Tuz "Flare" Vandora

With the radiance of the morning sunlight tearing through the hills of Terra, and slapping the thick canopy below, the animals gave their morning chirps and roars. The forest now crawling with some of the most dangerous cats and feral creatures in the living world. One couldn’t be sure on which was worse, the day, or night. One with ruthless canines and birds, that have no second thought on defeating their own territory. What had been reclaimed after the war was now their own, no humanoid creature called this forest home anymore. Ancient weapons from the old war times still diluted the dense forest floor. Caves of hollowed, broken barns, and old fence lining twisted into the branches of age-old trees. These were what now made up the dens that the day creatures dwelled in well into the night. Meanwhile night creatures, such as vicious cougars and bobcats came out at night the lick your flesh from straight from the bone. One wouldn’t know which is a worse fate.

Tuz walked along an old dirt road. The land around her, once prospering farms, now flat with tall grasses. Fences and old barns reclaimed by nature. A crow rest in the shade of the a remaining piece of roof. Not a bad sign, but perhaps a sign of a change coming today. It was almost a joy to see the bird that so many humans associated with death. A small grin found its way to Tuz’s lips. The slight curve she couldn’t hide, and in these dangerous times Tuz liked these kind of moments.

The girls feet shifted as her ears picked up the movement around her. She couldn’t tell for certain if this movement came from an animal, friend, or foe. Making a small fist, her eyes shone a deep, fiery orange. Being ready to defeat herself if needed. The poor girl had ran into a few hunters wanting her feathers for the black market and that’s not something she was willing to give to anyone. It could also be her next meal, before she continues on her way towards the next village. A friend, although they would not start off as a friend at first, would be beneficial down the road. To have someone to fight alongside her, to have to kill everything that crossed her path. The feeling would be so nice.

After a few miles Tuz couldn’t handle the slow movement of her humanoid form. Lifting her arms above her head, they grew beautiful, silk feathers. She shrugged off her clothing as her body changed to that of the fire bird. The orange of her iris quickly consumed the rest of her eyes and narrowed. Her nose and mouth extended and hardened, transforming into a sharp, dull-yellow beak. Her hair shortened and the feathers on her nape grew. With her legs buckling out and re-jointing themselves, a magnificent tail burst off the end of her tailbone. Bright, long feathers whipped the ground and with a single stroke of her wings she took off into the air, with her clothes wrapped and tied around her neck.. The process only took a matter of seconds and she now resembled a messenger bird, with her belongings tied onto her back.

Traveling by air, Tuz was able to spot potential threats and how close her destination was. Once she was about a mile off, she descended into a tree just off the path. Transforming back into her humanoid form. Back onto the road she pulled out a few coins that weren’t so honorably earned, but would get her a place to sleep. Walking into the local inn, or what she thought was the inn she observed the people around her. There were maybe a handful of men. All had mugs in their hands, the smell reeked of alcohol.

“What can I get the lady?” A man asked from the counter.

“Um, you wouldn’t happen to have Ale from the Ash would you?” Tuz replied, her head snapping to the side in a bird-like motion. The ale wasn’t easy to come by, it felt like you were lighting you mouth on fire, and the phoenix loved it.

“I do believe so. Two atres” He answered back. A small glass of grey liquid in his hands. The girl put two silver coins on the counter and took to glass. Giving the bartender a nod and a cup raise before going to find a seat. Eventually finding one in the corner where she could see everyone.