"Couldn't you have waited until noon?" The dragon grumbled, displeasure evident on his features. Dead leaves crunched with every step he took. They were walking through an umber-brown, ancient forest. Befitting of dragons' ages. The forest reeked of it, age. Its woody incense was from centuries of snapping branches crashing to the forest’s floor and rotting silently. The composting, organic smell rose up in waves like a miasma. Because of her, they were venturing deeper into the tangled heart of this primeval forest, where travellers would disappear to and never be seen again-- of course, because it is the dragons' nest. One of the many nests found in the world. Huge roots spread-eagled the ground, twisting like the great backs of sea dinosaurs. The foliage became thick and lush, forming an arch of fairytale-green above them.
"Where are you taking me anyway? I demand to know."

Rhys was getting impatient. He had the urge of fulminating, and composing himself was quite a task, for his name itself meant something along those lines, if he could remember. His companion said something about showing him to... whatever it is she found, but he had just won a brawl--with an older Royal Crimson at that--and his muscles ached from fatigue. Despite that, his pride would not let him display weakness. However, his friend's energetic demeanor was contagious after all, and thus he was led away. Albeit begrudgingly now that he felt its repercussions.

Grunting as a reply, the Royal Crimson painstakingly followed behind his energetic friend, who was as acrobatic as ever. Such a frail-looking frame she had, but the tremendous bursts of energy she released contradicted it. The male, in turn, preferred long strides at a moderate speed, which makes up for Energy's attempted advances because of his size. However, of course he wouldn't go further than that because of the strain it would put. He wasn't doing anything about En leaping off from trees either, just keeping at his own pace while she led the way. He was also attentively keeping an eye out for their surroundings as she seemed to lead them farther and farther away from the bustling heart of their clan's territory.

"Of course it isn't. Naturally, I've gotten used to your ways, and once again I am suggesting we go no further. Did you think I would not notice?" Rhys huffed. Sometimes, he wondered why he was even friends with the mischievous Whiptail. Yes, this was one of those times. "How much farther is it? If it goes on more than about a hundred meters further, I'm out." En's deliberate hesitation was palpable to him, despite the uncaring front he had put up.

He had grown rather blase observing the distressed critters and tremulous animals frantically trying to escape their dangerous, malignant-seeming presence. It seems dawn had broken not too long ago. He blew a short puff from his nostrils. He's going to miss his matutinal rituals.

He could tell she was excited. Far too enthusiastic, he thought. What is this mysterious object that would bring his already hyperactive friend to a much higher level of gaiety? Rhys hummed as a reply, then went back to observing the small gestures En made and her little subconscious movements--the only thing he deemed amusing. The gleam in her eyes, the flick of her ears, the small skips in her steps, the twitching of her tail... Her friendly and cheerful approach to everything seemed to set him at ease, somehow.

He was roughly assuming the distance from their clan's territory to where they were as they moved along, and it relieved him when En finally stopped and announced their arrival--and also because he could finally rest his muscles, yes? The male dragon saw no difference of this part of the forest from the others though, save for something he sensed that was coming from a certain area of the plantations. Oh, not a bad cover.

Almost immediately after, a low glow from the Whiptail's stripes caught his eye. Subconsciously, a small smile crept across the dragon's face for he would be seeing a display of his friend's telekinetic abilities. He found the blue glow rather fascinating too against his friend's brown scales. The Royal Crimson noticed her high excitement levels, marked by her wide grin and swishing tail, as En uncovered the disguise on what seems to be a scroll and curled her tail tightly around it.

As she turned to him, once again bouncing on her paws and chirping from the sheer amount of exhilaration she possessed--which had him both annoyed and amused, somehow-- he plastered on the former apathetic face he showed, letting the small smile--that he never knew he had on--drop. "...En, is that a spell scroll? No, that is unsafe, do not open it." Rhys grunted. Considering this is Energy that was concerned, that scroll must contain something fairly...interesting to her, to get her as extremely hyped as that. "What were you thinking, going through your parents' things?" He sighed, tilting his head a little to the right. Although he knew saying anything of the sort would still not get the concept of 'privacy' drilled into his dear stubborn friend's head, he still spoke of it anyway. Well, what was he to do?

Oh, the trouble he would get into.

A sigh escaped his mouth and his eyelids fell close as he shifted his position. "That is no excuse," he spat out. Despite the mood change, he knew she'd regain her enthusiasm in a second. Instantly after the brief moment of hesitation, En began her energetically-executed explanation, to which Rhys was solicitous to. He kept his mouth shut the whole time hers was running off. The Royal Crimson noted the circumstances they were in: very very dire, because En could open that scroll any second now. Then it must be a spell-containing scroll holding an enchantment enabling camouflage among humans... He's heard of the magic before. If he recalled correctly, then it was one that could disguise dragons as the humans themselves.

Right after En stopped verbalizing her thoughts, which was well reflected in her eyes, Rhys bluntly told her, "No. It would not be great. What do you think will happen if we screw up and the humans come to know of the existence of dragons? Do you not realize that going out there is a dangerous task for those without the training and knowledge? Which is the very reason why dragons are chosen for it. You think you know humanity?" He seethed, trying to make her give in, albeit knowing her stubborn personality. "Now give me that scroll. This is going over the line, En. Do not try me." His frown deepened.

Of course he was curious. Of course he wanted to escape the cage he was in. To venture into the world. To explore at the 'seas' and 'glaciers' he's heard of, the ground made of sand. It seemed extremely exhilarating, something different for a change. However, he dared not defy the clan in such serious matter. He was meant to fulfill the clan's expectations, for he was of a high, noble status. His pride would not let his reputation be shattered. The Royal Crimson was well aware of the repercussions, and thus had forcibly pushed his unsatiated need aside. He was meant to follow orders.

Meant to be caged.

Speaking of which, they really should return to the clan now. Perhaps he should hone his magic and stock up on knowledge of the humans after this issue is resolved.

His snout twitched hearing her answers. Every single one of them irked him, increasing his impatience. His tail swished in annoyance. Oh how he wanted to hunt down that cheeky little Whiptail. Instead, the male gave off a low snarl, "No. And don't you dare take flight. Have you forgotten that we aren't within the perimeters of the barrier?" He paused to shift to a standing position--realizing that he had sat somewhere before--before continuing, "If you aren't getting down from there, I'm leaving you here." And with that, he turned his head away, tail following the action, trotting off regally to the direction of the clan.

At the Whiptail's call, the Royal Crimson abruptly stopped. Oohh she did just get the full entirety of his attention, his ears perking up and senses heightened. By the lords, is she--

But she did. Yes. As soon as he had swiftly turned his whole body around, his ears picked up the familiar voice of his friend mumbling words he assumed were the spell, and he sensed the rapid build-up of magic surrounding her frail frame. On impulse, his hind leg muscles contracted enough only to be released in a leap to the Whiptail, forepaws outstretched to grab the levitating scrap of paper. Yes, on impulse. You just witnessed the mighty Royal Crimson dragon acting on impulse to save his dear friend. And he succeeded in covering the large distance with that leap due to his already massive body size.

To no avail though, because by the time he had clutched the opened scroll--even ripping holes in it because of his retracted claws--, the intensity of the magic was at a peak familiar to him--that is, when a spell is performed correctly. The momentum of his leap, however, also caused him to crash into En, knocking her down. He felt the strong magic coursing through him due to his aerial attack.

"Wait. Where's the reverse spell?!"

"THERE IS NO REVERSE SPELL, YOU IDIOT!! EACH SCROLL ONLY CONTAINS ONE SPELL!" Rhys firmly growled at the...unfamiliar creature he was pinning down, whom he thought was his friend. His draconic eyes widened at the realization of the success of the spell. Or not..? He got off of his four limbs, freeing the unrecognizable human, attempting to balance on his hind legs. He teetered around and wobbled for a while, before supporting himself by pressing his right wrist against the nearby tree, which seems way taller and thicker than he remembered.

He began inspecting his new human body by pulling up his left sleeve. Where was his thick, crimson hide? His strong, sharp claws? He now possessed fair human skin that could stretch a little when he pinched it. The outer area of his arm had soft little hairs growing on it, making its texture rather soft at his touch. His new skin was way too fragile--palpable when he tried poking it with his dull nails. And his claws...unfortunately, were now pinkish nails that bent easily at the end. He did seem to have retained some of his scales at the sides of his torso though, once he lifted the orange garment he was wearing.

Speaking of which, he donned on the inside an orange shirt with a grey tie, and on the outside an unbuttoned royal crimson trench coat, with black outlines. Covering his human legs were baggy grey trousers and black boots.

How odd that humans stood on their hind legs. He was adapting to standing on them as the clock ticks by, though. When he bent down a little to inspect them, movement from it made him aware of the crimson fringe that shielded his vision a little. Reaching out to touch his tresses, Rhys found their softness. And he investigated his head further. Horns? None. Human ears? Bendable and soft. Snout? Nose. Mouth? Soft, stretchy, pinkish lips. Canines? Dull teeth.

...Weak. How pitiful human bodies are.

It seems the Whip--err, female human was studying her new mysterious physique too, although she retained her dragon ears and tail. The newly-turned human Rhys grunted, facing his friend, "Are you happy? What do you suggest doing now?" He huffed. What a situation they were in, and to think it was all because of that careless idiot's senseless actions. Now, their entire physiology was changed. He clicked his tongue at the thought, shifting his center of balance. The barrier would only let in the DNA and magical frequency of dragons, so returning was not possible.

En couldn't possibly know the reversing spell either. In the first place, this spell was only available to the Elders anyway, and the chosen ones--those who were deemed capable for the task. But why leave it with En's father putting it in some place she could find, knowing her? It could be bait too. Was this occurrence supposed? Rhys tried to sense the area for any dragons nearby, but failed to do so, realizing he was no longer a dragon. Ah, the unfortunate beings that are humans, he conceived.

The spell was supposed to transform them perfectly however, but it seems that it wasn't the case for them. Perhaps boring holes into the scroll before the spell was fully completed gave rise to that defect. Now then, what were they to do? Whatever was possible was probable, he deemed. Unless... no, what would his parents' reaction be if he were to venture out without a word? He was an adult, but still...

He let out a small groan, sighing after it. He knew she would say that. Then again, what about human civilisation? How does it work? What do they eat? What are their needs? ...Perhaps he could try a hand at it, maybe find other chosen ones. What else was there to do, anyway? In retrospect, the Choosing Ceremony was in a few months. Nope, not close at all. Nobody will come find them. Well, there was nothing else he could do, anyway.

"...Fine," Rhys huffed reluctantly, "But no stirring up trouble, and choose your words VERY wisely. Also, think before acting." Be that as it may, it goes without saying that En would definitely pump her fist in the air or such and not heed his words. Stubborn like a mule. And also be very chirpy during their journey. His eyebrows twitched at the thought. What was he to do with her?

The male shook his head at the fatuous spectacle. "Clumsy idiot," he huffed. En's vivacity and injudiciousness was almost comical. It would be an impossible feat for them to proceed into the human world discreetly, he realized. Any hortatory speech from him would also still prove its futility. The girl seemed almost indefatigable, even.

Speaking of fatigue, it seems his had persisted. A frown made its way onto his face as he tried moving his leg muscles. Though it grew a little subtler, it still hindered his will to learn this 'walking'. Per contra to that, Rhys persevered in his attempts. Some pandiculation would assist the blood flow, but that wasn't the time for it, he figured.

"Hey Rhys." In reflex, he turned his head to the source that called his name in response. And again, in reflex, he turned it away as fast after a glimpse, blunting a reply, "I certainly do not have such things. You flashing that disgusts me somehow." And he scrunched up his nose a little. "They're also supposed to be kept hidden, have you no shame?"

Merely disregarding the troubled girl (and the fatigue), Rhys began distancing himself from the tree in slow, meticulous steps. He stopped, taking a glance at his fully outstretched right hand, middle finger barely touching the umber-brown tree bark of the stationary living being that was keeping him from not toppling over. Unwavering, he stepped away, the ephemeral moment fleeting by.

Thus commenced his ironically irresolute footfalls as he plastered on a serious face, observing his feet. He kept track of where he was going from his peripheral vision. The scene was rather zany, actually. A grown man--though young--aggressively trying to master the art of walking--or, in general, using legs. The newly turned human male sought to conquer whatever weakness his new unfamiliar body provided. A small feeling of triumph harbored itself within him as his aimless steps grew more undaunted, and his expression grew lighter. However, it would soon turn to regret later on for not being cognizant of his companion's unmindful actions.

Abruptly, he sensed the steady stream of magic energy that surrounded the little area they were in weaken and soon utterly diminish, sucked back into its source. Once again, his brows furrowed and his eyes narrowed as he ceased in his tracks, glancing at where he sensed the source was. Rhys noticed that En had sealed the scroll.

His gut feeling told him something was wrong. But what? That is, until he realized of the approaching danger, also known as wild animals.

Energy Twinkle

Scroll in hand, Energy looked up at Rhys, only to see him troubled.

"What's wrong?" she asked, getting up on her feet once more. This time, her body did little more than sway and she was pleased, now that she was becoming accustomed to balancing on two legs. It wasn't that bad, really, now that she thought about it. Or maybe she was being optimistic. Energy could still barely walk after all. "But hey, at least I'm not falling on my butt again."

A sudden shrill squawk rang through the air. Now, being a dragon - or used to be - who's lived all her life in an ancient rainforest, Energy was unperturbed by this, merely glancing up at the toucan, settled on one of the lower branches above them, which had let out the abrupt call. However, as more birds answered it, she was growing aware of the wildlife surrounding them, now that the magic and dragons that normally scared them off were gone. Birds called out to one another, occasionally flying overhead. Crickets chirped and whatever insects hidden in the undergrowth were back to crawling around. Small critters ran around in the foliage, not at all disturbed by the two strange humans standing around.

There was a reason that no human traveller that ventured through the forest ever came back out. Well, other than the dragons, that was.

Goosebumps rose on Energy's skin. If there was one thing she knew about their home, it was that being inside it as a human never ended well. Especially as humans who barely knew how to walk, let alone run. Taking a step back, her ears flicked as she picked up the distant sound of a jaguar growling. That wasn't good. Funny, usually she would've picked up its scent. The human nose really must be inferior to a dragon's. They should probably get out of the forest.