Another day alone in the marsh, another day wandering away from her home. The small, dark, enclosed body of water wasn't exactly the most happening spot for wayward travelers. Those who did find their way to their dark depths weren't often finding their way out, lured in by a voice as smooth as silk. Her eyes so clear, like her irises were droplets of the very waters she emerged from. Her aura so enchanting they had forgotten where they were going and why. It was that voice, those eyes. So transfixed that nothing else mattered to them any longer.

Today, sadly, was not one of those days. Today, ocher skin lifted from crystal clear waters. Waves spilled down her body, blue fin melting into long brown legs. Body bare, glistening with the droplets that lingered, shining in the light that filtered into the treetops, small feet brought her over to a bush, long silk fabric unfolded from a hand woven basket. A skirt that danced around brown legs, a brazier that accentuated the curves of her flat stomach and round hips.

A wily smile, wind brushing against her dampened skin, her feet moved the young girl away from her home and into the Thunder Woods. Much more life was scattered around its thick line of trees, life that would invite a copious amount of entertainment into her own. Like that little tattered tent she found on the edge of the wood.

The bright light bounced off of metal, the timid voice floated over to her ears. A smile lit her face at the sound, heading for the sounds that she had heard. The brush of grass against her bare feet announced her presence as she came upon the duo.

"Aw, Mr. Tin man, you scared the pretty little thing," she hummed with a laughter lilting her voice. Her brown skin shown bronze in the dazzling sunlight, skirt billowing around her feet.
@Gentlemanvaultboy@Serious Face

@The1Rolling1Boy

Claudia gave a warm smile in reply. ~"Either is fine, deary."~ She said. ~"Though I must admit, I am feeling a bit woozy from being in the sun too long. Perhaps we could rest in the shade of the forest yonder and continue our little conversation, Young Spirit."~ She was right, yes. Even if most of her skin was covered, the sun's rays beat down upon her without quarter. She felt light headed, a dull pain throbbing between her eyes. Lightly she pinched the bridge of her nose, squinting her eyes. ~"Ugh....but we should hurry, my dear. The sun and I don't quite get along so well."~

Territ stared down at the boy for a moment before responding. He'd learned to read people and this kid certainly felt...odd. "Uh...no thanks kid.." The cyborg tapped his face mask and gestured to the tubing. "It's best to leave this on when I'm out and about." He took in the campsite and the surrounding area. Frankly he was susprised he had missed this little tent. Maybe he had been a little to lost in thought.

He briefly ignored the sudden intrusion of the girl.

"So...kid I'm guessing you haven't seen someone like me before?" He then turned to the girl.
"And new-girl this is hardened steel, not tin." Territ wasn't really that literal minded. But it was the only thing he could think of to recover from letting yet another stranger sneak up on him. God he must be slipping something hard.

@SilentWriter83 @Gentlemanvaultboy

@Serious Face@SilentWriter83

The boys face flashed several emotions at the steel mans answer, going from disappointment to relief and back before settling on a sort of mild thankfulness that the interaction had gone so well. "Oh, well, that's all right." He looked over at the newcomer, the girl that had manged to sneak up on his little abode. "Truth be told I don't have much anyway. And it tastes like fish, I think 'cause of that water." He proffered the kettle in the girls direction anyway, just to be polite.

"You're right though." He continued. "I don't think I've ever seen the like of you anywhere. I've been..." He thought for a little bit about how to explain when and where he was from, then gave up and settled for, "I've lost some time. I wouldn't know about new fangled...things, like whatever it is you're wearing."

@Gentlemanvaultboy@Serious Face

The female smiled, the semi-snippy response from the cyborg clearly amusing to the native of the water. She tilted her head, eyeing the material that made up most of his body. "Still rusts in water," she hummed with clear joy as she turned her eyes on to the other male in the group. She wasn't a fan of the coffee, but she was a fan of toying with others. Her smile turned coy as her steps led her closer to the other. Hands cupped his cheeks as she leaned down to his level, eyes connecting with a soft giggle. "Well aren't you just a ball of sugar," she mused.

Straightening, her fingers slipped from his skin with a lingering touch, a sigh leaving her as she enjoyed the warmth of the sun on her bronze skin. "Isn't it just great to be outside!" Her eyes flickered between both men, before taking her seat, uninvited, not that she cared, next to the younger of the two. "So~, tell me your names!"

Territ felt that if he still had his eyebrows he would've raised one of 'em. Ignoring the girl again for the moment and spoke to the kid. "Frirstly the taste wouldn't have bothered me, I've had worse." The small chuckle that fallowed sounded more like speaker interface mixed with coughing. "But regardless you should get used to things like me kid, here in Freeplaynia you're gonna met more, possibly stranger beings. Like that one.." He jutted a finger in the direction of the girl who-from-now-on-is-known-as newbie. "Anyway I'm Territ Zid, cyborg."

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@Gentlemanvaultboy@SilentWriter83

"Cyborg...?" he rolled the word around in his noggin. "There a lot of you guys living around here?" he asked. The man might be more metal than an artillery barrage could put out and have an odd crackly what-might-have-been-a-laugh, but he seemed an all right sort. "How many, cause that would be a thing to see-"

Then he stopped short as the girl stepped up lightly and touched him. The kettle clattered out of his grasp in surprise and rolled slightly away on the grassy floor. He held still. He held very still, blank faced. A slight rustling, perceptible perhaps only in contrast to the boys sudden freeze, rolled underneath the boy shawl and a sickly sweet scent seemed to waft in on an errant wind. He held himself stiff like that until he felt her fingers leave his skin. He let the breath he had been holding in go as she planted herself on the log next to him. The scent faded away in the morning breeze.

"Ariel." He said nervously, reaching over to the fallen kettle in a way that oh so coincidentally let him scoot a little farther away from her. He poured himself another mug and drained the whole thing in a single sitting. "Call me Ariel. And, uh, yours?"

@Serious Face@SilentWriter83

@Serious Face@Gentlemanvaultboy

The female smiled, eyes sparkling with mischief as the man wrapped in steel spoke with a mechanical tone. Her expression was anything but harmless, but she wasn't evil in the classic regard. She loved to toy and pull and push, but not with the intention of any harm, not that her newfound companions would be able to know the difference at this point. "Me? Strange?" She hummed, toes sliding through the bright green grass. It ghosted along her skin, pulling a small giggle from her lips. "I'm harmless~" She mused, attention lifting to the human at her side. Her eyes, cool like the waters where she was born, moved over his being.

Even from a glance he wasn't what he seemed to be. She noted the strange, sickly sweet, scent that lifted from him, a whisper of a note in the wind, when she'd touched him before. He wasn't what he appeared to be, but she left well enough alone...for now. Her gaze that had once been analyzing him, Ariel, lifted into something softer, friendlier. "Well, Ariel, Territ," eyes moved to the cyborg, innocent interest. "Can I call you Terri? I'm gonna call you Terri," she nodded to herself as if that was all the affirmation she needed to dub the man with a new nickname, "I'm Aravanth," She hummed, a friendly smile on her lips.

@SilentWriter83@The1Rolling1Boy@Gentlemanvaultboy@Serious Face

m.youtube.com/watch?v=WY9hH-3CMSg

As Claudia walked alongside Spirit, they tarried down the winding path through the Hills, the vampire smiling to her young companion as she happily rambled, eliciting a few giggles and chuckles from the older woman. Her basket of fruits and other things harvested from nature's bounty hung precariously from her arm lightly swaying as her eyes, blue as the endless skies above, sparkled with her natural radiance.

They neared the forest, the sweet, earthy scent of pines and cedars taking place the fragrance of fresh wildflowers and green grasses. Already the cool shade of the forest felt nice upon the vampire's skin, a temporary shelter from the sun's rays. Claudia felt it safe to let her hood down. As she did so, her long, wavy locks of blood red hair cascaded over her slim shoulders and trailed down her backside.

~"Ahh...much better"~ She heaved a relaxing sigh. She could already feel her headache diminishing. Relief finally.

Up yonder way there was a peculiar sight that caught Claudia's twinkling eyes, a spry young fellow, a man who appeared to be made of steel, and...quite the delectable fair lady with skin shimmering like polished bronze. The vampire was quite enamored by the sight of such a beautiful woman, a rather tempting smirk crossing her lips.

~"My, seems everyone is out and about today, hmm Spirit?"~ Claudia mused to the adorable bunny girl at her side. They looked like a friendly bunch, so she saw no harm in introducing herself to them.

She smiled rather invitingly, her gait steady as she approached the few.

~"Oh dear, and here I was thinking we were alone in these woods. Lovely day for a stroll, isn't it everyone? My name is Claudia by the way. It's so nice to see so many charming faces. Hehe~ especially yours, my dear."~

The vampire smirked to the young woman, her eyes languid as she gave her a good, brief looking over. My, such a lovely figure she had, and that scent, ocean breeze the vampire presumed.

The cyborg found it hard to look disapproving when most of his face was either covered or metal. Still he did his best to newbie, who apparently was named Aravanth, a short glare for the nickname. But didn't bother trying correcting her, she probably would keep up with it just to get a chuckle.

"Anyway, Ariel you said? To answer your question before newbie interrupted, most cyborgs are in city's and a lot of them have fake skin over their...." Territ let himself trail off as yet another pair of strangers made themselves known.

He let the newnew lady finish before turning towards her, it was an odd pair to be sure. "Territ Zid." He introduced himself quickly and with a tone of aggravation starting to creep in. At the rate people were managing to sneak up on him he was going to have to get a radar system installed.

------------------
@Rusalka@SilentWriter83@Gentlemanvaultboy@The1Rolling1Boy

Spirit walks beside Claudia through the woods enjoying herself the whole time. She really likes this person, even though they are a vampire, she's so much fun to talk to. She kept one hand under her chest to give them some support. But when they come across some new people she quickly ducks behind Claudia and hides from the new people un sure what to do because she is not allowed as a spirit to talk to them so out of desperation. Spirit quickly transform into her spirit form but continues to hide. "Great what do I do. I'm already breaking a rule by being with Claudia. She didn't summon me. If Shiro finds out I'm dead. He would probably never let me out of the house again. That means I couldn't see Claudia. She can't go into the Moon Pool. She'll just float at the top unable to dive down." Spirit says to herself in her head panicking about what to do now

Shiro walks away from the site and continues to look around some more before he comes across the group of people noticing his sister. "Nope!" He says slightly louder then he wanted to as he turned into his spirit form and hid in a near by tree watching silently
@Rusalka@Serious Face@SilentWriter83@Gentlemanvaultboy

@SilentWriter83@The1Rolling1Boy@Serious Face@Rusalka

"P-p-pleasure to meet you, Aravanth. Cludia." he said, eyes shifting uncomfortably from the newcomer, down her leg, to the creature lurking in her shadow. He wasn't really comfortable having this many guests all at once quite yet, but that was the most worrying thing he'd seen all day. It definitely wasn't any sort of natural creature. He wondered if the woman knew it was there, or if it was planning some mischief on her.

"A-a-a-anyway it's real lucky I got so many visitors so soon." He continued, managing to tear his eyes away from what looked, to any layman, like a harmless little bunny. "I actually used up most of my supplies on the way here. I'm running low on food, oil..._toiletries...a lot of things, really. How do you all get things like that out here? Is there a store or a trading post or something like that? I don't have no money, but I can to work."

@Gentlemanvaultboy@The1Rolling1Boy@Serious Face@Rusalka

Clear blue eyes flickered to the woman with the flowing red hair. Her lips tugged into an amused smile, watching the way her gaze moved over her. There was no hiding what she was, what she wanted. It was quite, intriguing, for lack of a better term, the way the female looked at her, like she was ready to pounce at any moment. Perhaps that was true. Perhaps that's what she wanted, waiting for the proper moment. Only time would tell really.

"Hello Claudia~" Aravanth hummed, bronze leg lifted, sliding over the other as soft, aqua blue silk slipping over her long legs, showing of the expanse of her body. She knew what she was doing, although teasing a vampire was not the safest game to play. It was a game she was daring to play nevertheless, eyes dipping low for a moment to notice the small, sweet looking creature at the woman's feet. "A bunny!" she gasped, with a smile, standing and hurrying over to the woman.

In one smooth, fluid motion, the bunny was held in gentle hands and held up to a friendly face. "Hey there little bunny~" Aravanth cooed gently. She held the small animal in her arms, humming softly as she combed her fingers through soft fur as soft as possible, cradling the small animal protectively. "Look how sweet Ari," the girl mused, coming back to the stuttering human, again adopting a nickname for a person without asking.

Her eyes lifted to the shy boy, brow raising in curiosity at his needs. Food was simple, the crystal river was just teeming with sea life. Oil was foreign to her, as most of her traveling was done by swimming or walking. Toiletries, again, were not something she needed as her home was in the water and well, most of the time her lower half consisted of a long, beautiful fish tail. "What is...oil?" she asked, looking between the three people surrounding her, unaware that the creature in her arms was yet another sentient being. "And...toi...toile...the other thingy," she asked, not sure how to pronounce the other word the boy had said.

Maka continued through the fields upon fields of grass. Getting closer to the forest with each and every step of the way. She was curious as to how Thunder Woods would be, she'd heard of it frequently and could see it some days while she was out around in the fields. She never dared to go there before, something kept her away from it. Today Maka said enough was enough, she'd wanted to go there and explore, find a nice tree and climb up to read her book and relax.

She was unsure as to how it would be, who might be there and the creatures of the forest. She'd crossed the stream by now and took note of the ancient oak in the distance. The size of it had her gasp, she'd never seen a tree like this upclose before. While this would explain why she could see the forest from her bedroom. She made it her point to climb this tree and then relax in it for awhile.

Maka eventually made it to the foot of the tree and looked it up and down. The size was breath-taking for her. She took a drink from one of her two bottles of water, looked around and then began to climb the tree. There was a branch about twenty-five feet up that caught her eye. That was the one she'd climb to and relax on, it wasn't too high and it wasn't too low either. It was perfect for the time being.

As she was climbing, she found it to be slightly more difficult then imagined. Twas fun for her none the less it just wasn't what she was expecting. Once she finally reached the branch she wanted to, she hoisted herself up and then sat down atop of it. It felt interesting but the good kind, she looked down again to make sure no one saw her. It'd be really embarrassing if anybody saw under her skirt while she was climbing, that's what she was worried about.

---

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@Serious Face@SilentWriter83@Gentlemanvaultboy@Serious Face@The1Rolling1Boy

Mystery watched the young girl go by curious. So he falls her the whole time ducking down behind rocks making sure she doesn't see him.

Spirit frowns not like this at all. "Why did I get myself into this. Claudia help me please!" She whimpers and kicks around a little not enjoying this one bit. "I'm not little either, I'm at least 30 inches big"

Shiro watches then sees his sister in the arms of that mermaid. THAT'S SPIRIT! He says to himslef his eyes widening and quickly changes into a human and jumps off of the branch, and a snow storm soon forms over the area, has he runs over. "GET YOUR HANDS OFF THAT SPIRIT!" He yells then he snatches Spirit from the lady and holds her close.

Spirit trembles in fear, whimper and she changes out of her spirit form and holds into her brother wanting to cry out of fear. She wrapped her legs and arm around him tightly, he was much bigger than she was, and she was thankful for this. "Thank you"

Shiro huffs holding his sister tightly. "Who had the great idea of touching a spirit without permission. You are not allowed to unless you summon them and you have their consent. I could have your head for this!" The snow storm kicks up and is begins to snow like crazy has if it's a blizzard. The ground becoming white with snow.

@CrazyShadowy@SilentWriter83@Gentlemanvaultboy@Rusalka@Serious Face

Territ had kept quiet while newbie and the red-head briefly seemed to...flirt? Whatever, the cyborg watched as newbie fawned over the rabbit. And he rolled his eye at her confusion about common items. "Newbie don't worry about it." He waved a metallic hand dismissively. "Look, Ariel. For food or water you can just forage in the woods of ya need to, though you probably knew that. Otherwise I suggest heading to the Lake there are some towns and such that way where you can buy what you need."

Territ pointed in the general direction of the Lake. "I mean the bigger ones are by the-" The cyborgs ramblings were cut short as a man dove out of the nearby tree's. Out of habit the metallic man reached for the compartment holding his pistol. But stopped himself when the bunny transformed into a girl. Territ stood motionless in the growing snowstorm. This was a situation where he really didn't know what to do, spirits and their weird rules wasn't something he dealt with if he had a choice.

"...I didn't touch anything." He spoke quietly, and could barely be heard over the snowstorm.
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@The1Rolling1Boy @CrazyShadowy @SilentWriter83 @Gentlemanvaultboy @Rusalka

"You know, oil for lamps and cooking and soap for cleaning up and things like that. Its good to know there' places I can get that stuff." Ariel replied. "Miss Aravanth, you shouldn't touch that. You really should put that dow-,"

In the next moment Ariel was just gone. The very instant something had leaped out of the trees screaming amid a fluffy of snowflakes he had rolled backwards off the log, done a back handspring onto his feet, and dived between the half closed flaps of his tent into the darkness beyond with the speed and graceful precision born of a lifetime of avoiding whatever the world could throw at him. He hovered around the tent flaps, form barley visible, watching as the growing frost overtook and snuffed his campfire out. Suddenly he was lit up by a swarm of little glowing figures, tiny orange lights that began to fly rapidly in circles around the tent. A warm wind picked up, blowing the flaps wild as a sickly sweet smell began to fill the air as the localized windstorm spread out. It met the blizzard and halted the advance of the storm.

"Everyone in here!" He called frantically from the shelter. "Please! Don't breath that wind, it'll turn your heart to ice!"

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF THAT SPIRIT!"

Aravanth blinked, eyes on the owl that swooped down, a boy forming from its body just to snatch the bunny she had been holding. Her brows rose in some semblance of shock. She watched at the creature also formed into a human, the mermaid leaning back on her now freed hands. She seemed completely unaffected by the sudden storm, despite the snowflakes that danced around her, snuffing out the campfire. After all, snow and ice were just water, albeit in a different form, but still water. Her eyes filled with amusement as she stood, head turning to watch the boy tumble off into his tent, that sickly sweet scent filling the air once more.

"Boo, you scared my friend away," she sighed, eyes falling back on to the male, taller than herself, that held the bunny turned girl in his arms. Her hands fell on to curvaceous hips, looking up at the snow that fell from the heavens. Was she really supposed to be afraid of this? "You have quite a temper," she hummed before her attention turned back to the spirit. A bronze hand raised, collecting a few flakes in her hand, the soft white powder melting with the heat of her palm.

"Snow..is just frozen water," she hummed, free hand lazily circling over the puddle of water. It rose from her hand, collecting more flakes and growing bigger as more snow was added, melting back into water. "Are you done with your little magic trick? Your scaring my friends."
@The1Rolling1Boy

Shiro sets down Spirit and growls clenching his fists tighly walking towards the woman who dares talk back to him.

Spirit huffs and steps in between them and slaps her brother across the face and gives him a cold deep stare. "Shut the Fuck up Brother, and call off the act. I'm safe now. Honestly you and your stupid rules! I'm not a little kid anymore!" She says still staying at him

Shiro sighs and the storms slowly disappeared as faster has it came. he stared at the ground gently rubbing his cheek where his sister slapped him. "Meanie"

Spirit growls then turns around to the lady who picked her up, "I'm Spirit and that's my older brother Shiro. Don't mind him he is normally like this when it comes to non-spirits and when it comes to me and my twin brother. I'm in charge of Windy Hills and Shiro is in charge of this section of the map. Please forgive him for his childish actions" She bows gracefully waiting for her to respond

Shiro sighed and bowed as well with one hand on his cheek, slightly mad at Spirit for embarrassing him like that
@SilentWriter83

@SilentWriter83@The1Rolling1Boy

Claudia remained silent and stoic through the older brother's temper tantrum, finding it quite amusing. She chuckled pleasantly. It was so sweet the boy wanting to protect his adorable little sister Spirit, but my my did he have to put on such a show. The vampire smiled to him, a bit of a wince once his sister backhanded him across the face. Ouch.

~"My dear boy, that was quite impressive."~ Claudia hummed giving Shiro a soft grin, her fangs poking at her ruby lips. ~"But we mean no harm to your adorable little sister. Why she's just the cutest little thing in the world, she is~! It would be a travesty to harm such an innocent flower. Wouldn't you agree, my bronze beauty?"~ A tempting smile she issued to Avaranth before resuming.

~"And furthermore, Shiro honey, I wouldn't want to chide a charming, hotheaded fellow such as you, my dear. Winter is lovely, but the sun must shine once and again, if you catch my drift."~