when they're around it half the time?" he wondered aloud, somewhat frustrated that he wouldn't be able to communicate with everyone.

(Lol

Well, you haven't made a black and white Zil yet, right? If you want some color in there, choose one and use it as a complimentary)

He frowned. "Then how do the humans and Zilariuns communicate? If not everybody knows the same language?" The shifter didn't like the thought of multiple languages in one place - he had grown up knowing one language and everyone in the kingdom was also expected to know it. Communication - or rather, obedience - was critical to the Tundra dragons.

(Ooh sounds good!)

Coldfire frowned in befuddlement, then let his gaze wander to the upcoming towns. "You do know where we're going, right?" he queried doubtfully.

Coldfire caught sight of the castle spires. "Oh. Yeah," he responded a little dumbly. He glanced around again, then a thought appeared and he looked at Giranja in concern. "We're going to be asking a lot about the Kreges... What will people do if they figure out it's because you have one?"

(Since I don't really know how Zdero runs or what it looks like, I'm gonna rely on you to lead them, unless you're okay with me making stuff up. xD)

(Yeet! Sorry distracted by this drawing x'D)

He frowned more. "But what if they press you into telling what stage you're at? If it's 'too late' for you as you say, they might figure it's best to kill you." He met her gaze, eyes serious and fearful.

(Pffft okay X'D)

Coldfire placed a hand on her shoulder. "Giranja - resorting to the Krege is not going to make anything better. You're giving it more control over your body, which will make it harder to get rid of it." They were coming nearer to the castle, and the streets filled up more with townsfolk. Some looked over in curiosity at the foreign duo.

The shifter watched her a moment, then sighed and let her shoulder go, gaze returning to the path ahead. //I won't even let it come to that... I'll fight for her. No, we can just teleport. That'll be easy.//
Eventually, they reached the gates of the castle. Two Zilariuns stood in the way. They looked down as the duo approached, and one asked, "Halt. State your names and business," he commanded.

They both widened their eyes in shock. "Giranja Shousin? Of Chirnagon?" They quickly opened the doors for them. "Allow me to escort you to the throne room,"the first Zilariun offered with a light bow.

Coldfire hurried to walk beside Giranja and hissed in her ear, "Why do we have to see the rulers first? Why can't we visit the elders or something?" //The higher up in the order, the more power and will they have to do something to us if they see us as a threat,// he mused worriedly.

(Lol x'D Who are the rulers for Zdero?)

(Posted the comic)

(I have wasted my life away)

(Well hey, you've got their names down. That's a start. XD)

(I can control a royal if you need)

Coldfire sighed in distress and rubbed the back of his head. "I know, but I didn't really think things over till now..." His gaze flickered about their surroundings, noting how plentiful the security was. "It's so deep in the castle. We'll be in huge trouble if something goes wrong."

(Why thank you. TuT
Lol!

Ooh boy. x'D Just give me whatever royal/royals you need help with)

(Now I feel like drawing more Girafire comics)

(Alrighty! Thanks! Good luck lol

Lol I'm working on one now x'D Just use reference! Or do chibi style which makes everything a lot easier xD)

The shifter sighed and ran his hand through his hair, though he didn't say anything else.
In a few minutes, they arrived in the throne room. The guard who escorted them stepped forward and announced, "Your majesties, Giranja Shousin, princess of Chirnagon, and her companion-- What's your name?" he whispered to Coldfire.
"Septus," he growled.
"Ahem-- Septus, have appeared and seek your presence." With that, the guard stepped away so there was only space between the du and the royals.

(Lol xD

Also, I guess I should ask, but what is Queen Yimily's personality? Or the basic traits at least?)

(Lol alright, I'll see what I can do!)

Queen Yimily stood beside the king and glanced over when they arrived. "Long time no see, Princess Giranja," she greeted her, then moved her gaze to Coldfire and studied him thoughtfully. "And welcome, Septus."
Coldfire, doing his best to ignore his paranoia toward the rulers, dipped his head. "Thank you, your Highness." He watched the king rather warily.
Yimily smiled lightly, then looked back to Giranja. "What is it you seek, princess Giranja?"

"Krege?" Yimily repeated with a surprised look. She tapped her lip with a finger and looked to King Zereo doubtfully. "Not that I know of... I thought all of them - at least, those we knew - had passed away." She glanced back to Giranja. "Why do you ask? Has ah, your friend here been 'infected?'" she queried curiously.

"I'm very sorry to disappoint you," Yimily said with a sad smile.
Coldfire spoke up. "Is there anybody else in this House who might know something about them?" he posited with his hands out, palms up. "People who knew the doctors well, or elders?"

(Uh so I drew a comic about how Coldy and Gira eat, though I don't know how you would feel about me drawing Coldfire eating meat. It's in a comical way, but I still want to check if you're comfortable with it)

"We're willing to try anybody," Coldfire said. "There are too many people to look for by ourselves - are you able to find or point out those who could have experience with the Krege?"
Yimily tipped her head in thought, then gave a little nod. "I woldn't mind arranging that." She looked to Zereo for his opinion.

(That's good! And no problem! I've always been kinda worried about what is and isn't okay

Pfft yeah)

(It's uploaded!)

(Oooh neato! Cool!

You were a big eater eh? XD I eat more like Giranja lol)

"Thank you," Coldfire said as well with a small bow.
"In the meantime," Yimily offered thoughtfully, "You are welcome to walk about the kingdom as you please, and we can provide lodging for you if you like."

(Woahhh that's cool! I might just do that with her!

Oh wow, that sucks. :/ Does that make you lose a lot of weight?)

Yimily laughed along with Giranja. "Very well. We will do as you have asked." She glanced to Zereo, then said, "If that is all, then you are dismissed. Have fun." She smiled sweetly at them.
Coldfire dipped his head. "Thank you for your help."

(That's epic!! *o* Cool idea!

Oh wow, that's a huge decrease. Hopefully you can regain that!
I weigh as much as you do... Guess that means I need to be gaining weight, too. xD)

(Ah alright! No problem! I gotta sleep soon anyway)

Coldfire turned and caught up to Giranja, then walked alongside her. "So, what do we do? Explore the town?" he suggested with a shrug.

(Neato! I guess you'd have plenty exoskeleton to use after slaying one of those humongous things. xD

Lol, I understand why they would. X'DD

Yup!)

(I just realized I forgot to draw Coldfire's mechanical arm in both comics)

(Oh eww, what would its meat taste like? X'DD

Yeah, that makes sense. Sorry if I've ever made a fuss about you eating x'D)

Coldfire watched the servants and nobles pass as well, though a little more warily. "Who's Merli?"

(Pfft, I always forget

He was never supposed to lose an arm in the first place)

(That's a really strange and interesting thought. X'D

Lol okay that's good xD)

Coldfire raised a brow at her, then chuckled. "Why am I not surprised? All princesses seem to bicker when they're together," he mused, thinking about his own sister. "Why is that? Between you two?"

(Lol

No problem! Don't worry about sticking around if you're busy!)

(Also if they're going into the town then I'm determined to make Coldfire drink coffee)

The shifter frowned. "That's dumb," he commented - rather hupocritically, coming from a prince whose bloodlike looks done on every other specie. "I don't know why you'd wonder where she is, as if you want to see her."
The duo made their way out of the castle and started walking theough the down, flanked on either side by shops, people and Zilariuns.

(Haha alright!

Muahahaha)

(Wow, that had a lpt of typos)

(I'm gonna head to bed now! Have fun!)

The shifter snorted. "Don't even bother to argue with her, alright?" he muttered. The aroma of fresh-brewed coffee suddenly wafted by them, causing Coldfire to straighten up and look around, brows furrowing. "Woah, that's a strong smell. Where is that coming from?" Up ahead, there was a brewery with an open patio with tables and chairs.

(Lolol, why would you think thaat?)

Coldfire frowned as he looked around, then said, "Let's check it out." He took her by the hand and followed the smell up to the bistro. He watched as a human walked by, a cup of steaming coffee in his hand. "What is that?" the shifter wondered. "It smells so strong, I can't describe it."

The shifter stopped in front of the shop window and narrowed his eyes on the various machines and baristas moving about inside. "Seriously, Giranja, what is it?" he asked as he watched the activity, a concerned and clueless look on his face.

(Hehehe, it adds to the thrill. XD)

"Coffee? Caffeinated?" Coldfore repeated, clearly unfamiliar with the terms. "It sure smells good for a drink. Have you tried it?"
"Hey, please don't cut in line!" one of the baristas called to them.
The shifter frowned and walked away from the line, though he stayed near to the shop.

(Hehehe)

Coldfire snorted. "Sounds like what alcohol would do." Inconspicuously, the Tundra shifter wandered to the back on the small line. "So... what's it made of?"

Coldfire scowled at Giranja. "Coffee beans? I'm not all that fond of beans," he admitted, rubbing his neck. The line had shrunk to only one person in front of them.

(He's probably going to make this very difficult because he wants it but he also doesn't XD)

(WiFi sucks outside)

Coldfire put his hands in his pockets and turned his gaze to the shop, reading the menus. "Well, not really, I'm just curious..." However, he didn't leave the line, and when the last customer left, he stepped up to the cashier. Plain black coffee was the first on the list, so he ordered that, then subconsciously subconsciously stepped out of the way for Giranja to pay.

(Yes it will be x'D)

(Wow he did a double subconscious)

(Lol X'DD)

Coldfire nodded silently and watched the activity inside the shop, still wondering why the aroma was so strong. A few moments later, a barista handed them their drinks. Coldfire accepted his and peered through the hole in the lid, noting that the black coffee really did look black. He glanced up at Giranja, somewhat expecting her to drink first.

(Well, she needs to get down eventually)

(Lol, poor things. X'D that's like LillyLightstar abd her cat Tiger who keeps climbing on/sotting on her DS when she's trying to roleplay xD)

Coldfire watched Giranja drink hers warily, then rolled her eyes when she said it wouldn't kill him. He looked at his cup again, then brought it to his lips. "Wait - it's made from coffee beans. Does that make it flavored water?" he asked.

(It is XD)

Coldfire repeatedly considered whether he would regret his decision, but eventually he brought the coffee to his lips and drank some. He rolled the liquid around his mouth, congemplatig the flavor, and ghen his eyes grew round. He took another sip. "That's really good," he admitted.

The shifter put one hand in his pocket as he continued to sip the coffee, holding it with his mechanical hand to avoid burning himself. "Well, things generally don't change much unless there's been a war," he remarked.

Coldfire huffed and shrugged. Yeah? The only changes we'd ever make back home were bigger walls and stronger security."
The shifter swirled his cup around, realizing with slight disappointment that he had almost finished the coffee. He glanced around in search of something to do.

(Charbel's done eue)

(Should I tag him with #FGOC or #FGAdopted? I created him but he's your species so I'm not really sure xD)

Coldfire glanced around the area. "Really? Alright..." He took her hand and used a backstreet to bring them onto a calmer road, away from the shopping areas. "Is that better?" he queried

(Haha alright then!

Very glad of that. XDD)

"It's fine," he responded, not really even paying attention. He finished his coffee then tossed the cup into a trash can. "Hey, we should do something fun," he proposed with a grin. He glanced around a moment. "What kind of fun things do they have around here? I can play instruments again," he mentioned as he flexed his mechanical fingers.

Coldfire stopped when she leaned against the wall, though he remained stinding upright. He rocked back and forth on his feet. He gestured with an arm, his expression eager. "Come on - we should go find a music shop," he offered.

Coldfire grinned cheesily and took her hand before leading her down the street at a swift rate. "You do know I have no clue where anything is, right?" he said to her

He shrugged and tossed her a smirk. "Guess we'll be exploring then." Suddenly having the urge to run, the shifter picked up his pace and raced down the street, dragging Giranja along. He laughed as he did, enjoying the cold wind over his skin. He kept his eyes and ears tuned for any sign of a music store.

Abruptly, Coldfire yanked them down a turn and appeared in front of a somewhat busier street. "I hear music this way," he announced before taking off again, weaving through the crowds. He grinned from the exhilaration of the search. //We need to move around more often! Sitting around feels so stuffy,// he mused to himself.

(So it has. XD)

At last, they emerged from the crowds to find themselves in front of a music shop, filled with instruments. Out front there was a human in a chair, playing a melodic song on a guitar. Panting from their run, Coldfire led the way inside and looked over all the items. Stringed Instruments hung on the walls, and glass cases displayed various tin and brass objects. The shifter craned his neck as he scanned the place, a smile growing on his face. "It's been way too long," he remarked.
(It might get worse if they can't find enough things to do xD)

(I finished yet another drawing - should I post it or should I spare my followers and not spam them? X'D)

(Also, I have a question on deity human forms, if in fact they have them: would they have anything like horns, fins, or tails regardless of how often they shift? Or would they have control over what transfers to their human form?)

Coldfire was immediately magnetized to the guitars. He gawked at them until a glossy black one caught his eye, which he took down and carried to a chair. For a few seconds, the shifter just hovered his hand over the instrument, figuring out how his mechanical prosthetic would be able to play it. Then he began to gently pluck a few strings in a calming tune.

(True xD I'll write his bio first then figure out if I want to post him)

(Ahh sweet! Thanks! Oooh the markings would make them especially cool. eue
Thanks!)

As he played, Coldfire became more engaged with the song, quickly getting used to playing with his mechanical arm. //This is great... My fingers don't get sore or calloused,// he noticed. the plucking shifted into a soft yet passionate strumming as the lyrics of a song began to play in his mind, one he wrote years ago. He hadn't noticed Giranja yet.

(Pffft that's adorableeee)

(Brb)

(Backkku

I wanna hug herrr)

Coldfire played a little longer, experimenting here and there with different techniques. He occasionally tapped a finger against the body of the guitar to create a beat to the song. Suddenly, he stopped and looked up. //Hey - where's Giranja? She'd like this,// he figured.

(Thankuuu

Who wouldn't? Lol)

Coldfire grinned and blushed a little when Giranja complimented him. "Yeah, thanks... I spent a lot of my time playing. Music was my way to cope with life," he told her. He looked down at the guitar in his lap, seriously considering buying it, but eventually got up and returned it to the wall. "What about you?" he queried as he returned to the princess. "You play flute, right? You should show me what you can do," he pressed.

(Oh my goodnessss)

"Oh. Okay." Coldfire rubbed the back of his neck, then asked, "Well, if you like playing the that much, then why not buy one. They're easily portable. Besides, you lost your other one in Sylyore, didn't you?" he mentioned.

(there was supposed to be a question mark after 'buy one')

He shrugged in compliance, then slipped his thimbs into his pockets and followed Giranja. The Tundra prince looked over the flutes, admiring their shiny surfaces and intricate details, though his eyes soon wandered to other parts of the shop.

(Brb!)

(Eep back

Oooh those are some neat lines! They do suit them pretty well!)

Coldfire blinked at Giranja and watched as she went by. "So you are buying it," he murmured. He smirked a bit as he followed. "I convinced you, huh? Maybe you should convince me to buy a guitar," he teased. He knew he shouldn't get one, but he wanted a reason to do it anyways.

(No problem! I was distracted too xD)

Coldfire smirked cleverly and nudged her in return. "Try me," he challenged.

(No problemo!)

(Oh and I can add onto my comment if you need)

Coldfire slipped his hands into his pockets and watched Giranja for a moment, a winning grin on his face. "Are you saying you'll buy it for me?" he said, eyes gleaming.

Coldfire blinked rapidly in an attempt to cover up his averting gaze, though his grin only grew. "Wha, what? You offered to pay," he pointed out.

Coldfire bit his lip in thought, then decisively turned and retrieved the black guitar. He returned to her with a meek yet enthusiastic half-smile. "I'm ready."

"Oh. Yeah." The shifter turned back again and quickly found a case, then approached the counter with Giranja. They purchased their items, then exited the music shop. Coldfire had an undisguisable satisfied smile on his face as he glanced about the street. "We should get more coffee," he suggested.

Coldfire slung the guitar over his shoulder and adjusted the shoulder strap. "It's not alcohol, right? So it shouldn't give any bad effects," he figured, not fully trusting Giranja's advice.

Coldfire frowned, but then he shrugged. "Fine. Let's find something else to do." He started walking down the street, feeling the urge to spend some of the energy building up in him. "What do you Zilariuns do for fun?"

At the mention of mountain climbing, Coldfire's face lit up with exhilaration. "Let's do that," he exclaimed in a tone that said, 'Why wouldn't we?' He stared at Giranja, waiting for an answer.

"Who do you think I am?" Coldfire returned rhetorically, spreading his arms and grinning wide. He reached out and took her arm. "Come on." The shifter led Giranja away from the city so they would be able to find a good slope to climb. "You probably know what's best for climbing."

(Pffft that is true)

The Tundra shifter rolled his eyes with a smirk as they kept walking. Soon enough, they arrived at the base of a mountain slope, rocky outcroppings and boulders making its surface rough and gray. "This looks good," Coldfire commented as he set his guitar case down beside a boulder.

(Let's let them drop them off all alone like good ol' idiots)

(Oooh snap, she's prepared

Lol, she can just roll up her sleeves)

Coldfire stretched and flexed his arms while he waited on Giranja. He assessed their strengths and weaknesses as he did. //Giranja looks pretty nimble, though I've got a lot more muscle. I'm feeling pretty confident in myself right now too, so I should be able to do this pretty easy - even though I've never done it before.// He hadn't considered yet that Giranja was well-practiced at mountain climbing. "You ready?"

(Hopefully. xD)

(Oh geez. X'D Let's hope Giranja doesn't slip and accidentally kick Coldfire in the face)

Coldfire smirked at her, then faced the mountain. "So it's a race?" He placed one foot on a rock. "Well then... Ready, set, go!" With a surge of strength, Coldfire launched himself forward and leaped onto a higher rock. He grasped the next boulder in front of him and heaved himself up, mechanical hand clinking against the stone. He searched for Giranja in his peripheral vision.

(Lol that's good. Coldfire's probably gonna hurt himself for lack of preparation and experience lol)

Rather than climbing strategically, Coldfire drove on in a straight path, climbing whatever was in his way and relying on his strength alone. He felt like he was making quick progress, but when he looked around to find Giranja, he spotted her quickly getting ahead. //What the-- How did she do that??// He glanced behind him to find he hadn't made nearly as much progress as he thought. //Shoot... I gotta step up my game.// The Thndra shifter glimpsed a rock jutting out above him to his left, so he turned and leaped for it, grabbing it with both hands. He hauled himself up, then looked for another platform.

(Lol yeah hopefully)

//She actually plans where she's gonna go...// Coldfire noted as he paised to watch Giranja. Decisively, the shifter moved along te ledge until he found a path hodden between the rocks. With a grin, he clambered up and emerged much higher than before.
In front of him next was a wall of rock with only a few stones jutting from it. Confidently, Coldfire began to climb it, trying to match Giranja's speed as he moved from rock to rock. But when he was almost at the top of the obstacle, the rock his hand was on dislodged itself. Coldfire gasped as he fell back down and landed in a clumsy crouch, the momentum throwing him sideways, though he caught himself with his elbow. //That was close,// he realized, holding still for a moment.

"I'm fine!" Coldfire called up as he got back onto his feet, heart pounding from the adrenaline. He quickly looked over himself for injuries but only found some scratched on his elbow. Wisely, the shifter chose to clomb something other than the wall. He found a few boulders stacked like steps, so he worked his way up those. He was panting by then and kept peering upwards, trying ro figure out where the top was.

(clomb)

(Just fyi I'll be heading to bed in a couple posts)

(Ah, alrighty! Goodnight! See you later!)

"No way! I don't need it," Coldfire lied out of stubbornness. He pushed himself past his exhaustion to hurdle up a few more feet, though he paused and look up hurriedly when he saw Giranja slip. //That was close.// He resumed climbing, determined to catch up even though Giranja was close to the top of the mountain slope.

(I just realize how similar Charbel is to Takumi from Ouran Highschool Host Club. x'DD)

Coldfire rolled his eyes as Giranja took off again with ease, leaving him in the dust. With a number of exerted grunts, the shifter made it to the top and fell down on all fours beside her, gasping for breath. "You... win," he wheezed.

Coldfire snorted and rolled onto his back, watching the clouds as they floated across the silvery sky. "Could've done a lot better if I weren't out of shape," he huffed as he lifted a shaking hand and stared at it. //Geez, when was the last time I worked out? My activity's been so inconsistent,// he mused grudgingly. He dropped his hand by his side again. "You're a lot quicker than I thought you'd be."

He turned his head to look at her. "But you could fly. What could prevent you from flying whenever you find yourself in cron of a mountain?"

(Lol)

"Huh..." Coldfire crossed his arms behind his head and exhaled deeply. "Don't expect me to climb back down anytime soon," he told her with half a smirk.

(Oh geez, you'll need that sleep x'D)

Coldfire was silent a moment, then said, "But our stuff is at the bottom." He sat up, wincing a bit from his sore muscles, and peered down the mountain slope, trying to spot their items.

(You poor thing. X'D I'll entertain you in the meantime by posting another Valkier)

(Also I've got an inmensely detailed drawing of my deity girl in progress)

Coldfire wiped the sweat off his forehead with an arm. "I left my flask in my bag, too..." He sighed and looked up at the sky, placing his palms on the ground. "Not bad weather up here, at least. The breeze is nice," he commented.

(But they literally just bought those items. X'D It would teach thwm to not buy stuff on a whim (or not leave your stuff unattended) though they could get it back if they talk to the rulers about it)

(Haha sweet! Uhhh draw some awkward or funny moments from Girafire
Or draw noodle neck dragons

Hehe thanks!)

(Yeah, I agree xD

(Lol X'D Though even their fighting is kinda awkward lol

Ooh yes the royals!)

"Whatever," Coldfire said with an eyeroll and accepted the flask. He drank about half of the water, making sure to leave some for Giranja. "Snow? Alright," he replied with a smile. He always liked the snow. "We're not gonna stay up here till then, though. Will we?"

(XDD

Lol! You should start with Hjino

Lol, why is that?)

He shrugged. "Well, I left my cloak at the bottom, and I don't think I'm skilled enough to descend a mountain in the snow," he pointed out. "Climbing it was one thing. I hardly trust myself to get back down."

(Hahahah

Ahh I see! Neato!)

(Oh geez, that is a lot

Lol that is true!)

Coldfire chuckled. "That'd be better. We could probably hang around here a bit longer though." He propped one leg up and rested his arm on his knee and turned his gaze to the castle. "Wonder if the royal family is looking for us," he wondered. "Maybe they've found everybody they need to find."

(What's not to love about that? lol)

(Ohh, that explains a lot. Yup, they're evil dragons)

The Tundra prince mimicked Giranja and closed his eyes, tipping his head up to feel the breeze through his hair. His mind wandered in the silence, until he finally murmured, "Elanceria, posing as your mother... How did it affect you when you learned your aunt was actually your mother?" He opened his eyes to study her.

(Yeahhhh not that lovable after all x'D)

The shifter looked out into the distance. "That's understandable... I can't imagine realizing something as big as that, so far into life." He changed his position to sit with his legs crossed. "Where is Jaqni? Is she still in Sylyore?"

(I gotta go for a while! You should definitely get some sleep, if you still can. x'D)

Coldfire placed his hand on top of Giranja's when she moved nearer. He frowned at her last remark. "What? She would abandon you like that for someone else? How could she do that to you, when you just discoveres she was your mother?" he queried, shocked.

(Ahh that's fine! Sleep well!)

(Welcome back from the dead! How was it?)

Coldfire narrowed his eyes on her, trying to figure out whether she was lying or teasing, then looked forward. "You should relish having a mother, you know."

(I'm working on Coldfire's updated ref and his dragon form looks so sassy lol)

(That's good! XD You stayed up so late, I was getting kinda concerned for you X'D)

(Pffft for sure)

The shifter shrugged half-heartedly. "I know, but still..." He trailed off with a sigh. "Never mind - don't worry about it," he dismissed. Coldfire's gaze trailed a flock of birds as the flew in the distance. "So long as you're happy, it's alright."

(Ahh, that sucks! At least you got enough sleep to feel better xD

That is very very true)

Coldfire smiled and rested his head against hers when she leaned in, then straightened when she did. He squeezed her hand lightly. "That'd better be enough for you," he teased with a grin. "I don't think I could do much else to myself to make me enough for you."

(Lol, then stay in bed. XDD

XDD He's kinda looking over his shoulder like, "Wat'chu want?")

Coldfire grinned and leaned in kissed her. "Well thank you," he said charmingly. "I've got pretty high standards, after all the girls I've seen, but... I think you're beyond what I had dreamed of." He smiled at Giranja.

(Lol that sounds more fun, but if you have to then you have to. TuT

Sassy boi gets it from his sassy gurl)

The Tundra prince moved his hand off of hers and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer. "I don't expect any less," he teased with a grin. "Though I never had a mountain climber on the list of what I want in a girl... That's acceptable, but not when she whips me in a race," he said with a chuckle.

(Pffft sounds like a plan. X'D

I love their sass battles tbh)

Coldfire snorted and pinched her side. "That's not happening again, you know. I'll be more prepared next time," he determined. He pulled one knee up and rested his other arm on it.

(Best part is they're so argumentative that we see the sass all the time)

Coldfire flinched when she pinched him back but he grinned. He gave her a little nudge. "Hey, you never call me that. What's the change? Tired of the fake name?" he joked.

(XDD)

He smiled and rubbed her back. "Well, that's good. I'm not changing it any time soon." Coldfire shrugged as he watched the landscape. "I've never liked Septus, anyways... Too stiff and proper."

"Yeah, I really don't see myself as the royal type. I just want to live a life away from the responsibility and politics," he murmured. He hugged Giranja a little tighter. "I like it like this. Just you and me, exploring the realms without restraint. I can finally breathe." He smiled softly at her.

(I want to color but now draw)

*not

Coldfire moved his other hand to wrap around her and rub her shoulder comfortingly. "Yeah... We'll be killed anywhere we go in this world if we show the slightest bit of affection..." He sighed. "Someday we'll find a place where we really can settle down, in complete safety." //It's hard to imagine, though, after all we've been through just searching for a place to rest,// he mused ruefully.

(Pffft sometimes it does)

Coldfire chuckled in agreement. "I've about had enough of it. Once we get that Krege out of you, we're gonna find a good place to live and settle down." He smiled down at her. A cool droplet on his arm mad the shifter look up to see a few white flakes drifting around them. "It's snowing," he breathed. "We should probably get moving." He stood, taking her hand and helping her up as he did.

(Congratsss XD)

Coldfire smirked faintly as she shifted, then climbed onto her back. Once he had a good grip on her mane, he told her, "I'm ready."

(I'm sure it does. XDDDD)

Once they had landed, Coldfire slipped off her back and turned around. "You really do - I never see that form of yours enough," he remarked, stepping back to take in her appearance. //It's been nearly a year since -I- shifted,// Coldfire realized. He shook the thought away and approached their items. He dusted off the flakes of snow that had settled on them.

Giranja was big enough in her dragon form that her nudge made Coldfire stumble. He chuckled as he regained his balance. "Well... Red sign." He smirked at her. "I think you're a stunning sight, though." He first pulled on his cloak, then slung his bag and guitar over both shoulders. "From what parent did you get those bright scales, anyway?" he asked out of curiosity.

Coldfire nodded his head. "Huh... Interesting. It's wild how diverse you Zilariuns look. The King Tundra dragons all look about identical," he said jokingly. "I hear even the Lesser Tundra dragons have the same white and black scales." He started in the direction of the town as the snow continued to fall, beginning to settle on the grass and stone.

"Surrounded by rainbows?" Coldfire burst out in sudden laughter, humored by her metaphor. "That's a new one. Now I'm never gonna get that thought out of my head as I walk around these towns." He grinned at Giranja.

(And now I am watching videos of bouncing llamas)

He snorted in reply. Coldfire reached for Giranja's hand, but he quickly stopped himself. //Not in town,// he remembered with a disappointed look on his face. He turned his gaze to their surroundings as they stepped back into town. Much of the citizens had gone inside, though there were still some walking about. "We should probably head toward the castle," he advised.

(Look up videos of running/jumping llamas lol)

Coldfire dragged a hand over his face. "I hope not," he muttered. "I'm so sick of following table etiquette."
Just up ahead, three Zilariuns came soaring just above the rooftops in a "V" formation. When they spotted spotted the duo, they alighted in front of them and dipped their heads. "Princess Giranja, Septus - the king and queen have found a few Zilariuns who have information on the Krege," one informed.

(That's alright!)

The leader dipped her head. "Yes. Details will be given when you are there. Fly with us, or if you would rather, you may ride one of us," she offered, lowering a wing for them to climb on.

Coldfire reddened as all four dragons looked to him. //One of the thousands of reasons why I wish I could fly again...// "I'll ride you," he replied meekly before climbing onto her back.
The Zilariuns dipped their heads, then turned and took flight, heading toward the castle.
Coldfire squinted to keep the snow out of his eyes as it swirled by. "Are you ready to talk to them?" he murmured to Giranja.

"I don't know. It's just... What if they find out it's you that has the Krege? Word could spread quickly, until we wouldn't even be able to show our faces in Jaragornin. We would never be able to find you a cure," he fretted.

(Ok!)

(Welcome bork!)

The shifter shrugged and let the conversation slide, not sure whether talking would only make himself more paranoid about the whole deal.
The shortly arrived at the castle and the Zilariuns led the duo up to the throne room. They opened the doors for them and let them inside.

(Sooo are you going to control any of the people with relations to Krege/Krege doctors? I could if you'd like, though I don't know much about Krege haha
Then again, there's a small chance they'll get any good information this early on in their searches)

Coldfire hopped off of Giranja's back then bowed to the rulers.
Queen Yimily dipped her head to them. "I hope these people will be able to answer your concerns," she began, gesturing to the side of the throne room.
There were only two people standing there, which made Coldfire's heart sink. //So few? We won't be getting much out of this...//

(Nah it's fine! I'd like their adventures to last awhile too. XD)

Coldfire bowed again to the royal Zilariuns. "Thank you." He looked to Giranja doubtfully then started toward the first "witness," who dipped their head as they approached.

(Okay! I'm planning on getting sleep sooner so that actually works haha)

(Sure, unless you'd rather I did!)

(Alrighty!)

Coldfire paused and blinked at the person's question. "Uhh... No, Giranja's uncle has a Krege in him and we're searching for a cure," he explained. //Oh shoot - she said an aunt, didn't she? Too late.//
"The thing is, he's too far along to be able to remove the Krege without risk of death. We need to learn more about the Krege to know how to remove it."

(Lol!)

The shifter stared at his feet and nodded as he listened. He looked up at the Zilariun. "There really isn't any way to remove it without harming the host?" he asked. //Well, this was helpful,// he mused sarcastically.

(And thank you! Good luck with your appointment! See you later!)

Coldfire rubbed his head, then sighed. "Thank you for your time." He turned and moved back to Giranja's side. "Any luck?" he murmured.
"Did you find everything alright?" Queen Yimily queried curiously.
Coldfire smiled grimly and shook his head.

"You are still welcome to lodge here until you resume your journey," Yimily offered, smiling sweetly at them. "You will need plenty rest for this honorable mission you have undertaken."

Coldfire nodded in agreement.
Yimily smiled. "Of course. Oh, I'm sure you would love to join us in the hall for dinner. You must be hungry," she offered.
Coldfire quickly waved his hands in polite rejection. "Oh no, it's alright. We already ate," he lied. He knew neither of them wanted to go to any banquet with royalty.
"Oh. Are you sure you will pass?" Yimily checked gently.

(Ahaha that's fine! Cleaning sounds good! I'll be off and on too because I'm tired after some events. XD)

(Lol yup. XD)

(It's so efficient when we have two royals interacting with them. XDD)

Yimily smiled sweetly. "That is all. Rest well," she wished them.
Coldfire murmured his thanks, then bowed and led the way out of the throne room. "Let's go out to find something to eat," he whispered to Giranja once they were out.

(I need to take a nap before it's too late, so I'll see you in a bit!)

"I want some more coffee, too," Coldfire proposed as they ealked throuhh the maze of palace hallways. Clearly, he really liked the beverage.

(Thank u!)

(She has no clue ehat this coffee is doing to him x'D)

It was still snowing when they walked outside, and much darker and blustery. Coldfire pulled Giranja closer and wrapped an arm around her as they crunched through the thickening snow. "Feels a little more like home," he murmured somewhat teasingly, breath puffing out in steam.

(Pffft X'DD)

Coldfire chuckled a bit. "You probably don't look forward to it, do you?"

(Pffft she needs it)

The shifter kicked at the snow a bit as he walked. "Huh. I like the snow. It comforts me, I guess."
After a second, he looked around until he spotted a nearby store. "I'll be right back," he told her before swiftly vanishing into the store. He came out a few moments later. "Sorry. Had to use the toolet," he murmured.

(Poor thing)

(Pfff sorry)

(Also the after effects on Coldfire begin)

He hooked his arm around hers and began to walk again. "So... Where are we headed next? Hopefully a place you're allies with?"

(Oh my goodness poor Gira

Lolol that's good)

"I don't want to go to Elero unless we have to. I don't want to put you in danger," Coldfire told her. "Keenon would be safer."
They soon came to the coffee shop. There was nobody in line but it was still open, ao he quickly ordered his drink.

(Stipid Ela and Krege

Oh my goodness Spec lolol

Pffft I get that completely)

Coldfire shrugged ignorantly. "They're not -my- enemy."
The shifter took his coffee and began to sip it as they walked again, the hot drink seemingly better in the cold weather. He looked at Giranja. "Thought you said you wouldn't have another one," he noticed.

(XD
I'm sure it will!! I can't wait to see it!)

Coldfire shrugged off her first point. "Sure. Alright then," he hummed with a suspicious yet humored voice.
Soon, they found a food court and bought themselves food. Because it was cold and snowy out, Coldfire ate his food as he walked back toward the castle. The snow was thickening quickly, so he tried to pick up his pace without either of them tiring. "How much snow does this place get regularly?" he queried.

Having already finished his meal, Coldfire scooped up a handful of snow, balled it up, and tossed it ahead of them. It hit a street post and disintegrated. The shifter kind of went silent, an idea coming into mind. He watched Giranja eat mischevously.

"Nothing," Coldfire said with a smirk, looking off. He suddenly went off toward another store. "Be right back," he told her before disappearing inside.

Coldfire took a while longer than he had last time. But then he came walking back, his hands casually held behind his back. "You ready?" he said to her.

"To walk back," he responded simply. He started moving again, though he faced her as he did, waiting for her to catch up. There was a hidden smile hardly evident on his face in the dark.

(Okay! I had some coffee today which strangely makes me really tired, so I might head off early)

When Giranja looked around, Coldfire faced forward again and casually began to slow down until he was walking behind Giranja. Then, without warning, he lifted his hand and dumped a handful of snow on her head, grinning mischievously.

(I might hang for a little longer! But if you are ready to leave, then that's cool with me too!)

Coldfire laughed and backed away some when she squealed. He wiped his hand off on his oants. "You can never trust me," he remarked with a grin. He reached down and grabbed more snow, watching her as he did and expecting her to fight back.

(Haha alright! I guess I'll head out now so we can continue when I'm more focused. I'll see you later!)

(Oh also I'll be gone from 9 am till 12 pm your time, just fyi)

Coldfire intentionally moved slower than Giranja, so he was still bent over when she threw her snowball. It whacked his shoulder and he laughed before throwing his own at her. Then he darted sideways and began to gather more snow.

The shifter tossed another snowball her way and managed to hit her face. He must have had plenty throwing practice back home
But as he ran to evade her next attack, he slipped and collapsed into the snow. He pushed himself up into all fours, spluttering snow, then laughed hard.

(Also Spec I WANT CHICKENS NOW

THEY'RE SO CUTE)

Coldfire momentarily stopped laughing to duck his head when Giranja threw the snow at him. "Hey! That's not fair!" he snapped jokingly. He scrambled to his feet and chucked another snowball her way.

(Good morning!)

(WOULD IT BE RUDE TO GET CHICKS AND GIVE THEM AWAY ONCE THEY'RE OLDER? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I'D BE ABLE TO KEEP THEM VERY LONG)

Coldfire leaped to avoid her attack, nearly slipping again in the process, though he caught himself. He grabbed some snow and tossed it at her, then lunged at her and knocked them both to the ground. He lay there for a moment, almost breathless from laughing.

(HHHHHH I COULD BE THEIR MOMMYYYYYYYYY)

Coldfire's laughing calmed down as he got up onto all fours, instead panting as he looked into Giranja's eyes, face wet with snow. He leaned down and kissed her. "I love you," he murmured.

(HHHHHHHHHHHHHH)

(Can I just come over to your house and pet your chickens? X'D)

The shifter lifted one hand and gently moved her hair off her face. "Well, now we're wet. Again. Let's hope these people will tolerate us walking in like this," he said with a chuckle.

(Chooooooooooks)

A guilty look came over Coldfire's face as though he had forgotten Giranja could get cold, and he stood up, extending a hand to her. "Yeah, we should get you inside and warmed up," he murmured.

(That's so cuuuuuuute
I love chickens)

The Tundra dragon smiled then wrapped an arm around her and guided her back toward the palace. He used his other hand to ruffle his hair, getting the snow out. "You'll catch a cold this way,. But," he added with a grin, "I think it was worth it."

(I gotta go now! See you in a few!)

The shifter looked around. "Nah, you're fine. 'Least, nobody came out and threw rocks at us," he said with a huff of amusement. He rubbed his hand against her shoulder as they walked to help her warm up, though because they were soaked it wouldn't make much of a difference.
Eventually, they arrived back at the palace. When they stepped through the front gate, the guards stared, baffled by their wet and snow-flecked appearances. "I-Is everything alright?" they asked.

(Hi! I know I just got back, but I might be heading off in a few moments x'D Just a heads up)

(Haha yup xD)

The guards hesitated but eventually nodded their heads. Coldfire walked with Giranja down the hall and shortly encountered the servant who was supposed to lead them to their rooms, until they ran off. The Zilariun looked over them in concern before saying, "I can lead you to your rooms. There are changes of clothes waiting for you," they promised.

The servant directed them down a few halls until they reached several doors. "These two are your rooms. You luggage are also inside. Call us if you need assistance," the Zilariun said, before leaving.
Coldfire looked to Giranja. "Uhh, guess this is goodbye for a bit?" He didn't feel tired in the least, though he figured she would be.

(He hasn't thought that through yet xD)

He scratched his head in thought. "Hmm... Alright. Well, guess I'll get cleaned up first," he figured. He looked down both halls, then gave her a quick kiss and smile before walking inside his room.
The shifter found a folded pile of clothes beside his bag and guitar, so he peeled off his current outfit and put on the new.

After tidying himself up, Coldfire paced his room a bit, wondering why he wasn't tired even after a day of walking and climbing. He even lay down on his bed and shut his eyes, though they refused to stay closed long. Eventually, he got up, granbed guitar, and exited the room. He gently knocked on Giranja's door.

*grabbed his

(Brb)

The shifter meekly shuffled into her room. "Thought it'd be better than pacing my room," he responded. He pulled the guitar off his shoulder and sat on the side of her bed, though he didn't take the guitar out of its case yet. "Have you warmed up?" he wueried as he watched her.

(Woah, that's a lot. Maybe need a new room. X'DD Any ideas for a cover? Or would you like to make it?)

"A warm shower would probably help," he mentioned, then said mostly to himself, "I'm sure you'll be fine." He was feeling worse about dragging her out into the cold and pulling her into a snowball fight. He wrapped an arm around her and rubbed her back.

(I'd be happy to make it, as soon as I can come up with something! It'll probably be one of their shenanigans lol)

(Something to do with coffee hahaha)

Coldfire laughed. "That's true. Honestly, you're the toughest woman I've ever met," he told her with a smirk. He tipped his head thoughtfully. "Well... There was one person you might say was tougher, hudging from what I saw of her... But she wasn't nearly as beautiful as you."

(Oh my goodness yes. X'DD Both of those would be great. Though I'm wondering if I should make the coffee discovery a comic, if I can think of how I'd draw it)

Coldfire tilted his head as he recalled the woman's name. "Rulah. She was a burly wyrm shifter who was a battle instructor and trainer. She was not permitted to fight in war, but she had plenty experience in beating the crap out of opponents," he said with a distant smirk. He rubbed his side as he spoke, recalling one of his own experiences with her.

(It woukd. XD)

Coldfire pulled his arm away when she changed positions and he rested his hands in his lap. He chuckled a bit. "Yeah, you got that right. Though she humiliated us more than anything, at least whenever I sparred with her."
He paused, then looked to Giranja. "Hey... I promised I'd teach you how to fight properly, but we never have. Do you still want that training?" he queried.

He shrugged. "I'm always willing." He nudged her a bit with his elbow. "There are still some things I think you should learn. For once, not landing in the middle of a clearing fpacked with wolves," he murmured with a sly smirk.

(Meep back sorry)

Coldfire snorted and rolled his eyes. "You're gonna get yourself killed that way. No matter how tough you are," he huffed. "Honestly, you could've blasted them while hovering out of range. Or knocked a tree on top of them," he rambled humorously.

(Thanks!)

(Do you ever make faces when drawing?)

"Yeah, yeah," he said dismissively, trailing off. He watched her a moment, then faced forward, took the guitar, and began to unzip it from its case.

(It's especially awkward when someone comes in as you're drawing a screaming dragon and they're like "wut")

Watching her through the corner of his eye, Coldfire set the guitar on his lap and adjusted his arms until he held it comfortably. "What kind of music do you like?" he queried.

He laughed and looked back at her. "No classical? Yeah, me neither." He faced forward again. He inhaled, then began to strum the guitar. It was another song he had written, but it was never one he had intended to share - though it was too late to change. After a while, he quietly began to sing, his voice faint. The lyrics of his song were mostly scattered pictures, slowly uncovering a broken and shattered past. He almost seemed to forget Giranja was there, so focused on recovering the emotion of the song.

(Sorry for slowness, I'm writing a song x'dD)

(If itms hard to find enough perfect rhymes and all that, make it kinda like those musical narrative thingies or a spoken rap lol)

The Tundra prince at last came to the chorus, and he strummed harder as he sang more passionately, eyes closed.
"Why am I king?
Of a land I've never known
Why am I king?
Of a people who turn their face when I walk by
Why am I here?
When this place is not my own
Why do I rule?
When this royalty's a lie..."

At the peak of the song, he broke into the interlude, voice reaching a higher note.
"Why do I hold the crown
When I can't lay my own life down?
These hands are stained with misery
Of those who've died at my own feet
My heart is frozen from what I've done
To hide away the morning sun..."

He stopped strumming and his voice dropped to a whisper. "I am the king...
But this crown is not for me..."
Satisfied with the song, Coldfire let out a silent breath and opened his eyes.

(Lol x'D I love RhymeZone.com so much for that reason)

Coldfire reddened and almost visibly jumped when Giranja wrapped her arms around him, almost forgetting that she was there. "Oh... Thanks," he murmured as he put a hand on hers. //Where did that come from?// he asked himself, embarrassed.
He chuckled awkwardly. "I... don't normally sing in front of others..."

He chuckled faintly and tilted his head to rest against hers. The shifter breathed silently for some time, just enjoying her touch and presence. His gaze drifted to the ground. "I wrote that song during a low part of my life, after my brother fell fatally ill," he began quietly. "The burden of inheriting the kingdom was thrown on me, and I had never felt more alone in my life." He breathed in deeply, as though just thinking about the past frightened him. "Things have changed since then. I left, and now I have you."

He rubbed her arm and closed his eyes. "It has... You've changed everything. You've given me a reason to live," he murmured. The Tundra shifter chuckled a bit. "I never thought what would change when I met you in Sylyore. That time when we shook hands... We were both injured. I was wondering then if I had the will to pick myself back up or just let myself fall to the bottom. But you lifted me up. You showed me what strength was... I owe you everything," he whispered.

(I hope you don't intend to stay up till 5 again x'D)

Coldfire chuckled, then smiled softly when she kissed him. He put a hand on her cheek farthest from him and turned her face so he could kiss her back. "I'm glad too. I never would've been able to experience this relationship with you." He smiled gently.

(Pfff suit yourself)

(Except that you slept in really long lol)

"Yeah," he murmured, returning the smile. He propped the guitar against the bed then wrapped his arms around her and returned the hug. He rested his chin on her shoulder with a sigh of contentment. //I wish it could stay like this forever...//
But eventually, he pulled away from her. "We need to try and sleep," he murmured. "We're probably need to leave as early as possible to make use of the daylight."

(Lol X'DD

Also sorry for slowness, though I should be replying a little mroe frequently now)

(Ooh neato!!)

He shrugged as he picked up his guitar and put it back in its case. "I should at least try. I didn't have that much, anyways," he excused. He slipped the case's strap over his shoulder, then placed his hands on her arms and kissed her. "Sleep well," he murmured.

(Ahh that's cool!! Sounds fun! xD)

"Yeah. I will," the Tundra prince promised. He smiled at her, then let go and quietly cracked the door open. He glanced both ways down the hall before creeping back into his own room. After he set the guitar down, he laid on his own bed and stared at the ceiling, his mind wandering quietly. Soon, he drifted off to sleep.

(That's good!)

(Also I gotta take a quick nap then do some homework, so I'm gonna go for a bit! This does make for a good pausing point, at least. XD Maybe I can whip up a cover once I'm done. See you later!)

(Lolol, alrighty! See you later!)

I haven't really gotten any homework complete, though I did get some driving practice in. xD

(Lol yup)

(I have a cover started - it has coffee in it. x'D)

(Thanks! And I guess I might as well reply in the meantime xD)

As usual, Coldfire woke up later than he had intended. He nearly went back to sleep, but when he remembered their plan to leave early, he pushed himself out of bed with a few grumbling complaints and hobbled to the bathroom where he changed and cleaned himself up. Still, as he picked up his luggage and stepped out of his room, he looked drowsy and disheveled.

The shifter's tired eyes glanced over Giranja when she appeared. "Morning," he mumbled. "Ready to go?"

He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. "Mm... I'll be fine. I'll get coffee on our way out," he reassured her as he began to walk down the hall. "How'd you sleep?"

The shifter shrugged. "Well, that makes two of us. We can stop by an inn later on," he suggested.

The shifter watched Giranja a moment, wondering what she was possibly hiding, but eventually shrugged and looked ahead. The duo said their farewells to the king and queen, then grabbed some coffee and started on their way toward the next kingdom, Keenon.
Coldfire sipped his coffee as they crunched through the snow, finally waking up. "So how far away is Keenon?" he asked.

(Ok! Stay safe!)

(Welcome back! That was pretty quick!)

The shifter frowned at her. "Stable? What do you mean by that?"

(Lol! XD it's fine!)

Coldfire's gaze grew serious. "Is it safe to go there, then?" he queried. "What if they figure out you're in their land and they decide they should dispose of you?" He added after a second, "And what will they do with non-Zilariuns and humans?"

Coldfire frowned doubtfully. "Let's stick close to each other and keep ourselves out of sight," he determined. "I don't want any trouble when we're surrounded by possible enemies."

(That's alright!)

He nodded his head slowly. "Hopefully..." They walked for a long while. Noontime came around, and Coldfire was becoming restless from hunger. "We'd better find some population soon," he muttered as he rubbed his shoulder.

(And now I wonder why they aren't flying lol)

(That's truee)

(Also, just out of curiosity, will Giranja start showing more signs of the Krege's control? I feel like all this research about his kind will make him start fussing lol)

Coldfire's gaze lit up when he looked to where she pointed and spotted the town. "That's perfect. I'm starving, and my feet are throbbing," he practically complained. He eagerly picked up his pace, then thought to look back to see whether Giranja would be able to keep up.

The shifter slowed his pace until she was beside him again, and he sighed. "Yeah, I know... It's so rough being grounded like this, though." As they reached the town, Coldfire directed his gaze to the surrounding activity, paranoid that somebody would jump out and attack them.

(Poor Gira haha)

(Oooh eue)

(Gira is really cute in earmuffs)

Coldfire didn't notice Giranja's unusual gesture at first, but as his gaze surveyed his surroundings, he noticed her hand up. "Hey - you alright?" he asked. "Did you get something in your eye?"

(Oooooh

Hehehe I love her)

(Haha alright!)

He frowned. "You might be dehydrated from walking. Come on." He took her gently by the wrist and led her into a food store where he sat her down at a table. He approached the counter and shortly returned with a cup of water, which he handed to her. "If that's too cold, then I can get you a hot beverage," he told her.

(Lol, good exercise at least)

Coldfire sat down and watched her with a frown, trying to think of how he could help. "Do you need more sleep?" he checked.

(Egh walking in the heat is no fun xP)

At last, Coldfire understood what was going on. "The Krege," he murmured. He glared at Giranja unintentionally, angry with the torment the beast inside her was causing. He worked his jaw in thought. "Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked after a second.

(But you lived hahah)

(I gotta get some sleep now! I'll see you later! Also, just a reminder, my break ends Tuesday so we may have to restrict roleplaying to a specific few days. We'll figure out what works as we go!)

Coldfire sighed and rubbed her back with his hand. "Just try to rest your eyes," he murmured. He stood and bought some food at the counter, then set them down at the table. "You should eat if you're able," he suggested.

(Sounds good! Though this week may be rough for me since I've got a trip thing from Friday to Sunday so I'll need to be getting ahead this week and preparibg for the trip.)

(AH I just remembered that the other day I walked by a guy who was missing half his arm, just like Coldfire o^o And it was the left arm too)

(Hahaha alrighty)

Coldfire was focused on the food as he set the dishes down, though his gaze shot up when he noticed the color change in her eyes. He put a hand on her jaw and made her look up at him. "Giranja - your eye," he said urgently. "It-It's red and black." //What's going on?? Is the Krege taking over already??//

(Haha hello to you too! How are you?)

Coldfire kept his hand there a moment, waiting for her to open her eye again, but he eventually let go and sat in his seat. He sighed heavily and rested his head in his palm, watching her still. "What if it doesn't pass? You can't go anywhere like that. You especially can't ask around about the Krege. I don't know what we're supposed to do."

(Ahhh, that's frustrating! Is it because he's unfamiliar with your house and isn't happy with it? :/

I'm doing well! Kinda happy now that I've finished an essay that was making me fret.)

The shifter frowned deeply a her, clearly dissatisfied. He sighed again and rubbed his face. "I just can't bear to see you like that... It's not right. I just want it to disappear," he murmured hopelessly. Coldfire turned his gaze back to his food, though he couldn't seem to find his appetite. He ate anyways so he wouldn't regret skipping later on.

(Ugh, that doesn't sound fun. Best of luck to you! D:

Haha it sure does)

The idea of him losing Giranja to the mind of the Krege made Coldfire's stomach twist. He set his fork down and rested his head against his palm, gaze on the distant wall. After a silent minute he murmured, "Let me know when you're ready to keep moving."

(Hopefully not though)

(Brb!)

Coldfire's gaze flickered worriedly to Giranja and then he rose, leaving his meal unfinished. He gave her a nod then walked outside beside her. The small town steadily grew in activity as noon arrived, though the skies were still gray and the snow still thick. He trudged forward, planning to get back on the road.

(Bork until dinner is ready)

(Aaand dinner's ready xD Brb again)

The shifter was silent a while, then rubbed his neck and looked off. "You want me to be honest? I don't think we'll find anything," he said quietly. He didn't mean to be discouraging, but it was the only thought on his mind. //I can't do it... I can't save her. What is there to do?//

(B-b-b-b-bork)

(Thanku!)

"We still have to try, though," he said with a sigh. "Giving up won't get us anywhere."
The duo trekked in forlorn silence over the snowy landscape for a number of hours. Coldfire rubbed his mechanical arm as they walked, trying to warm it up so it wouldn't become stiff. At last, they spotted the spires of a kingdom palace in the distance. "Keenon," the shifter breathed.

(HGHGHGHGHG brb again, probably for 45 minutes)

(Baborkalork)

Coldfire glanced at Giranja when she sighed and looked down, wondering if the Krege was harrassing her again or if she were thinking to herself. He sighed and wrapped an arm around her. "Hey. Don't be getting too beaten down," he murmured. "I know that sounds hypocritical coming from me, but we need to look at this hopefully. We need to put out energy back into it."

(XD Thakalanx!)

He watched her as she spoke, then gave her a light squeeze. "We're in this together," he reminded her. "Plus, we've got that prince on our side. That should help a ton."
The path turned from soggy dirt to icy cobble as they entered the citied area of the kingdom. Zilariuns and humans walked about all around them in a bustling clamor. Coldfire pulled Giranja closer to him as they walked, and he kept his head at a low and wary angle.

Coldfire glanced to Giranja, then scanned the buildings around them. "Yeah? Must bring back a lot of memories. Hopefully good ones," he muttered.

Coldfire nodded as he listened. He watched the activity around them more, then asked, "So, where would you find this prince friend of yours? Or rather, how?"

He nodded as he listened. //Again with the rainbow Zilariuns,// he thought with a faint smirk. The shifter looked about fir any sign of red hair, or of royalty in general. Though when he spotted a duo of guards, he took Giranja's hand and wuickly moved through the criwds to the other side of the street. //I don't want to be stopped by anyone right now - especially guards.//

(Voldfire strikes again)

The shifter slowed and quickly followed her pointing finger to the man. "That's him?" he wondered aloud. He crept a little closer, though he hesitated to let them reveal themselves while he was talking to others.

Coldfire nodded a second before he lurched forward, bringing Giranja along by the wrist, and hurried after the prince. They quickly caught up, though he waited for Giranja to call on him since he would recognize her voice.

(Hghghghg I still need t finish the new coverr)

Coldfire looked over Prince Ellais's appearance when he turned around, then spoke. "I am Septus Coldfire. We... need your help. We need information on the Krege," he explained in a low voice.

(I'm working on the coloring now though!

Aww, I hope she feels better! And good for you!)

Coldfire glanced about warily as the two interacted. "We should take this somewhere else," he murmured, noting how easily passing people would be able to hear their conversation.

Coldfire quickly interjected to Giranja wouldn't have to reply. "Her aunt has had a Krege for long enough that we can't take it out without hurting her. We need somebody who can find a cure without leaving damage."

(Ahh alright! It's not a problem! Thanks for the heads up!)

Coldfire nodded his head slightly as he listened. He looked at Ellais. "Can we trust you to find those people on your own, or would you rather we come along?" he queried.

(Lol! Very well then! XD

(Half way done with coloring. :'D)

Coldfire dipped his head, then looked around. "We should hide our faces in the meantime. Do you know of any inns that are safe for us?" he asked, turning to Ellais.

(Okiedokie!)

(*throws a dog* WELCOME BROK)

(BROK)

(It's da BROKOLLI DOG)

At Ellais's overly-friendly gesture toward Giranja, Coldfire went on the defensive. "Yeah, we really don't have the time for that," he excused as he took Giranja by the arm and started to walk off. "Thanks for your help, Prince Ellais. We'll be at an inn."

(YAS)

(Cover's almost dOoOoOne)

Coldfire kept his gaze on the path ahead, feeling irritated by Ellais's closeness with Giranja. "Yeah, I'm fine," he lied flatly. He glanced back for any sign of the prince, then slowed down. "Sorry about that," he murmured as he let go of her and fidgeted with the scarf around his neck.

(Uploadingngngngn)