@Zerofighter@Framing A Moose



"I've no qualms towards teaming up, Orion, and I'm positive Melaina doesn't either." After observing Melaina dart away with a jovial pump of her fist in the air, a shout proclaiming their instantly decided team name, Elysia merely shook her head with a sigh and replied to the boy with a nod of agreement, though she was more accustomed to pursuing such matters alone. The proposal of teamwork...it was an iffy proposal to her, but nonetheless she had to admit they would cover more ground operating together. "I too need to gather a few things from my suite, and then we can begin our search for our respected animals." She turned from him, sauntering with a mesmeric sway, as though the dance of the ever tempting serpent amidst the Garden of Eden. Yet she paused glancing over her shoulder at him, "Oh and Orion, there's no need to be nervous around me." A sly wink before resuming her course.

Casa de los Cielos, or House of the Heavens wasn't particularly the fanciest and swankiest of hotels, but it was still a guaranteed pleasant stay here in Ciudad Mitad del Mundo. The rooms were always kept clean to the strictest standards, and the beds were comfortable as well. There were even more accommodations such as a lovely swimming pool and sitting area, and not to mention the rooms on the topmost floor had a perfect view of the city and the surrounding forests and mountains, a view Elysia had taken in once she was settled in room 254.

"Buenas tardes, señorita." Greeting the woman behind the desk in her native language, Elysia set aside her carry-on, brushing a few meddlesome strands of hair from her face. "¿Puedo por favor tener mi llave de la habitación ? The maid nodded, a friendly smile, "Si señorita. Uno momento, por favor." She rummaged about for the room key, mumbling to herself wondering where she had placed it, Elysia drumming her fingers on the counter with another sigh. Soon, the woman returned to her handing her the key. What Elysia didn't know however was.....someone else had a key to her room.

"Aquí tiene, señorita. Tener un día maravilloso."

"Gracias. Nos vemos más tarde." Elysia replied tenderly clasping the key in her hand. No elevators, which meant having to climb stair after stair until she made it to her safe haven from the brutality of the sun. It wasn't that she was innactive, it was just climbing stairs in heels wasn't the best for her feet, already tired from the taxing events of the day.

251...252...253...

...and finally 254, the room number meeting her wandering eyes upon a gilded placard fastened to the door, yet something bizarre struck her as she slipped her key into the keyhole, preparing to open the door. It was unlocked already. Odd, since Elysia was sure she had the only key to this room, and she was sure this morning she had locked her room, as was customary in a hotel. But....somehow, someone had broken into her room for reasons unspecified. A nervous tinge in her spine as slowly, cautiously she turned the brass knob and inched the door open with a subtle creak of the hinges....revealing to her...

"Melaina? Mio Dio!" Surprised she dropped her suitcase at her side with a thud, blinking twice and making certain she wasn't hallucinating. This girl...how did she even get in here? "You do know it's a bit rude to be breaking into people's rooms, sì?"

Orion smiled as they would all be working together. He was glad they were going to be working together, then a flush came to his face again at her wink. "uhh yea...of course." he smiled at her. A sigh escaped his lips as he walked to his bike. He counted the money he had. Should be enough to get him a room for a few nights. Orion went to the hotel that was closest. The woman was spanish. "Umm can I get a room?" The person on front looked confused. Orion bit his lip and tried to remember the spanish he learned.

Umm, ¿Puedo conseguir una habitación ?" He asked, it didnt sound perfect but they knew what he meant. Orion followed her down to the room 253. He then heard a familiar voice and looked seeing Melanie, and Elysia. He walked to them "Well this is a coicidence, the room I got is next to you two.

Melaina was standing in front of the foot of the bed, staring intently on two outfits. One was a one-piece bathing suit paired rather plain yet pretty dress, which looked loose and comfortable. It seemed like something a fairy living in a forest would wear. Next to it was a pink, spaggetti strapped sundress, which looked as comfortable, paired with a pink two piece bathing suit. Her concentration on the clothes was suddenly broken when she heard the sound of the door opening. She looked over, saw Elysia, and waved to her, a grin on her face. "HIIIIIIYAAAA there roomie!!!" Melaina shouted, her words louder than they needed to be.

But when Melaina finally registered Elysia's words, a puzzled look took over her face. "I don't think it counts as breaking in when you get the key from the front desk..." she said. Then her expression changed once again, this time back into a face of excitement. "Oh! I need your opinion on something, you too Ory," she said when Ory entered her line of vision and greeted them. She then lifted up the white attire, saying, "The Swan Disguise or," she then lifted up the pink clothing. "The Classic Melaina?"

@Zerofighter@Rusalka

@KatherinWinter
"a hawk...mmm." Martin muses and starts checking his smartfone again.

"It says here in Wikipedia: that observations have indicated that while hawks can easily mould to any surrounding, the birds prefer a habitat that is open. Hawks usually like to habitat in places like deserts and fields, probably to make it easier to find prey. Since these birds can easily live anywhere without too much problem, they can be found in mountainous plains and tropical, moist areas. Hawks have even been found in places such as Central America, the West Indies, and even Jamaica...I guess this place has open spaces too. That and we can check the local scenery, if you know what i mean. Martin goes for a small wink without smiling.

"Since i was the one who asked you for a team-up, i'd like you to decide what to hunt first...the hawk, or the ants. Give it some thought. Let's get some rest, like the others, and meet tomorrow morning"

@Zerofighter@Framing A Moose

She didn't really see why women made such a fuss over their outer appearance, so the concepts of fashion and beauty were more or less alien to her. Then again, this was a woman who sulked around dressing as though she had a funeral procession to attend, or a Halloween party for that matter. As if it wasn't apparent, Elysia was perturbed by the sudden intrusion, more so when she discovered that incompetent maid had just freely given over her room key to a random stranger, well...not technically a stranger.

A simple nod was the dark beauty's greeting to Orion beside her before returning to Melaina leaning in the doorway with a bothersome sigh and massaging her temples with the tips of her slender fingers. "I suppose either would do nicely, Melaina, but I'm still not happy with you just barging into my room without my permission. Even so, I guess if you wish you can stay here." Elysia, she tried to sound stern, but her soft spoken demeanor only served to ease the severity of her words.

She pushed herself from the frame of the door, sauntering into the room and setting her case on the bed, unfastening the latches and unpacking most of her clothing. As typical, from the coffin shaped carry-on was produced a menagerie of dark threads and morbid attire, gothic Victorian style dresses and some trendy, modern day clothing that still had a macabre motif. In her suitcase as well, her cherished violin, a few of her books, and a bottle of finely aged red from her native Tuscany, such a sweet and bitter taste, for stress relief of course.

"Now then." She spoke while settling in, rather punctual. "If we are to work together through this entire competition, then I suggest we choose a leader for our supposed team. I would volunteer myself, but seeing as Orion suggested the idea, he should be a prime candidate for leadership."

When Elysia mentioned that she'd allow Melaina to share her room, Melaina's smile got wider and her eyes became brighter. It seemed she was practically glowing of happiness. Melaina launched herself at Elysia, throwing her arms around the goth girl's waist, hugging it so tight that it was painful. At that moment, Melaina seemed more like a puppy inside of a human's body than a human in a human's body.

"ThankyouthankyouthankyouIloveyousomuchrightnowyou'rethebombthankyouthankyouthaaaaaaaaaaaaankyoooooooooooooooooou!!!!!" Melaina's exclamation of grattitude came out of her mouth in one jumble off smashed together words with no pauses to be heard. Melaina only separated from Elysia's waist when the question of leadership reached her brain, which was a few moments after it was asked. At that moment, she popped back up so she was standing straight and raised her hand, waving it frantically in the air. "I WANNA BE THE LEADER, I WANNA BE THE LEADER!!!!!" she yelled, almost like a child. It...was quite clear that she wanted to be the leader.

@Rusalka@Zerofighter

@jog1118
Griffin felt stupid for not knowing that. He was pretty sure that that hadn't been the man's intentions but it still stung. He shrugged. Atleast they wouldn't have to travel far to get the hawk he wanted. "I assumed that we would start right away. It seems like a waste of a day to rent a hotel. I mean we still have most of the say left. But I suppose that is just my opinion. I think we should start with your ant. I think that will be the easier of the two."

"Coincidentally, South America has one breed of ant considered one of the biggest. It's sting feels like being shot by a gun, hence it's name the Bullet Ant.

I remember passing some farmlands on the way here. That should be a perfect place to scout for some." Martin briefs Griffin.

"Ants come in colonies, mind you. We're getting to know an entire anthill and not just one. warns Martin.

@Framing A Moose@Rusalka
Orion was happy he could see his friends, then a small laugh came from him seeing Melaina act like a little kid. She was so much fun to watch, and Elysia was the perfect foil to her. Then he smiles as Elysia suggested he should be the leader. "Well, thanks I would be hon-" Then before he could finish Melaina started saying how she wanted to be the leader. He looked at Elysia with a look saying What do you think?

@jog1118
"Do we really need a whole colony of ants? How are you going to travel with them?" Griffin asked. He had given some thought to how he would travel with a hawk. He didn't know for sure that they needed to travel but it made sense that they would be challenged in many ways. He expected the contest to push them to their limits. He was looking forward to it. It would give him a chance to prove himself. Which was something he had always wanted.

@Framing A Moose@Zerofighter

If there was ever a bigger conundrum then certainly it was this.

Elysia looked between the two with a scrutinizing gaze while drumming her fingers softly against her lips, pondering to herself about who would be the optimal choice for leadership.

On one hand there was Orion, a strong and stoic young man who looked to be the right material to lead to Elysia. Surely he had what it took...unlike Melaina. As cute and humorous the girl was to Elysia, the goth had to face the fact the pink haired beauty was also a slight immature, definitely not a good pick. But even so Elysia didn't want to hurt the girl's feelings by not choosing.

"Decisions, decisions..." She mused after a lengthy sigh, rubbing her temples and pacing back and forth. "Hmm, I suppose there is no choice but to let the fates decide." And with that...Elysia slipped off her heels and sprawled across the bed stretching and yawning, grabbing a book to read.

"How about this. Whoever brings me a wine glass from downstairs first, I will appoint them as leader." If Elysia was capable of showing an expression this moment, it would be a cheeky grin. Nevertheless she had hoped this would be a good idea.

Besides...she needed a drink.

@KatherinWinter

"Chill Griffin...what i meant with getting to know an anthill is that we go through the lot of 'em to get one of 'em. They're kinda into the whole one-for-all-all-for-one thing. Hey! There's a bus incoming. I bet this goes through the farmlands i mentioned...Let's go Griffin!"

Martin then just runs off for the bus and motions for Griffin to follow.

Griffin frowned. He wasn't sure that that made any sense. They had to get to know a colony of ants? How did that answer his question about traveling with them. That told him how he was going to possible tame one. But nothing else. He followed the other man. Accept he walked rather then ran. "How does getting to know one ant going to help?"

@KatherinWinter

Martin sits on one of the vacant seats at the back of the bus. He waves at Griffin as he boards the bus, sluggishly it seems. He takes some crackers from his bag and offers some to Griffin as the bus begins to move.

"It won't take long. Farmlands i saw is just 30 minutes tops from here. To be honest, capturing the ant would be child's play...but i don't have any idea on how to tame it. Guess i'll just have to cross the bridge when i get there" Martin says as he bites onto the crackers.

@jog1118
Griffin reluctantly takes a seat. He hated buses. They were small and crowded. Two of his least favorite things. He couldn't stand small spaces or crowds. A bus was both. He shook his head at Martin's offer. He wouldn't be able to eat while they were moving. He looked out the window. Hoping that being able to see the outside would help his unease. "I hope that you are able to figure it out. Because capturing one isn't going to be enough."

@Rusalka@Framing A Moose
Orion chuckled and thought her 'challenge' was just a way for he rto get the wine glass. He wasnt that big fan of wine, but it tasted fine to him. But he didnt mind getting her the glass either. He went to the moterl desk and asked for three wine glass. The owner looked at him strangely then he rememberd they spoke spanish ¿Puedo tener tres copas de vino?" The owner nodded at him, and Orion began walking back to the room

@KatherinWinter

Martin suddenly stands from his seat and knocks loudly on the bus walls. The driver apparently understands and the bus slows down to a halt.

"C'mon! we're here." Martin gets off the bus and looks back to make sure Griffin follows.

A breathe of fresh, country air greets the two would-be gods. Open rice fields span their line of sight and a few mountains can be seen further to the horizon.

Martin pulls out an empty plastic water bottle from his bag and says "This bottle should do the trick...now let's find some ants"

@jog1118
Griffin was relieved when Martin signaled the driver to get them off. Maybe pairing up hadn't been the best idea. He followed the man off the bus. He took a deep breath as they stepped off the bus. He relaxed alittle now that he wasn't closed in. He looked around with a frown. "Will the bus come back for us?" He didn't know how the bus system here worked. Every system was alittle different. "Don't the ants need air? If you close the lid so they can't escape how are they going to breath?"

@KatherinWinter
"Pinholes...i've pre-made pinholes already to provide air to the ants while not big enough to let them out of the bottle" beamed Martin.

"Hey Griffin, this is a big place. Ok with you if we split up so we can cover more ground? Look for unusually big ants. What we're looking for are ants around 18–30 millimetres long and resemble stout, reddish-black, wingless wasps. asks Martin.

@jog1118
Griffin nodded. He had no idea how big 18 millimeters was but he was sure that he could find a huge ant. Or atleast a wingless wasp. He shivered. He hated wasps. He looked around hoping none were in the area. Luckily he didn't see anything. He looked at the ground as he slowly walked in the opposite direction of Martin. He tried to be patient. He was sure finding and capturing the hawk he wanted wouldn't be any easier then this.