(Alrighty! See you later! I'll be heading to bed now too!)

Coldfire glanced over his shoulder at her. "Oh? So you -do- want to pick what we eat?" he asked michievously.

He smirked and crossed his arms, turning toward her some. "Hey, you're the one who proposed we eat. I expect you to eat something. Don't let me down now," he said slyly, leaning closer to her to intentionally pressure her.

(Heyyyy sorry for not showing up for a while! I've been packing ever since I got home because I need to sleep early and wake up early. x') I'll hang for a while but will probably be dragged away soon)

(Haha!)

The shifter eyed her with a smirk, waiting for her to surrender. He finally turned to the counter and ordered food for the both of them - without her permission, of course. He then guided her toward a table and sat down. "You really want seafood, eh?" he asked with a partial smirk.

Coldfire eagerly looked over the meal, but he didn't eat yet. After she spoke, he pointedly put his mechanical arm on the table and leaned forward. "You think losing an arm is easy? I wanted to die after losing just one," he told her. He sat back in his chair again, watching her quietly. "If you really don't want it, just tell me."

Coldfire picked up his fork but hesitated to watch Giranja suspiciously, wondering whether she'd even be able to keep it in her mouth. But then he let his hunger take over and he dug into the meal, trying to be polite so Giranja wouldn't lose the small appetite she had.

*hesitated in order to watch

That sounds more right

On the other hand, Coldfire seemed to be enjoying each bite of his meal. His gaze flickered to her and he asked, "Come on. Just surrender and you won't have to eat this. We can go where you'd rather go," he told her. In truth, he merely wanted to play around with her and make her submit to him.

He smirked and sat back. "To me, obviously. He then chuckled, resting an arm on the back of his chair. "I'm just playing around with you, alright? Don't kill yourself because of me."

(Brb!)

(Tiem for one more lol)

Coldfire grinned in satisfaction. "Alright. I'll accept that." He shoved a few forkfuls more into his mouth, then rose. "Come on. Let's get you something you'll actually enjoy eating," he urged.

The shifter smirked at her before walking with her outside of the restaurant. He walked into another shop which had a larger variety of foods. Having already eaten his fill, Coldfire leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms as he waited on Giranja.

(Sure, that'd be good!)

(Thanjs! I gotta get to bed soon though xP)

"Sounds good." Coldfire exited beside her and returned to the street, this time walking in the way they had come lest they wander too far and get lost. "Sorry for having you eat the seafood," he said to her as they walked. "Next time, I'll let you pick where we eat. Dous that sound good?"

(Sweet! Thanks!)

Coldfire smirked proudly at her, certainly impressed as well. He glanced over when he heard Allais address them, feeling a twinge of annoyance at the sight of him. "Great," he began, masking his irritation, "Where are they currently?"

(I should probably sleep now lest I end up here another hour. XD See you later! I'll most likely pop by in the morning.)

(I'm aliiiiiiiive)

Coldfire nodded slowly. "Lead the way, then." As they began to walk, the shifter asked Ellais, "Will these people be willing to talk to us? Since we aren't particularly allies."

(Ehhhh not likely - Sterling's too attached to her dresses. x'D Gira probably took it off when she went to bed and servants traded it for the clothes she had been wearing before.)

(Lol thanks!

Ooh nice timing! However, since I've got an essay I need to start and finish today, I probably will have to leave until I'm done. xP)

Coldfire nodded, doubt still in his face. "Alright... But if trouble starts up, we'll be out of there quickly."
He glanced to Giranja when she spoke. "Yeah..." He let his gaze drop to the path ahead as they trekked through the kingdom.

(Haha yup, Glad you checked!)

(Haha alrighty!)

Coldfire dipped his head as he passed Allais and stepped inside. He scanned the tavern's interior, figuring out the average number of people inside by sight and sound. //It's been a while since I've been to a tavern... Not since before Sylyore,// he noted.
"So, where are they?" he asked as he watched the activity.

(Pffft that is very true xDD)

Coldfire dipped his head once they reached the three elders. "Thank you for coming. I am Corben," he lied. He didn't want to risk sharing his real name in case any of the Zilariuns was on their enemy's side.

(Lol yeah eue)

(I know right? XD It actually kinda suits him becuase of his black hair. I've been considering using it for him in my irl stories, since Coldfire is a little awkward to my friends who prefer very basic and common names. Buuuut I already have a character named Corben so oof)

(Maybe Corven instead, or something)

(Oooht hose are cool names)

"A friend of ours has a Krege and is unable to remove it without a possibility of death. We need somebody, anybody who can help remove the Krege without any harm done," Coldfire elaborated as he looked from one Zilariun to another.

(Let me know if I need to change/add anything)

(Yeah, I like that one more too
Pfft yup. X'D The longer the name and more unique the letters, the stranger the name seems)

Coldfire rubbed his teeth together in disappointment with the two negative reports. But with the third Zilariun's news, his eyes grew intent with interest. "When did you hear that one doctor is still alive? And from whom?" he pressed. He momentarily exchanged glances with Giranja, gaze serious yet eager.

(Lol it's fine

Pfft I sometimes wonder the same thing honestly. XD Mainly with really long names with unusual spelling, like some of Lilly's character names lol)

"So it was recent," Coldfire noted thoughtfully. He nodded at Giranja's suggestion. "Even basic descriptions will help," he told them.

(XDDD
Lol yeah they are)

"Thank you," Coldfire said too as he rose and bowed to Traeish. "We should be on our way now." He glanced to Giranja and Ellais, then began to walk toward the exit, although he couldn't help but gaze at the tavern's bar and drinks as he passed. //No, now's not the time,// he told himself.

"That would be good," Coldfire agreed, giving the prince a nod. "If you think you can find them quickly, then we'll follow you. If not, we'll be hanging nearby the inn," he informed. The shifter noticed Giranja's uncomfortable fidgeting, but he didn't mention it yet.

Coldfire dipped his head in return, then watched Ellais leave. He turned to Giranja when she spoke up. He shrugged. "Dunno. Didn't look like there was much to do around that area. We could still explore, though." He went silent a moment, then asked, "Is everything alright, Giranja? You didn't seem especially excited when that Zilariun mentioned a possible Krege doctor."

Coldfire narrowed his eyes doubtfully. "Alright..." He sighed and rubbed his arm. "I can't help but let my hopes up, especially after how much we've looked already. But there really is no guarantee it's genuine. They said the guards were younger, so they're more prone to picking up false rumors," he observed aloud. He cleared his throat and quickly said, "I don't mean to be discouraging, of course. I just don't want our hopes to lift, only for them to fall back down."

(Ok!)

(That was quick xD)

He sighed and put his hands in his pockets. "You have a point... But we can't think too much on it until we can talk to the guards." When she mentioned her injury, he immediately lit up. "Yes, that's a good idea," Coldfire stated positively. "Let's go back to the inn." He led them the way they had come and in the direction of the inn.

Coldfire snorted and rolled his eyes, though he smirked faintly when she apologized. "It's fine. You're lucky I'm not forcing you to do it by bandaging it myself," he pointed out.
They reached the inn and he led them up to their rooms. "I'll hang out in my room while you work on that," the shifter told her as he gestured toward her collarbone injury. "Knock on the wall or something if you need help."

Coldfire raised a suspicious eyebrow at Giranja, then dipped his head. "Alright then. Good luck." He turned and entered his own room, closing the door quietly behind him. After stepping in and standing idly for a bit, the Tundra prince retrieved his guitar and sat down on the side of the bed. He removed it from its case, then began to quietly pluck at a few strings, experimenting with a few simple tunes and sounds.

The shifter looked up from his music playing when Giranja knocked. He set the instrument aside and opened the door for her. He blinked in surprise when he noticed the jacket she was wearing, and noticed with faint amusement how big it was on her smaller, feminine frame. "Hey," he greeted with a slight smile, stepping aside so she could come in.

"That's good," Coldfire replied. "Glad you finally did it." He smirked at her and rubbed her head a bit before sitting down on the bed again, though he didn't pick up the guitar yet. "How has that Krege been acting recently?" he queried. "Has he been talking to you much?"

The shifter leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees. His gaze narrowed as she spoke. "Keep fighting," he told her. "Don't let him influence you in any way or let him scare you. So long as you stay strong, he has no power over you. If you're sturggling, come to me."

(Brb, gotta shower)

(Bork!)

The shifter frowned. He got up and approached the princess, placing his hands on her arms and rubbing them comfortingly. "They're empty threats. He knows that once we find you a cure, he'll be done for. Don't let him discourage you," he murmured.

(Thank!)

Coldfire felt his own optimism sinking as Giranja replied, understanding that the probability they would get rid of the Krege was small, no matter how he looked at it. He sighed wearily, hardly able to believe what he was about to permit. "If we cannot find somebody who can help... We'll have to remove the Krege the painful way. We can't risk going on too long or it'll be too late to remove him at all..."

(Lol I love your chibi style XD)

(XD)

(Angry chibi Gira X'D Why are you drawing her angry?)

Coldfire closed his eyes halfway when she leaned on him. He moved his hands to gently rub her back. "We'll do it the safest way possible. Giranja, if something isn't going right and you're afraid the Krege is taking over, tell me," he insisted. "Don't stay quiet about it, alright?"

(Lolol

Pfft hopefully not one from Coldfire)

"It worries me more when I know you're hiding things from me," Coldfire told her. When she admitted her fear, he pulled her into an embrace, resting his head against hers and closing his eyes. "I know... I know it's terrifying. But we're in this together. We can fix it," he whispered.

(I never knew that was there at all lol)

The shifter bit his lip in distress. //If he were physical, I'd beat him till he wished he was never born for tormenting her like this. But I can't even touch him... I can't even tell him how angry I am, because I'd have to say it to her face, and that might upset her,// he mused woefully. Coldfire breathed in deeply. "Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?"

(I'm kinda curious to know what the Krege usually says to her)

(Lol, I seriously never knew about it. I'm gonna try to spot it in your drawings of her lol)

(Ohhh I think I know what you're talking about now)

He sighed heavily, feeling useless toward her. "Alright," he murmured after a moment. He kissed her forehead then hugged her tighter, hoping his embrace would at least give her solace in her distress. Still, he asked himself inwardly what he could possibly do to make things better, apart from empty promises. //There has to be a way... Maybe there's a medicine that can shut out the Krege's voice or freeze his powers. Kissing Giranja only makes him angrier... What about hugging her? Does that make him start talking?// he worried. "Giranja, what is the Krege saying right now?" he queried subtly.

(Ooh that's not fun. The fact that he's inside her head seems ot make it all worse

Ahh yeah that. Pff I would never remember to add that in. x'D

He frowned as he listened. "Nothing. I... I'm just curious to know what makes him angry. I was wondering... if hugging you would make his threats worse," he explained reluctantly.

(Yeah, poor thing

Lol)

"Yeah..." Coldfire almost didn't want to find out because he hated the thought of no longer being able to hug her lest he agitate the Krege into abusing Giranja.
He buried his face near her ear. "You know I can't help it, Giranja... I feel like it's part of my duty to you. I long to care for you, to mourn with you, and to celebrate with you," he whispered.

The shifter sighed bittersweetly, finding her touch comforting. He brought up his hand to resty on the back of her head. "I can't stand seeing you in torment like this," he whispered remorsefully.

Coldfire stayed silent a while, knowing there was nothing else he could say to fix the fact. He kissed her neck softly, then pulled back until he could find her gaze. "Let's do something to take your mind off of it," he offered. "How does that sound?"

"Alright," he said with a smile as he pulled away. "But like I said earlier, there doesn't seem to be much to do around here. We might end up walking aimlessly," he warned her, but not without a hint of humor. He walked over to his guitar and put it back in its case, then slung it over his shoulder and let it rest against his back.

(She's an adorably grumpy bean)

Coldfire looked at her with a smirk and shrug. "Never know if I'll want it on hand." He approached the door and opened it for her.

(fyi I'll be heading off soon)

(It does lol

Thanks!)

The pair made their way outside onto the streets once again. Coldfire smirked in reply. "It is. Sucks even more when you you're missing an arm so you can't play at all. Geez... I can't thank Kori enough," he murmured as he watched his mechanical arm, flexing the metallic fingers in such life-like motions.

"At least you were brought back to life," Coldfire mentioned gratefully. He knew the terrifying feeling of death as well. He looked at her in interest. "Really? You'll need to pass in that information to me sometime. It's a good thing you know too, in case I can't fix it with my right hand," the tundra lrince said with a chuckle.

(I gotta go now! See you later!)

Coldfire snorted and grinned at Giranja's joke, shoving her side with his elbow. He put his hands in his pockets. "Yeah, I can't deny that. But I shouldn't need to fix it if I can keep it in this condition. So don't let your hopes up," he warned teasingly with a fkicker of a smirk.

(Ahh, that sucks! Alright, I could probably move to my DS to reply from now on so it's easier on you.
An easy way to reach this page is to type in Girafire in the search bar, and it'll be the latest painting to show up.)

(Alrighty! Well, I'll at least reply on my DS whenever it's available.)

Coldfire smirked when she shoved him back. He returned to her side and snaked his arm around her waist, pulling her close. "Of course I won't. I'm not gonna let him down again. Besides, I doubt we'll be in another situation where it could be crushed," he remarked. //Well, hopefully...//

(Lol! That'd be helpful for you!)

(Also, hello!)

The shifter rolled his eyes in amusement at her first comment, then looked down at her and sighed. "Did he really? I'm surprised he even made me another one after I trashed the first."

The shifter rubbed the side of his head. "Yeah. Still makes me feel awful about it," he admitted. He frowned in thought. "Maybe I already asked, but how did he lose his leg?"

(I gotta head to bed after one last reply!)

Coldfire raised his brows. "Wow... That's rough. I'm surprised he survived that, especially being a human," he commented solemnly.

(Gonna get some sleep now! See ya!)

"That's incredible," Coldfire breathed. "I can't comprehend so much grit and determination..." He suddenly had a longing to visit the human, drawn by his admiration. "I wonnder how he's doing right now," he said aloud as he gazed into the distance.

(Lol! Hi!)

Coldfire gave a shrug. "Yeah, guess so." He pulled his mechanical hand out of his pocket and examined it a moment longer, then asked Giranja, "So... How about you? Is there anything on your mind, or something you want?"

(I'm doing good! Attempting a realistic/semi-realistic Coldfire because I need to get better at humans. xD
How about you?)

Coldfire smiled slightly. "Alright... Yeah, I haven't thought of much either. At least, nothing good," he replied.

(Do you think we should send Allais back soon? I have no plans for Coldy and Gira to do)

(I hope so :u:

Lol understandable xD Well, I gotta eat dinner soon, so you can get away with a quick nap then. XD)

(Ok!)

Coldfire paused and blinked at Giranja. "What-- How did you--?" The shifter broke off with a submissive sigh and sped up to match her pace. He kept an eye out for a sign of the orince or either guard.

(Lol XDD)

(Brb, dinner!)

(bork)

"I don't get how you could tell by just a whistle," Coldfire murmured before spotting the three members up ahead. He approached and greeted them with a nod.

(thanku)

//I don't get it... How can a full sentence fit into a single whistle? It hardly even changed notes,// his mind rambled until Giranja spoke to Allais.
He dipped his head to the prince, then turned to the two guards. "You spoke of a Krege doctor who is still alive?" he began.

(Not a problem! Hope you're alright haha)

(Ahh alrighty, lol)

Judging from their attitudes, Coldfire figured they wouldn't get much else from the two unless they were direct. "A woman traveler? What did she look like? Where did she go next?" he pressed.

Coldfire scowled, stepping closer to the snappy guard. "You didn't answer my second question. Where did she go?" he demanded.

Coldfire narrowed his eyes on the one who growled at Giranja. "You watch it. You have no clue who you're dealing with," he hissed before turning and walking past Giranja. "Come on. That's all we need."

Coldfire looked Giranja over when she caught up, not understanding what was so impactful about the accessories on her arms. "Let's do that," he agreed. "We need to grab our bags from the inn first."

The two walked back to their inn and entered their rooms. Coldfire threw on his cloak, then slung his guitar and bag over both shoulders. He exited the room and came into the lobby to check out of their rooms and wait for Giranja.

Coldfire gave Giranja a nod, silently noting the beanie on her head, then led the way outside. "So... Which town is nearest? That's where the guards said she went."

Coldfire peered over Giranja's shoulder at the map. "Alright." He glanced around, then headed in the direction he figured was the north entrance.
"Hey, you mind if we grab some coffee along the way?" he asked in a nonchalant way.

(Finished realistic Coldyyyy)

He nodded positively. "I normally have more than one a day. I've only had one today. I'm beginning to feel pretty out of it right now," he explained, putting his hands in his pockets.

"Thanks," the shifter replied enthusiastically. He picked up his pace some, eyes attentive, until they came upon a coffe shop. After purchasing a drink, Coldfire returned to Giranja's side, happily sipping away at his coffee.

(Haha alrighty!)

Coldfire glanced at her. "Well... Yeah, guess so. A lot more enjoyable than water for a beverage," he said with a shrug. He took another sip and looked off into the distance.
The duo made their way through the kingdom until they neared the outskirts. So far, the skies were still lit by the day.

"Addicted?" He took another sip. "Nah, I don't get addicted that easily," Coldfire replied, prsctically flat-out lying. He had always been rather skilled at getting hooked on whatever made him feel good, though he would never admit it.
"Does it annoy you?" he asked, voice perfectly calm.

(I'm gonna get some sleep now! I'll see you tomorrow!)

(Lol alright! Bye!)

(Lol yup)

Coldfire paused and frowned at Giranja. //What kind of effects would coffee give? It's not alcohol for once, and I haven't had problems yet...//
"You don't need to worry. I'm sure I'll be fine," he reassured her.
They reached the entrance to the kingdom and stepped through, finally departing from Keenon. There was still plenty of snow around, and looming clouds threatened more.

(Oh pfffff true that)

Coldfire looked around as she spoke, then raised a brow at her. "What, are there creatures that are prone to attack here?"

Coldfire shrugged. "I don't know what any of those are, but alright. Wait so they could appear from anywhere? Is it even safe to be walking about in the wild?" he queried doubtfully.

(Hellooo)

(How are youuuuu??)

Coldfire grimaced as he scanned their surroundings. "You're gonna jinx it at this point..."
Just in case, Coldfire dug into his bag, retrieved his weapons, and hooked them around his waist.

(And now I'm really tempted to send something their way)

(Ooh niiice! That sounds fun! :D

I'm doing good! Sleepy after the days events, but I'm not ready to sleep quite yet. XD)

"Of course we are - that goes without saying," Coldfire remarked. He stretched himself to try and see what was up ahead on the path. "You sure it's a good idea to be traveling when it's almost dark? Maybe we should stay another night at the inn," he murmured.

(I don't know what the creatures are likeeee)

(Lol yup. xD

I should, but I'm also trying to do homework. This is also a distraction from doing even that lol)

(Ooops I missread your comment lol)

(Nuuuuu *noodle arms*)

Coldfiresighed and rubbed his arm. He looked back at the main city, then to the path ahead. "We'll keep moving. But keep the pace up," he said solemnly.
The duo trekked in silence through the snowy land, eyes on the lookout for danger. Due to the storm clouds rolling in, the dark was coming much quicker than they had anticipated. And with it came what they feared most.
The sounds of the day faded away into eerie silence, apart from the wind rustling the ice-slicked tree branches around them. Shadows grew longer and longer as the remaining light diminished.
When Coldfire heard a branch snap, he pulled Giranja closer to hij, breath catching.

(Lolol nice)

(Hhhhhh I suppose I shouldddd
Guess I'll be vanishing for a bit to finish some stuff. I'll probably be going to bed afterwards, so I guess this is goodnight?)

(One moreee)

Coldfire nodded silently as he scanned for movement, though the approaching darkness made it difficult to tell. The sound of tumbling pebbles trickled from the slope above them, though it was difficult to tell the direct location due to the echoing that followed.
All of a sudden, the sound of something heavy rushed toward them and a hairy beast lurched from behind a wall of boulders and roared at them. It walked on massive arms like a gorilla, though it had the sharp face and long claws of a bear. The creature's beady eyes darted over the two, then surged forward to attack.

Coldfire was fumbling to get his pistol out of its holster when Giranja shoved him aside. He ran sideways to stop himself from falling as he retrieved his weapon and aimed it at the beast.
The monster, snorting hotly through its nostrils, looked back and forth between the two. Seeing that Giranja was closer, it barreled toward her, raising a heavy arm to strike.

(Sorry for the online comment - I had just woken up and wasn't thinking. x'D)

As the beast lumbered by, Giranja's blade sliced its shoulder, causing the beast to snarl. With surprising maneuberability, it whirled around and swept its other arm around, whacking Giranja in the back and sending her flying.
"No!" Coldfire shouted in horror. He fired the glock and sent a bullet into the monster's side, though it must not have been fatal bevause it only roared and bared its teeth in his direction.

(Sorry for online comment! I probably won't have my ds until 5 hours from now. If it's hard to reply, then don't worry about it.)

The hairy beast began to lumber in Coldfire's direction, but paused when Giranja's rock hit it. It turned toward her and advanced, drool dripping from greedy jaws.
"Stay away from her!" Coldfire shouted in a panick. He shot at the creature twice more, causing it to rear up and wail in agony and fury. It then galloped after the shifter, who retreated backwards into the woods, firing whenever he could.

(You know, you don't have to reply directly on the browser - you can read the comment, then go back into DS mode and reply there. Unless it's remembering what to write that's the problem. XD)

Coldfire realized a bit late how fast the creature was with its loping strides and ease with the environment. It was quickly gaining on him as he scrambled over the rocks, trying to gain distance between them. But then he found himself in front of a boulder too big to climb quickly. He whipped around to fire his weapon, but all that came was a hollow click - a sign it was empty.

(When RPing on my DS, I so metimes jot down an outline of my reply on paper. You can even use the Game Notes thing! X'D)

Coldfire fell back against the boulder when the beast reared up to strike, but then it bellowed in agony when Giranja lashed it and stumbled to the side. Coldfire's eyes widened in relief when he saw the dragoness.
The beast whipped around and eyed the Zilariun, immediately realizing its disadvantage, but it launched forward anyway, paws lashing out to claw her.

(Oh, and I just found out that you can jump from your comment to the browser without losing it if you press the Home button and go back and forth from there.)

The beast failed to see her tail coming and it sliced through it. The beast crumpled down with a wail and collapsed, quickly growing still.
Coldfire held his breath as he watched, then let it out stiffly and slid to the ground. His head and heart were still pounding from the adrenaline. //Idiot, idiot...//

(You're welcome!)

(I can't tell, did the beast claw her or no?)

(Lol okay, just checking. XD)

Coldfire flinched when Giranja nudged him. When she crouched down beside him, he avoided her gaze and abruptly stood. "I'm fine," he said stiffly. "You're injured again. Let's bandage that up then get moving, before something else finds us."

Coldfire turned to lok at the scratch (I'm assuming it's on her arm). "But other creatures will pick up the scent of your blood if you don't cover it." He walked over and crouched by his bags which he had dumped while running, and he dug inside the bag for bandages.

(Oh wait you literally just wrote that it was on her arm lol)

He stood with bandages in his hand and took her hand, stretching out her injured arm. He then wordlessly wrapped it up. "There," he said as he finished, then stooped to get his bags back on his shoulders. //I can't believe I did it again... What is wrong with you?// he mused inwardly.

(That's fine! You're up kinda late already haha)

Coldfire trekked silently beside Giranja. "I said I'm fine," he replied shortly. He wasn't willing to tell her he was disappointed in himself for failing to keep her from injury, again. //If only I could've shifted, this wouldn't keep happening!// He sighed and looked off into the scenery for signs of danger. "Sorry," he muttered. "Don't worry about me, alright?"

(Lol! But sleep is important. UoU)

The Tundra prince rubbed his neck and sighed. "Sorry for letting you down, I guess," he muttered.

(Haha alrighty!)

Coldfire looked at her through the corner of his eye. "If I had been able to shift and fight that thing, you wouldn't have gotten hurt," he told her. "But I can't even do that."

(See you later!)

Seeing Giranja's sincere look and hearing her reassuring words made Coldfire's heart ache. He turned his face away. "I know, but... Sorry. I'll try harder next time," he ended.

Coldfire slowed down when she put her hand on his shoulder and he met her gaze. He nearly apologized again but caught himself. Inatdad, he smiled faintly. "Alright," he murmured. He kept his eyes on her a moment longer, then nodded to the path ahead of them. "Let's get a move on. We don't want it to be easier for creatures to find us."

*Instead

what

The duo trekked swiftly through the woods and rocks, expecting something to come out at any time. Coldfire squinted up at the darkness above. "Should we just stop for the night?" he whispered. "We'll lower our guards if we don't sleep."

(G'mornin)

(That's okay! I am doing homework so I could be slow too)

Coldfire frowned at her. "The trees?" He stopped and gazed up at the tall deciduous trees looming over them. "If you have a plan to get us up there, and keep us up there... then alright," he said uncertainly.

(It's so hard to not say swick in public because people will usually question its meaning xD)

Coldfire stiffened and frowned defensively. "No, I can climb," he asserted as he approached the tree and grabbed the first branch. He hauled himself up then grabbed the next branch and continued to slowly, steadily climb. //It's not like I'm -scared- of climbing it. Of course I can do it,// he rambled inwardly.

(Brb, gotta do some laundry)

(Ahh I just missed you! Alrighty! I may or may not be around that late, but we'll see.)

(Lolol, it sounds so typical to say so it's hard to catch as unusual)

Coldfire climbed as far up as he was comfortable going, then sat back against a branch with one foot against the tree trunk and the other hanging loosely. He peered down at the snowy ground. //Not as exerting as mountain climbing, but...// "Are you sure we won't fall if we sleep?"

(Ahh okay! Sorry got distracted making Mii characters of my OCs x'D

Lol nice, you got me doing it too)

Coldfire mistrustfully looked down again, then stood back up. He shuffled from perch to perch until he found a branch with a fork in it. Carefully, he laid back against it and made sure he could get comfortable. He still gripped rather tightly to the branches around him, not trusting that he'd stay in place all night. "I don't like this," he admitted as he looked around.

Lol nice!! XD)

Coldfire gave Giranja a partial-smile, mostly-grimace, before laying his head back. Of course, because the branch split in two, his head nearly fell back. He corrected himself and crossed an arm behind his head, then rested hus head on it with a weary sigh. "This is gonna kill my back," he grumbled. "Have you actually slept in a tree before?"

Coldfire sighed and turned his head to watch the branches of the other trees sway in the chilly wind. "Yeah, yeah, I know..." After a moment, he said, "Maybe it would be better to take shifts watching while the other sleeps."

Coldfire frowned when she offered to take first watch since he wasn't willing to sleep, but he eventually gave in. "Alright. Let's do two-hour shifts," he told her. He shuffled around in his spot a little more, then closed his eyes, trying to calm his nerves and forget that he was twenty-five feet high in a tree. It didn't work too well, because he kept switching positions uncomfortingly.

(Lol that could certainly happen)

*uncomfortably

(Sure! Or, if we're too lazy, we can skip to morning lol)

(Lol alright!)

Coldfire had tossed and turned - as much as his limited perch would allow him - all night, though he hadn't been alert enough to remember their deal on taking shifts. He moaned and opened squinting eyes when Giranja addressed him. "Is ist morning already...?" Stiffly, he removed his arm from behind his head and sat up some, wincing with soreness. He glanced around, trying to make sense of his surroundings.

(Pffft)

Coldfire yawned as well before rubbing each eye. "I don't remember anything last night after we got in the tree... Did I take my shifts?" He paused in thought, then scowled at Giranja. "You didn't wake me up, did you? Why would you do that?" he questioned in disappointment.

Coldfire twisted his jaw in a grimace as he watched her. "Come on, Giranja. You need to have at least tried. Think about yourself for once," he told her, feeling ashamed of himself for letting her do that.

Coldfire eyed her, then released a heavy sigh. "Whatever. Come on - we should get moving. We can catch up on sleep once we find someplace safe."
The shifter pushed himself off his perch and carefully descended the tree. When he was near the bottom, he looked about cautiously for any predators lying in wait, then leped the remaining distance and landed.

(Ugh I keep forgetting about their bags amd instrumentssss I'm gonna pretend they did something with them and are now carrying them again because)

Coldfire took in their surroundings to determine which way to go, then started walking,.

(Want me to timeskip some?)

(Lol okay!)

The duo trekked for at least two hours through the rocky terrain, but luckily the snow fell lightly and sparsely. Around that time was when Coldfire would normally have his coffee, but he didn't have any on hand, so the consequences began to take place. At first, he had an obnoxious craving for coffee, though he didn't mention it to Giranja, but then a headache struck him and steadily increased. By the time the couple emerged from the trees and spotted a town a field away, Coldfire was looking a lot like a zombie, his eyes strained and walk heavy.

(No problem! Frill is an adorable name lol)

Coldfire mumbled sarcastically in response. "You think?" He stared forward, wishing he didn't have to walk do far just to reach the town. When they approached the outskirts, the shifter asked, "What town is this? Do they have coffee?"

(Lol sounds fun! I'll be heading to bed after I post this drawing.)

(Heading to bed now! Hope you have fun!)

(I'm still here! Just for a bit!

That's good! I'm sorry you missed that though. :(

(I'm glad you can at least see that positively. I wasn't aware she had passed - I'm sorry about your loss. :/)

Coldfire led the way into the town, in desparate search of coffee to relieve the pain in his head. So far, he wasn't seeing anything. //Coffee shop, coffee shop... Why did we even come here?//
He glanced momentarily at Giranja. "You smell anything?" he checked.

(Awww, that's so sad. She sounds so sweet.)

(Agh I know what that's like. It's such a bittersweet experience.)

Coldfire frowned in disappointment and kept looking, though moving his head and eyes much made his headache worse. "Hey... Maybe we should stop at an inn first before we do anything else. Except find coffee," he added meekly.

(Hey, I need to sleep now, so I'm gonna go for real this time! See you later!)

//Because I have a splitting headache, and you need sleep,// Coldfire wanted to answer. "Tooo.... drop off our baggage," he responded slowly. "We've been carrying them long enough, and they'll bog us down if we have to chase that traveler down."

Coldfire sighed inwardly in relief, then frowned. "Honestly, how do you think we'll have any luck with her? What if she's already moved on? Or the guards lied about her appearance? And--" he gestured a hand to the cloudy sky-- "Once the storm hits, we won't accomplish anything."

(Sorry for the late reply! I couldn't get to it until now)

(Haha all good then! Hello!)

Coldfire went silent, frustrated by Giranja's shortness. As he stared off, he began to reflect on his attitude and realize how unfairly selfish he was being. He stiffly rubbed his head, ruffling his hair. "Let's just find that woman and get this over with," he grumbled.

(Eee brb)

(Bork)

Coldfire found her offer attractive, but he waved her off. "No, it's fine. I don't want you to run into any danger while we're separated," he responded. "We should ask around for sightings of her."

Coldfire opened his mouth to retort, but a sharp pain in his head made him snap his mouth shut again. //Just shut up and let her have her way,// the shifter told himself as he rubbed his temple.
Coming toward them from the other direction was a duo of street guards, talking away as they walked.

(Ok!)

(Ooh nice! No problem!)

Coldfire glanced at Giranja, then looked away disinterestedly. "I'm fine. Just sleepy, is all."
The guards looked at the duo as they came nearer, probably noticing their faces were unfamiliar. They turned and made a move to approach. "You two must be travelers,"guessed one male guard. Who are you?"

(Welcome bork! Ooh neato!)

Coldfire looked off as they spoke, not attentive enough to take part in the investigation.
The guards nodded, then exchanged looks. "Uhh, yeah... We saw a brunette elf, maybe an hour ago," said one.
The other muttered, "We may or may not have cat-called to her... She vanished shortly after."

The one who had spoken second raised his palms defensively. "Hey, we didn't know someone was looking for her," he excused.
The other grimaced at his partner, then looked to Giranja. "We found her down the street from here, and she left in a western direction." He pointed in a direction as he spoke.

(Lolol)

The guards gaped at Giranja as she passed them. To add their dramatic exit, Coldfire gave the two a belittling glare as he followed after the Zilariun princess. He caught up and walked beside her. "That was over an hour ago," he pointed out. "That won't help us much. She could've left by now."

(Lol what show?)

Coldfire went a step further before stopping as well. He frowned at her as she murmured and continued, then picked himself up and walked beside her again. //Shoot, did I say something wrong again? Her vigor went away...// "We'll still search though. Maybe she stopped somewhere to avoid the storms," he guessed, words slow with unsureness.

(Lol, looks interesting!)

The shifter eyed Giranja in concern, then sighed and turned hus gaze elsewhere. As they reached the place the guards had mentuoned, they began to see more people and Zilariuns going about, probably shopping last minute in preperation for the storm. Coldfire turned and approached a passing human couple. "Have either of you seen a female brunette elf pass through here?" he questioned.
They paused in thought, then shook their heads.
Coldfire frowned, then approached others and asked the same question.

(Lol!)

Coldfire was rubbing his head in frustration when Giranja approached. He blinked at her. "She is? Where is she?"

"An inn? Perfect. Let's go there," Coldfire said all too readily. He hooked his arm around hers and marched forward. "Which inn?... Do they have coffee?"

Coldfire eagerly picked up his pace, expending what little energy he had, until they stepped through the door of the inn. The shifter brushed snow off himself, then immediately scanned the foyer - not for the elf woman but for the coffee stand.

"...Alright," Coldfire responded, watching Giranja as she left for the front desk. Then he turned and explored the room for a sign of coffee.
To his joy, he finally found a coffee table, which he approached to greedily pour himself a drink. He brought the steaming liquid to his mouth and sipped it... but nothing changed. His headache didn't vanish, nor did his vision clear up. In fact, thanks to his throbbing headache, the coffee's flavor seemed less enjoyable than normal.
The shifter sat at a table and pressed his forehead into his hand while drinking occasionally, hoping the coffee would kick in and somehow reverse the effects.

(Heading to bed now! See you!)

(Ahh that's right! I forgot about school! xD Not a problem, we'll meet again whenever we're both available!)

When Giranja sat down and spoke, Coldfire moaned sleepily and cracked his eyes open to look at her, then shut them again. "That's great," he murmured. "We can wait here for her." When she asked if he was alright, he opened his weary eyes again to watch her. "I feel terrible," he admitted quietly. "I'm sorry. I should've listened when you warned me about the consequences."

Coldfire inhaled and dragged his hand over his face, trying to wake himself up. "It's probably because I'm sleep-deprived and starved. I'm sure it'll go away once I eat and sleep. Eat first, obviously."

(Yup!)

Coldfire chuckled faintly, then quieted as he looked toward a nearby window. "We should get food before the snow gets too bad."

Coldfire debated between getting up and staying seated. Eventually, he rose to his feet. "Let's go do that," he decided as he dropped his bags by the wall, trusting nobody would run off with them.

(Hey, what would you say if we move the RP back to the weekends? Not only do we get very little done like this, but it's also harder to get into it and I don't want to ruin anything.)

(Lol true! See you then!)

(Ahhh hey! Sorry for not making it today! (And sorry for online comment xP) I ended up being out of the house pretty much all day, and I need to be up early tomorrow so I can't hang around. But I'll most certainly be around tomorrow! Sprry if you were waoting around all morning!)

Coldfire rubbed his eyes as he returned to Giranja. "Yeah. Let's go." He walked with her out into the streets where snow was quickly flurrying down. The shifter figured they'd have time to grab some food and return before the real storm hit. They shortly arrived at a foid court, and Coldfire squinted around.

(Lol! That's fine! Cpme whenever you're free - I'll probably be around all day.)

Coldfire, having grown up hunting in weather like this, ficused on what he could glimpse and built a mental map of their surroundings. He trudged forward and found himself in front of a shop door, so he opened it for Giranja to walk in.

(Ooh neat! Good for you guys! That sounds like a healthy habit. xD Though that might mean we'll be taking a break this next month since every Friday evening (Saturday for you) is packed. x'D)

Coldfire ruffled his hair before walking past Giranja to the counter. "Let's hurry before we get stuck here," he murmured. They both ordered, then took their food. Coldfire looked over Giranja as he approached. "You able to go out there again?"

"Alright. Let's go." Coldfire put an arm around Giranja and guided her out into the snow, acting as a guide and giving her warmth. By now the storm was bad enough that thry could hardly tell where they were. The tundra prince kept near to the side of the buildings so they could keep track of their position. He could hear the rumble of snow thunder around them, a sign of an intense storm. //We'd better not get lot now of all times.//

"Unless she's able and willing to travel in this weather," Coldfire remarked dryly. After several minutes of laborious trekking, they found themselves back at the inn. They stepped inside and Coldfire began to brush the snow off himself.

"Let's hope we won't have to find out," Coldfire mumbled. The cold weather had helped with his headache some, but the sharp snowflakes and long walk made him more exhausted. He sighed and leaned against the wall, closing his eyes and pressing his fingers to them. "Think I need to rest my eyes... I doubt the storm will end soon, so the elf shouldn't leave while we're resting."

Coldfire eyed Giranja hesitatantly, then gave a nod. He paused, then asked, "Is everything alright?"

He frowned at her. "Then you should rest. That will calm you down." He reached out and put a hand on her forehead, wondering if she was sick.

(Oh my goodness I forgot about the food already lolol)

Coldfire took a step back when she pushed his hand away and stared at her. Finally, he gave partial grimace. "Alright." He turned and picked up his bags, then headed up to their rooms. He entered one and set his bags down by the nightstand. Then, sitting on the bed, he wolfed down his meal.
With a sigh, Coldfire laid down on the bed and pressed his palms to his eyes. //Giranja's acting odd again... Is it the Krege, or did I say something wrong again? I admit I've been in a bad mood, but she can't blame me - I don't normally have bad headaches.//

(Sure! Just so you know, Coldfire will probably sleep like a rock, so you may need to skip ahead a few hours worth of time. XD)

After severa: hours of deep slumber, Coldfire woke and came into the foyer, hobbling sleepily and rubbing his eyes. He didn't seem to care or notice that his hair was a mess as he approached Giranja's table and stood beside it. "Still storming?" he mumbled as he squinted at one of the windows.

Coldfire rubbed his head and stared out the window until Giranja asked him a question. "Mmm? Yeah, guess so. His head was certainly feeling much better, though he figured he could do with a few more hours of sleep. "Did you sleep?"

Coldfire frowned in concern. "You need to sleep -sometime-. Here, you go rest and I'll keep watch," he offered.

The shifter grimaced, seeing a pattern in her refusing to slep when he tells her to. After a sigh, he pulled up a chair and sat down. "What are you reading?"

(Hey Spec, I need to get some sleep now, so I'm gonna head off. This was fun! Maybe we'll find a day to RP this next month, but if not, then that's that. See you later!)

The shifter raised a brow as he set his elbows on the table. "Huh. Interesting... The Krege didn't seem to go quiet when we tried to spook him out of you," he mentioned.

Coldfire sighed at the news and put his cheek on one palm, beginning to wonder if he'd be able to do anything to help at all. When he caught the gesture, he glanced up to the front desk. "What?" he murmured, though he already had an idea who it was.

(I'll stick around here till I'm completely ready for bed)

Coldfire took a moment to look over the elf woman's appearance, recognizing the tipped ears and red hair the guards had mentioned. When she looked their way, the shifter exchanged a surprised and confused look with Giranja. He didn't stand yet in case it might spook the woman away.

Coldfire sat back and eyed the elf warily, figurig she was a very blunt and apathetic person y the one thing she said. "We were told you had information on the Krege that we need," he began.

(Gotta head out now! I'll see you later!)

"We don't need you to tell us about him," Coldfire interjected. "We need to know where we is. We want to talk to him in person."

Coldfire stood as well and came nearer. "There's no point in resisting. It's not that hard to just give us a little information." He crossed his arms. "Besides, you're stuck here until the storm's over. I wouldn't suggest making things harder on yourself."

Coldfire frowned when Giranja gave up, but before he had to do anything, the elf was somehow convinced to disclose what they needed. He glanced at Giranja a second before sitting down and saying, "No, neither of us have had a Krege. Just her family member." He sat forward intently, expecting useful news.

"Wait," Coldfire interjected, staying at the table. "So she knows who sent us, what is your name?"

(My tiny reply in comparison to yours lol)

(Lol! You're also the one giving all the information)

Coldfire gave a nod, then warily watched Laiza walk off. He let out a breath once she was out of sight, then looked to Giranja. What did she mean by Krege hunting down survivors?"

Coldfire raised a brow as he listened. "Hm. Well, your Krege shouldn't be a problem since we'll be getting rid of him anyway," he remarked casually. He sat back and stretched his arms over his head.

Coldfire eyed her a second, then shrugged and directed his attention elsewhere. He reached out and tapped a finger against the cup of coffee on the table. "Hey, where'd you get that?"

(No problem! I'm distracted drawing a certain old man)

Coldfire glanced out the window. //Did she brave the storm to get it?// he wondered. He looked back at her at her warning. "Is Elero an enemy of your family's?"

(He's fabulous with his hair blowing in the wind)

At that, Coldfire began to worry for her. "...Will they recognize you?" he asked unsuredly. //The last thing we need is to be chased around or torn apart...//

Coldfire gave a slow, unsure nod. "...Alright. Will you know your way around there? And how will we find somebody in a country that size?" //I was really hoping it wouldn't come to going into enemy land...//

(Lol, up to you!)

(But if you do, do it soon so I can finish Thuun's ref. XDD)

Coldfire sighed and rubbed his forehead with his hand, eyes off to the side. "Just great... This is going great," he muttered. After a moment, he inhaled and sat forward, elbows on the table. "Before we go there, we should practice our combat skills. We need to be as ready as possible."

(Sweet!!)

(I posted Qig)

Coldfire scowled and leaned forward on his elbows. "Well, I don't want either of us to get -killed-. Yes, we'll need to take risks, but death isn't on my bucket list," he retorted sarcastically. He sat back with his arms crossed over his chest. "Well, duh. Once we can get out of here, we can stop and practice on the road. Alright?"

(He is a very pretty king)

The shifter hesitated, then sighed. "Alright. I'm gonna keep resting till the storm's over. Once it is, we should get moving." He stood and stretched a little bit.

(Ooh hopefully!!
That would be so cool! I'd love to see them! :D)

(Looks great!! :D
Lol, that's understandable. XD I guess it's up to whether your imagination will cooperate!)

The shifter gave her a nod, then passed by and returned to his room. Coldfire flopped on the bed and rested his head on an arm, though he didn't go to sleep quite yet. //I have a bad feeling about this... It's too dangerous to go to Elero.//

(Haha that's good though!)

(No ideas really! I'm sure it'll work out! If you're willing, then we can skip to morning!)

(Lol!)

Coldfire came out of his room looking drowsy as usual. He would have slept in, but he knew from yesterday's experience that he couldn't skip his coffee, so he rose early enough to get it as they left. He wandered from his door to peek into Giranja's room, spotting her by the window. He rubbed his head as he approached and stood beside her. "Snow's stopped," he remarked with a yawn.

Coldfire blinked at Giranja when she said 'He wakes,' wondering if he had misheard or imagined it. He looked out the window again, then back to her with a confused look. "Deals? What do you mean by that?"

Coldfire looked back at Giranja as she turned and began to move. "Wait, what?" He looked her over in concern, especially when she closed the door. He averted his gaze in thought. "Well, you might say. I mean, back home, if somebody didn't do as I told them, they'd be threatened with imprisonment, or death if it's a big deal. Why do you ask?"

At htat, the shifter paused suspiciously. "Giranja... Why are you calling me Septus? Is something wrong?" he asked warily, heart beginning to pound. //Am I imagining things up, or...?//

(heck heck heck)

(brb replying to a Shadow novel)

With the next statement, Coldfire understood who was speaking. He immediately reached for a weapon on his belt - but of course, he didn't have it on him. "What have you done to her?" he demanded, voice low. "How did you take over?" //I can't believe this... Has the Krege taken over already? Is it too late for her?...// His eyes darted warily over the changed appearance.

Coldfire gritted his teeth at the Krege's remark. //This is bad...// "Release her," he hissed threateningly, even though he knew he wouldn't be able to do anything to them.

(ok!)

Coldfire ground his teeth in growing frustration and helplessness. //This thing...// He clenched his fists. "What kind of 'deal' do you want?" he asked, voice stiff.

(Wb!)

Coldfire's eyes flashed in horror and fury. He stalked forward, fists balled up. "You can't do that!" he shouted. "I won't let you touch her!"

(Ok! I do need to get some sleep soon tho)

Coldfire stopped himself a few steps away from them, knowng he wouldn't be able to do anything without hurting Giranja. "That'a not wnough time," he protested. "We need more time than that."

Coldfire gritted his teeth as he watched the Krege walk around him. "You're going to regret this," the Tundra prince muttered, turning his head enough to flash the dangerous look in his eyes. "Once I remove you from her, I'm going to make you wish you never existed."

(I'm gonna head out now! I won't be on all day tomorrow so I'll see you later on! Thanks for rping with me!)

Coldfire growled ferally but said nothing, not quite understanding why the Krege said it wouldn't die but not willing to ask. He went silent for a while, then gritted his teeth and turned away. "Deal," he murmured bitterly. //I swear, you won't get away with this...//

(One more because sleep is taking a while
You're welcome! I'm excited about your plan, it's epic!)

(I know I won't sleep right away when there's a lot on my mind. XD
Lol oh dear)

Coldfire stayed put, watching the Krege dangerously as it moved to sit on the bed. He hated that the creature was inside Giranja's body and using her voice, making it much harder to remain calm. Clenching his fists, the shifter stalked out of the room, shutting the door behind him. He slammed his fist against the wall of the hallway with a furious growl. //We have to move faster... I can't let it get away with this.//

Coldfire rested his head against the wall with a weary sigh. Eventually, he returned to his own room and put his bags and other items together, then brought them out to the hallway.

(Lol yup)

(Oh my goodness you)

Coldfire glanced at Giranja when she emerged, expecting to see the strange eyes and markings again, but they were gone. Still, he knew that conniving Krege was watching through her eyes, laughing manaically. He turned away. "Figured we'd get out of here sooner than later," he murmured as he slung the items on his shoulders. "I'm bringing these to the lobby. Meet me there when you're ready."

Coldfire was waiting by the wall of the lobby, looking off in thought. When she entered the room, he looked her way and gave a slow nod. "Let's go." He approached the door and opened it for her, revealing the thick white snow outside.

"Hust stay bundled up," Coldfire replied as he came over with his cloak in hand. "Here. I don't need this. It should warm you up more." He wrapped it around Giranja and buckled the front, then turned and kept walking. "We should get some coffee too." //Because I'm not putting up with another headache like that./:

(Lol yeah I guess so!
Pffft nice job!!)

Coldfire gave a quiet nod in reply, then continued quietly through the snow. "Giranja, how are you doing?" he asked without looking.

"That's good," Coldfire responded with a nod. After they stopped at a coffee shop, Coldfire walked with her through the town in the direction of the border. "Do you think we'll find the information we need there?" he queried, looking to her briefly.

Coldfire furrowed his brows in concern. "Then we'll find another person who can help, as soon as possible," he determined. //I won't let that Krege win... I can't lose Giranja...// "Come on. Let's try to move a little faster. Can you keep up?"

Coldfire swallowed and avoided her eyes. //If only you knew...//
"Still," he murmured. "It's better we find something sooner than later."

(Do you think we should timeskip ahead a little bit? Or do you have other plans?)

(Alrighty!)

The duo left the town and trekked into the wilderness, relying on the faintest trace of a path to lead them the right way. The trees on either side helped to show where the path was, but they necer could be sure. When they emerged in an open field, Coldfire stopped. He turn back to the treeline, dug around in the snow until he found two long sticks, then returned to Giranja. "Here. Let's practice," he said as he handed her one stick.

Coldfire set his bags down as well, then turned to face Giranja, stick raised outward like a sword in both hands. He brandished it to test its weight, then studied Giranja. "I want to see what you've got, then I'll teach you what you lack. Battling in snow up to your calves is a lot more difficult than you'd think," he warned. He readied his stance and waited for her.

Coldfire lifted a foot and lunged to the side while swinging his stick in the opposite direction to parry her attack. He then whipped his weapon around to whack her back.

(That's okay! I forgot about the weekend only thing. XD)

(Yeah, makes sense! We can wait!)

(Replying now because I can't wait lol)

Coldfire studied Giranja as well, deducting her next move and watching for flaws in posture and movement. When she launched forward, he took a step to the side and swept his stick in an upward arc, knocking hers away. Continuing the motion, he brought the stick down and whacked Giranja's back, not holding back much.

(XD)

Coldfire recoiled a bit from the hit. Her quick reflexes impressed him, though he didn't dwell on it much. The shifter began to run in an arc through the snow, years of experience allowing him to place each foot without being slowed down or tripping. He watched Giranja, expecting her to follow.

Coldfire stifled a frown when Giranja didn't follow. He slowed to a stop. "Is that what you're gonna do when you're in a fight?" he called.

"That's what I wanted you to do," the shifter replied, swinging his stick up to rest on his shoulder. "If you're battling in the snow, you're gonna want to know how to run with minimal effort and energy."

Coldfire waited patiently until Giranja launched forward. Without warning, he swept his leg through the snow, sending up a wave of the white powder to block her vision. In the moment it was airborne, he hopped to the side and thrust his stick toward her.

Coldfire straightened up, seeming to enjoy his advantage. He blocked her attack with minimal effort. "See that? Make use of the terrain around you," he told her.

Coldfire raised a brow and eyed her. "You never know that. If somebody attacks you in the snow, you need to know how to keep yourself alive. Unless you plan on shifting and givingn away your identity to everyone," he remarked rather sarcastically.

(Ey so my main email is pretzeldragon556@gmail.com
You're welcome to give me whichever you prefer)

Coldfire raised his weapon as Giranja eyed him, anticipating her next move. However, she caught him off guard when she readied for a jab but changed the attack. He tried to bounce out of the way but her swipe hit his thigh. Gritting his teeth, he continued the movement to gain some space. "Not bad," he admitted as he readied his stick in front of him.
This time, he chose to attack. The shifter lunged forward and sent his stick downward, then whipped it toward her side.

Coldfire twisted his wrist to redirect his weapon back around and deflect her jab. Then he whipped his stick forward and clashed with hers. With a surge of strength, the shifter began to force her backwards, a smirk on his face.

(Ok XD We should go back to weekends if this takes up too much time for you)

Coldfire's eyes widened, but with his weight and force still going forward, her stick rammed him in the chest, knocking the breath out of him. He grunted in surprise and stumbled forward onto one knee.

(Lol alright, after this one reply xDD)

Coldfire took a moment to recover his breath, then gave Giranja a lopsided smirk. "Honestly I expected you to just fall down," he admitted. On a whim, the shifter grabbed a handful of snow and shoved it in her face with a playful grin.

Coldfire instinctively turned his face away when she threw the snow so it hit the side of his face. He spluttered then dashed his hand on the snow, sending more onto Giranja. "You're a terrible student, you know," he remarked with a grin he couldn't hide.

Coldfire raised an arm to block the snow from reaching his face. "You're not supposed to make this hard on me. I'm trying to help," he responded as he got onto his knees and moved after her. He grabbed on of her wrists and reached for the other to try to stop her from throwing more snow.

Coldfire leaned forward, trying to grab her other wrist, but couldn't reach it. Giving up, he instead put his other hand on her shoulder and shoved her backwards into the snow, now above her. "You're asking for trouble," he muttered with a grin.

Coldfire puased in thought as he stared down at her, an evil plan coming to mind, then let go of her wrist only to shove a bunch of snow into Giranja's face. The shifter chuckled victoriously, expecting a humorous reaction.

Coldfire snorted in laughter when Giranja flailed and squealed, but he quickly cut off when she threw snow in his face. He let himself fall backwards into the snow and burst out laughing.

Coldfire took a moment to calm his laughter down before lifting his head to grin at her. "No way, really? You think I haven't figured that out by now. How much snow have you gotten in my ears so far?" he teased.

Coldfire snorted and let his head back down. He stared at the sky a moment, noticing how much the clouds had cleared up since that morning. Breathing in, the Tundra prince sat up and ruffled his hair to remove the snow. "Well, haven't we got a lot of practice in today?"

The shifter leaned forward onto his knees and stood up, then held out a hand to help Giranja up. "Sorry, you're soaking wet now. We can start a fire so you can warm up," he offered, feeling somewhat bad about it.

Coldfire nodded and walked back to the treeline where they had left their bags and cloaks. He picked up his cloak and handed it to Giranja, then searched for a sppt to start a fire. "How exactly do you start a fire when everything's coated in snow?" He wondered as he brushed the snow away from a spot on the forest floor.

Coldfire shrugged. "We'll try anyways. Shouldn't be that hard." However, after collecting firewood and stacking them up, he began to wonder how he would start a fire in the first place. The shifter looked around for something that would help in starting a fire. He soon settled for his dagger and a stick which he quickly rubbed together. Soon, he had a nice pile of bark shreds on top of the woodpile. "You don't happen to breathe fire, do you?" he queried.

(I will be too, no worries!)

Coldfire grimaced in disappointment at his failed attempt to start a fire. He tossed the stick aside and sheathed his dagger, then watched. "Alright, let's see what you've got."

Coldfire watched Giranja's hand in interest as the light appeared and grew more intense. He could feel the heat rise, and when it finally burst into flames, he pulled a leg further away from it. "That was neat," he commented. He shifted to sit beside Giranja and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close.

The shifter eyed her sympathetically. "That took a lot of energy out of you. Relax for awhile." He rubbed her back to warm her up more, then turned his eyes to the fire. He had never liked fire for its heat and lethal effect on him, but watching it was strangely mesmerizing.
After a minute of silence, he asked, "What else are you able to do with your magic?"

//The Krege must be one of those reasons,// Coldfire thought gravely, though he did not say anything. He was afraid even touching on the topic would break the deal with the Krege inside her. "I've never seen light magic before meeting you and your people. It's amazing," he remarked, glancing at her. "Like, how you can intensify it to start a fire, or light up a dark place. I don't know, it's just... unique." He ended with a shrug.

Coldfire raised his brows. "Oria? She was that maiden with the light hair, right? That surprises me, actually." At her remark, he blushed a bit and scratched the side of his jaw. "Err... I don't see how that's 'cute' of me, but okay..." He shrugged. "Well, guess you can't blame me. You haven't seen the lack of diversity in my homeland."

"Huh, impressive. She seema so young though." //In fact, she reminds me of my sister,// he noted.
The shifter shrugged, rather clueless by what she meant.
"Only a number of species have survived up until the present, and the royal guard ensures no one develops powers they can't control. Abilities like life, light, and fire were practically myth. Visiting Sylyore and Chirnagon was... well, a shock."

(I'm gonna head to bed now since it's been a busy day! I will ne on later tomorrow if you're available then. See ya!)

Coldfire nodded slowly in thought. "Yeah... Hey, uh, what happened to that little dragobette who thought you were her mother? Ziriel? She still in Sylyore?"

(Alrighty! No problem! I'll be he in an hour or so)

Coldfire shrugged carelessly. "Nah, she'll be fine. She seemed the type to easily forgive and forget," he remarked, not putting much care into his words. He went silent a moment before wuietly asking, "Did you enjoy having her as... a child? While we were still there?"

Coldfire went quiet as he watched her, wondering whether or not to reply. He finally decided against it and turned his gaze to the crackling flames. He rubbed her arm a bit. "You warmed up yet?"

"Alright," the prince responded, though he paused as he began to move to get up. "Are you sure? You're still wet. You don't feel all that warm, either."

Coldfire ipened his mouth as if to retort, but she was already putting out the fire. With a sigh, the shifter rose and pulled his luggage onto his back, then waited for Giranja.

Coldfire grimaced faintly as he followed beaide her, not liking the idea of traveling overnight, especially with how cold it was and with the dangers around them. "If you insist we go all night, you might as well fly. It'll be dark so nobody should recognize you if they see you," he pointed out.

"As quickly as possible," Coldfire responded immediately, before catching himself. "It's... better to make use of our time while we have it... since this is a serious matter," he explained ambiguously. //If only I could tell you how much danger you're in... The danger I put you in...//

Coldfire mumbled awkwardly in agreement. He eagerly nodded. "Let's. Whenevwr you're ready to shift."

Coldfire gave a nod before approaching and climbing up onto her back. "Well, you should be warmer in this form," he remarked as he grabbed a hold of her mane, trying to sound positive, though he felt likenit came out as sarcasm. He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I'm ready."

(So, what plans do you have for them for Keenon?)

(Ohh I see. xD So what do you suggest our characters do? A fight would be exciting, though if they get in one, they might not be able to go about the kingdom without extreme risk. They could wande about, though recently it seems we've been short on things to do during those moments.)

(And don't worry about rushing a decision: I gotta gead to bed in a sec so you'll have all day to figure stuff out lol)

(Haha no problem!)

(If they do engage in a fight, I'd be willing to control a few of the opponents. But for now, I gotta head off! See you later! Thanks for roleplaying with me!)

(Truuuuue they could be sneaking around and stuff lol

Ooh nice! That sounds good! Whatever works for you!

Hah alright! And let me know if you need my help adding to the plot)

(Pfft yup. It'd be the sneaking around in sunglasses all over again xD

Haha okay! I can certainly help!

Pff good luck for them)

(So I guess we'll be time skipping to when they arrive?)

(Yessss

Swil? Is that sweet and cool now? XD
Oooh nice, I like that! Yeah, that'd be good! Want me to start, or would you rather?)

(Oh lol ok XD
Haha alrighty! I'll get us started!)

Coldfire watched the horizon with narrowed eyes, the icy wind whipping all about them as he rode on Giranja's back. Clouds covered the late sky as they entered Keenon territory and flew past the small towns scattered about. As the darkness finally overcame the land, Coldfire spotted the spires of Keenon's main city palace approaching. The duo descended and landed near a rocky outcropping where they would hopefully be out of sight. The shifter looked about as he slipped off Giranja's back. "This should be safe for now. We can rest, if you need, then walk to the city. We'll need to keep low," Coldfire said as he adjusted the baggage on his back.

(Let me know if I need to add anything or start the fight)

(Lol no problem)

(Ah ok!)

The shifter noticed Giranja's keen attentiveness and scanned the snow around them, though he couldn't sense anything beyond what he could see. He brushed some snow off his shoulders then paced around some of the rocks, trying to find a view of the city. //It's quiet,// he mused idly/

(Ruuuude)

Coldfire finally caught the sound of wngbeats, but by then it was too late to react. He whipped around to see the head emerge and speak. Immediately his hand went for his pistol and oulled it out. He had nothing to say to her and wasn't going to hesitate before anything else could happen.

Coldfire's mood dropped when he recognized the leader of the band. He raised his gun toward her, finger on the trigger and strongly tempted to pull it. "We do not bound by any rules. We've been exiled. You cannot hold anythinnf against us anymore," he retorted.

(Heck this is getting exciting already)

(Lol no problem! I'm about to call it a night)

"Careful, Giranja," Coldfire murmured as his gaze flickered to the bounty hunter's allies. He glared dangerously at Persephone. "Back off before it's too late. You'll regret messing with us," he hissed.

(Yeah, I ahould head out now. Guess I'll see you next weekend? Or whenever you're available. I'm out of chool so I've got lots of time haha)

(Ahh I'll reply to this aince I'm still here haha)

Adrenaline poured theough Coldfire as thw fight broke out in a second. He immediately fired his glock twice toward Persephone before lunging to the side.

(Ahaha that's great! Alrighry!)

(Pffff nice)

(Ugh that sucks)

(If you'd like I can take control of all Gira's attackers so you don't have to interact with yourself haha)

Eithout proper time to dodge Persephone's assailt, Coldfire raised up his mechanical arm to block her scythe, creating a "clang" on the metal when they collided. He let her weapon slide down his arm, then rotated his robotic hand around and grasped the rim of the scythe, twisting it to try and wrench it from the executioner's hands.

The man whom Giranja struck wailed and staggered away, though he was immediately replaced with a third enemy who wielded a heavy axe-like weapon. The burly man raised the axe the slashed it toward Giranja with enough force to decapitate her.

(Let me know if I nees to undo that)

(Ok!
You're up lateee)

The kick knocked the breath out of Coldfire and his grip loosened enough for the scythe to slip out of his grasp. Gritting his teeth, he staggered back and fired his pistol toward her again.

Because of his heavy weapon, the man wasn't able defend himself in time. But before Giranja could deal him any harm, the fourth warrior rushed in and seized her wrist, stopping her charge. The person's eyes stared into Giranja as they began to freeze her arm with their ice element.

(Ahh that sucks! Good luck!)

(Wait do some Zilariuns have ice element?)

(Ok!)

Coldfire's eyes went wide when Persephone stopped her bleeding with her own fire. Seeing the fire and her evil grin gave him a sick feeling. //This person... This won't be good if I let this fight drag on...// With a shout, the shifter whipped his leg around in a roundhouse kick, aiming toward where he had just shot her.

Her attacker stumbled a bit when she head butted him, then grunted in a stifled yell when she stabbed him. But instead of falling back, he gritted his teeth and caused the area to freeze up, spreading to Giranja's knife as well. Despite the pain in his eyes, he kept his grip on her wrist and began to send more ice onto her skin.

(Ah ok! Thanks!

Yup, see you later! Yeah that would be wisest.

Lol I hate it when that happens. Make sure there isn't a space at the end of each paragraph. Colors tends to swallow the gap when there's a space there.)

*cut his leg
*injury
*knife

(Hmmm I have no clue x'D I'd imagine it would cary on the user's intent. This guy wasn't teying to kill her, so he probbaly made it less intense.)

Coldfire gasped when Persephone blocked his kick then turned her blade and cut his leg. He staggered back, leg nearly buckling from the new pain. The shifter managed a smirk when the executioner gained some distance. //Idiot... I'm long-range, and you're short-range...// He took his pistol in both hands and raised it toward her, then shot twice.

Giranja's attacker finally wailed and fell away. However, the others were recovering: the man with the axe came lumbering forward again, axe poised above his head, while the first attacker returned with vengeance in their eyes and a dagger in hand.

(Hey don't be afraid to go all out with Persephone - Coldfire isn't being sparing, and I know Perse's a tough fighter.)

Coldfire kept his gun poised, finger on the trigger, as he glared at the wounded executioner. "Tell your soldiers to cease, and get out of here, or I'll finish you," he demanded.

The man with the axe gasped when the light momentarily blinded him and his axe went off at a different angle, only managing to cut a tuff of Giranja's hair as she passed. The other slowed down and shielded their eyes, then blinked a few times and turned toward Giranja. The attacker rushed forward and lashed the dagger toward her.

(Haha thanks for being cautious anyway

Yeah that's sometimes pretty tough. Though since we're deciding how this interaction goes, I don't think you need to limit yourself)

(Hmmmmm e-e)

Coldfire's eyes went wide when Persephone vanished into the shadows. When he heard the position of her voice change, he whipped around in time to dodge her blade with a yelp, though the flames still singed his shoulder. He staggered away from her, trying to gain distance between them. When he felt he had a good distance, he shot his pistol in her direction.

Her opponent dodged backwards then grabbed her leg, twisting it to make her spin and fall. The one with the axe prepared to jump in once he could find an opening.

(Yep!)

Coldfire's heart pounded wildly as the executioner gained on him. He staggered backwards as he fired again and again - until the glock clicked on an empty chamber.

The one holding her leg yelped when the steel blade sliced into his wrist, and he staggered forward and fwll into the snow beside her when she yanked her foot away. Growling heatedly, the male got up and seized Giranja's throat with one hand, then swung his other hand in a fist to strike her face.

(Ok

Also have you been up all night or did you get any sleep?)

(Ahh that really sucks
I hope you won't be exhausted all day :0)

Coldfire cried out when the blade managed to cut into his side, the flames burning him and adding to the wound. He staggered backwards and nearly fell down but caught himself. Squinting one eye shut in pain, he dropped his gun and unsheathed his sword which he swung toward Persephone.

Giranja's claws clipped the male's eyebrow, missing the eye, but then they sliced his cheek, tearing out one gem. He screamed and staggered away, clutching his wound. The man with the axe roared and swung his weapon downwards toward the princess.

(Bummer! At least you don't have to go to school today)

Coldfire grinded his teeth as he pressed his blade against her, the effort making his wound scream in pain. When he heard Giranja's scream, he glanced over hurriedly. //I have to help her!// he thought in a panic. Summoning what strength he had, Coldfire pushed back against Persephone, trying to force her to back up toward a rocky area where he could make her trip.

(Oops forgot the other part)

The man let out a choked cry when Giranja kneed him, dropping his axe into the snow. He squinted back at her hatefully. "Never... I won't.. abandon my orders," he hissed. He tightened a fist and drove it into her gut suddenly.

(Ok! No problemo!)

(Ah drats! Alrighty! Have fun!)

With a surge of strength, Coldfire shoved Persephone backwards, then directed the tip of his blade towrd her and thrust forward, intending to finish her off.

The man lurched side ways to dodge the choker blade, but it still sliced deeply into the side of his neck. He staggered and stopped, glaring at her with murderous eyes as the blood welled out. He took a few steps toward her, then his legs buckled and he collapsed into the snow, bleeding to death.

(That's okay! I've got other stuff to do in the meantime so I'm not impatient)

Coldfire saw her begin to shift and knew it was too late to hit her. Still, he roared and lashed his blade forward, slicing through nothing but air. He gritted his teeth as he watched the Zilariun retreat, panting for breath and boiling with anger. //I swear, you won't get away next time...//
He turned when Giranja spoke. "She got away," he growled bitterly. The shifter paused to study her appearance for major injuries. //She seems alright... Yet she took on all four of those men.//

(Lol yeah that is annoying when phone is sucky)

Coldfire had his hand clutching his waist where he had been wounded. "Just... a bit," he grunted, trying to shrug it off though he didn't trust himself to move from where he stood. "Are you alright? You're.. bleeding."

(Ah okay! I'll get on my DS too once I'm able to.)

He eyed her carefully but decided not to press her about it. "Alright. Yeah - let me sit first," he said. He hobbled over to a rock and sat down with a heavy sigh, then removed his hand to let her see the gash. "She set her blade on fire. My skin reacts especially badly to burns."

(Ahh that's helpful! Guess I'll stick to my phone then)

Coldfire placed a hand behind him for support. He gave her a grim smile. "Thanks. I'll press snow to it. Should at least lessen the burn." He gestured to the cut on her arm. "I'll help you bamdage that too. But after, we need to get moving. Somebody is bound to've heard the commotion."

(Oooh yay! I haven't seen Girafire art in a while! Can't wait to see it if you post it!)

He nodded reluctantly, then pulled up his jacket so she would be able to bandage his wound. "I don't know what happened... I shot her several times, but they didn't affect her. She said I had been shooting an illusion...." Coldfire sighed faintly, then took notice of the bruise forming on Giranja's face. "You took on all four of those Zilariuns... I'm impressed," he murmured..

(Ooh sweet!)

Coldfire shook his head in disbelief. He looked her over softly as she spoke. "I'm sorry I couldn't back you up. You took a beating. Next time, we'll be more prepared," he determined quietly."

Coldfire took the bandages from her but paused to observe her arm. "Are you alright? He could've given you frostbite," he warned.

He nodded. "Keep it close to your body. Make sure it's warm," he told her. He took Giranja's arm gently and held it out, then began to bandage her injury. As he worked, he asked, "Where will we go from here? It might be dangerous to go into town this late, and.. I'm not sure if I'll be able to walk that distance."

(Ok!)

Coldfire nodded faintly. He finished bandaging her arm, then reached out and tried to wipe away the blood on Giranja's face with his thumb. He cleaned up as much as he could, then stood. "Let's get moving." He wandered back to where the fight happened and picked up his gun, sheathing it on his belt.

Coldfire retrieved his baggage, then hobbled alongside Giranja. Walking was miserable with a wounded side and a cut on the other leg, but he gritted his teeth and swallowed it back. "There should be caves around these rocks," he rasped as he pointed toward the rocky outcroppings beside them.

(Where did you get the idea of a choker blade? It's so unique and cool honestly. XD)

(Ahhh that's cool! Nice idea!)

Coldfire stayed quiet for the rest of the walk, saving his breath to keep himself upright. He soon spotted a dark hole in between two boulders and pointed that way. Wordlessly, he approached and peered inside to find a small, short cave. It was good enough for him, so he crept inside and slumped to the floor with his back to the wall, exhaling stiffly. "You don;'t have the energy to start another fire, do you?" he murmured.

(So adorableee0

The blood loss and pain of his injury as he walked made Coldfire's vision spin. He took a moment to stare at the ground, letting his sight return to something considerably normal, then responded. "Best to save it, then. We need to be able to defend ourselves if we're attacked again."
He sighed and closed his eyes, resting his head back against the wall of the cave.

(Alrighty, I can switch to the 3DS)

Coldfire opened his eyes and slowly let them settle on Giranja. He stared at her wordlessly, a dozen emotions running through his mind - fear, relief, worry, pain - though he was hardly able to make out any of them. After a long moment, he broke his gaze and shut his eyes. He hunched forward, burying his forehead in his arm which rested against his knees. //I just need some rest... I'll feel better afterwards...//

Coldfire lifted his head and cracked his eyes open to look at Giranja. "You're going to sleep eventually, right?" he checked.

Coldfire narrowed serious eyes on her. "Giranja. Do not deprive yourself of sleep for my sake," he said sternly.

The shifter glared back, intending to retort, but a wave of nausea convinced him to give up. "Fine. Have it your way." He shuffled to lay down on the cave floor and closed his eyes, willing his body to relax. Before long, he had blacked out.

At Giranja's voice, Coldfire stirred and moaned. Though he wasn't fully conscious, a practical part of his mind argued against waking up: bring awake brought a wave of pain and fever, but sleep felt blissful and still. Not replying to her, Coldfire placed an arm over his eyes and tried to let sleep take over again.

(Gira'a dominant parenting mode activated)

Coldfire moaned miserably in response. He removed his arm and slowly worked himself up into a sitting position, eyes quinting in the morning light. He paused a moment to take in several deep breaths before rising, using the cave walls for support. The shifter's gaze wandered to Giranja.

(Lol XD)

Coldfire looked - and felt - more like a zombie than being at tye moment, though he knew she was right. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Let's go." The shifter limped past and out into the open air. The morning light glared off the white snow, forcing him to squint in order to see. The city seemed ages away from them, making his ihsides twist with dread.

Coldfire gaveher an unpersuaded grimace, then turned and started in the direction of the city, one heavy step at a time. "You sure you can't fly the remaining distance? Would they really recognize you?" he asked her.

(I'm not tired but I should probably try to slerp, so I'm going to head out. Thanks for the exciting session!)

(slerp)

(Lol! From the wip you posted, I can agree you did well)

Coldfire grumbled discontentedly and turned his bitter gaze forward. In practical distances, the walk was not a long one, but Coldfire was already panting for breath when they were hardly halfway there. //Curse that dragon... She's going to regret messing around with us,// he mused.
"Won't they suspect us with all these bloodstains and injuries?" he asked.

(Ooh sweet!! I wanna seee itttt

Haha no problem! Good luck!)

Coldfire sighed and trudged onward. At long last, they reached the edge of a town. The shifter wanted to collapse and sleep right then, but he force himself to keep walking. "So? Where are we stopping?"

(Last reply eh? XDD)

Coldfire hobbled up to the first building in sight and stepped inside. It was a quiet tavern with luckily few people. Coldfire staggered over to a chair and practically collapsed into it, slumping against the table. He took a long moment to catch his breath and work on getting his vision to stop.

(Ah yuck XD School's fault for having a strict dress code where you can't bring your own jumper)

At the moment, Coldfire didn't want to even think about their mission. He kept his face buried in his arms, debating whether he should fall asleep or not. He managed to doze off a bit before moving his head to peer at Giranja through drowsy eyes. "You're pretty," he murmured without really thinking anything through.

(Ok!)

(Ok! Sorry my internet cut out)

He didn't seem to catch her embarrassment or warning, instead drowsily looking over her features. "S' not that bad. Kinda like... you got in a fight. Well... you did." He scoffed faintly in amusement at himself, then let his face drop back into his arms.He was practically drunk on weariness, though he couldn't tell yet.

(I gotta go now! Enjoy your meal!)

(Sounds fun! Friends never surprise-visit me XDD And alrighty!)
(Probably x'D Unless Gira does something about it)

Coldfire was silent at first, then he rotated his head to look at her. "What do you think?" he said with a face dripping with sarcasm. He stared a moment, then hid his face in his arms. "It won't stop hurting," he croaked. "I don't want to take this."

(Pfft that's nice. XD So you don't have to walk far to school?)

Coldfire moved his head to look at the bottle, eyes suddenly lighting up. He sat up somewhat and accepted the bottle. Removing the lid, the shifter tipped the bottle into his hand, causing all the pills to pour into his palm. He stared at them in confusion. "Err, how many do I...?"

(Pffft nice. XDD)

Coldfire nodded and returned all but one pill to the bottle. Not bothering to find something to help down it, he swallowed the pill plain, then handed the bottle back to Giranja. "Thank you," he murmured. He sighed tiredly as he rested the side of his face in his palm. "Plans are going great," he commented dryly, glancing up at Giranja.

Coldfire shrugged as she spoke, though his gaze drifted when he recalled his deal with the Krege. "Yeah... I'm sure you are." He had the urge to get up and find the Krege doctor right then, but he knew it wouldn't be possible in his current condition. //I'll have to trust we have enough time...//
Coldfire inhaled deeply, then flinched when he felt a sharpness in his head. "Shoot... I haven't had coffee yet," he realized as he pressed a hand to his forehead. He was already regretting ever getting into drinking it, because now it was just an inconvenience. "Whatever. I'll let the painkiller take care of it."

(Ooh alrighty! Thanks!)

(Oooh sweet! I just got back from rock climbing. I might not be able to draw for a couple days x'D)

As Giranja spoke, Coldfire's pains seemed to lessen. The burning and throbbing was less intense, as well as his headache. His mind was much clearer as well. "Guess so. You hurting too?"

Coldfire exhaled and leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table. "Soo, what's the plan? We getting a hotel? If it's safe enough."

Coldfire nodded, then covered his mouth as he yawned. "'Course not. They won't suspect me, right?"

(Pfffft that works. XDD The thing I've been forgetting constantly is Coldfire's baggage lol)

Coldfire's face grew serious when Giranja warned him about what could happen. "Got it. Stick with you." He sighed and rested his head against his arm on the table, feeling sleepier by the minute. However, after what Giranja had told him, he didn't feel comfortable sleeping in the open. He lifted his head. "I'm drifting off... I need something to wake me up." He peered around the room until he spotted the bar, pausing and thinking.

(Time for Giranja to go on defenisve mode)

(Lol XD It's hard to remember everything. I've already forgotten all but one of Coldfire's injuries. X'D)

(Gotta reply later blep)

Coldfire kept his gaze on the bar, not regarding what Giranja was saying much. "You think.... They'd have coffee?" he asked suddenly.

(Oh yeah haha
Eh I'll probably forget again, so I'll just remember he can't really walk)

(blep blep)

(Randomly, can you toilet-train chickens?)

(AH that sounds adorable)

"Maybe I'll find out," Coldfire decided as he heaved himself onto his feet. The shifter made his way over to the bar. "Do you serve, uh... coffee here?" he asked.
The bartender paused and blinked at him. "...No sir, this is a bar, not a bistro. There are plenty drinks here that could give similar effets as coffee, though."

Coldfire frowned as Giranja whispered to him. He turned to look her over. "I don't want to fall asleep while we're walking, though. I'm pretty sure the painkillers do that to you," he remarked.

(Lol cats are very distracting)

Coldfire frowned and followed after her. "Hold on, Giranja. If you don't want me to, then I won't. It'll just be a problem if I fall asleep before we find somewhere safe."

(Dawwww it must be great to have him back)

Coldfire hesitated, think ing it through. "Just one glass," he promised, then returned to the bar. He shortly came back with a glass of clear liquid, which he sipped on as he sat. He snuck a glance toward Giranja, half expecting a disappointed or annoyed expression on her face.

(Ahhhh that makes sense. Poor babe has competition to face whenever he's home lol)

Coldfire couldn't help but watch as Giranja braided her hair, wondering how people could manage to weave their hair into such intricate patterns. "You gonna get a water, at least?" he asked after she opened her eyes.

(Ahh that's good! I sometimes want a cat haha)

(Unfortunately I doubt I'd spend enough time with them ;u; Too much drawing and RPing ahah)

Coldfire eyed her, then shrugged and sipped the liquor, grimacing a bit at the flavor. He set the glass down and let his gaze wander, eventually watching Giranja. "I'm glad you're alright," he murmured with a small smile.

(I just realized it would've been bad if Coldy got intoxicated because then he could slip something about his deal with the Krege)

(Pfft yeah XD
I'd love a bird but my family wouldn't tolerate how noisy they can be)

(Yeahhh maybe. You could be lazy and use your latest Girafire painting as a background. XD)

(Oh wait if that's the case and nobody dies thennn?)

(Oooh yeah! Good advice, thanks!

Lol! You're welcome to do it anytime!)

(Heeeeh why not?

Still in bed at 11, I'm proud of you XD)

Coldfire shrugged. "Yeah, but if we had been more prepared, we wouldn't have taken much damage at all. At least I know her fighting tactics now." The shifter brought his glass to hip lips, only to find he had already finished the drink. He glanced back at the bar, wondering if he'd get away with one more glass.
He turned back to Giranja, pretending he hadn't looked.

(Oooohh hahah
Pffft nice XD I would stay in bed all day, but I get stiff or start to feel icky if I stay in bed too long without actually sleeping)

He sighed and sat back in his chair, stifling the temptation to glance back at the bar again. "Yeah. If my attacks did her any harm, then she won't be back soon. I shot her several times. Howmd you finish that guy off, anyway?" Just then, the bartender passed by their table, stopping to refill Coldfire's glass. The shofter blinked at it in shock, then looked back at the bartender though he had already walked off. Coldfire stared at his glass, feeling horribly guilty. "Uhhh..."

(Lol yeah
I sometimes want to try sleeping an entire day away. It sounds nice)

(Ooh sweet!)