Athest Euridiclyes's Story

Athest pulled up to the camp just as Nick was coming back from his run. The light gray, dirt spattered Jeep Wrangler came to a slow stop in the massive gravel lot at the edge of camp and Athest climbed out of the top with a bag of supplies to get them through the day. He picked up a small rock and winged it at his old bunk mate and now co-worker at the camp, Nick. It flew right past his ear and Athest hoped it would garner his attention. "Got some supplies for the day. Some energy drinks, monster of course," he said with a chuckle. It was a stupid attempt at humor but he still liked it. "Some of those power bars, coffee for the intro bonfire tonight in case we need it, a few extra pillows and of course your usual prank package." He knew that Nick would be the one who tried to lighten up the mood at camp with a few practical jokes, some of which might scare the pants off the campers. As the director he really shouldn't encourage this but seeing as how he had helped Nick with some of the more intricate ones in the past, he'd gotten hooked on them. No turning back now. "Anything else? Might have enough time to fly back down to that little lodge-store thing down the road."

Gabriel sat in the old beater, the tires moving roughly on the dirt and rock road. He leaned his head against the cold glass as his uncle Malcoroy sat beside him. Gabriel and Malcoroy looked nothing a like. Gabriel with his
snow white hair and luminous blue-grey eyes looked completely out of place next to the 5'6" man with short choppy black, brown eyes, and large rimmed glasses. Malcoroy being over weight and Gabriel being slightly underweight didn't quite help the fact either.

The old white junker pulled into the camp entrance, its tire's screeching as it pulled to a stop. Gabriel put his hand on the door to push it open, but noticed his uncle not moving. "What's wrong Malcoroy?" Gabriel asked, his tone even and cool.

Malcoroy looked up at his nephew for a moment, his bottom lip slightly shaking. Another thing that was different about them, Malcoroy was emotional, Gabriel wasn't. "I don't think you should go." Malcoroy responded.

"Aren't you the one who forced me to sign up?" Gabriel shot back, a by harshly. Malcoroy looked slightly shocked as Gabriel looked at his hands. "Sorry, I just didn't really want to go in the first place." His response was cool and easy as he checked the clock. He was early. He was always early to everything. Great.

"I know, I'm sorry. But you should go an get before I start to cry." Malcoroy chuckled but Gabriel knew his uncle wasn't joking as he stepped out of the car as his uncle popped open the trunk as Gabriel grabbed his suitcase and shut the trunk. Walking to the camp entrance he noticed two boys, maybe men, in the distance. Gabriel set his stuff in front of the entrance and made his way to them.

"Hey, uh, where do I go to check in?" He asked, scratching his white hair.

"Yeah looks like no major defects. Well besides the staff." He joked as he toted the bag towards the staff cabin. As they talked, several vehichles pulled into the gravel lot a few yards off. Each car dropped off it's passengers and pulled away again, some with drawn our good-byes, others with obvious haste, as if they couldn't get rid of their passengers fast enough. Handing the bag to Nick, Athest grinned. "Go start check in and toss the bag behind the desk. I'll start setting up the stage. Oh and send the new hire my way when she gets here? I want to meet her. Thanks bud." Patting his long-time friend on the back, Athest started towards the old, rickety stage to make sure that the beams stayed in place before the bonfire this year.

"Sorry, if you were expecting me to be a nerd about that stuff you're mistaken- I'm not really a 'correct terms' sort of girl." Luna said putting up finger quotations around 'correct terms' Misha kind of seemed like one of those anal smartass types- no offense to her- she seemed reallly nice and was hopefully going to be a friend at camp but that kind of threw Luna off a little bit. Misha seemed to know where she was going so she followed her to wherever the check-in was, wondering what the counselors were going to be like. Hopefully they were layed-back, Luna seemed to have a habit of being a rule breaker.

(ooc: Yup. I killed death. With an Anvil. Like the cartoons. :P)

Athest caught a girl in jeans rushing towards the meal hall and nearly clothes lined her as he tried to stop her. "Whoa whoa, what's the rush? Camp hasn't even started yet." With a grin, he looked her over. She was a pretty girl, albeit quite a bit shorter than he was. Then again, most people he encountered were. She probably was the same age as him, though in the last few years he'd been spending more time with his father's crowd. They'd heard about how Athest almost killed half of the campers when he came here at seventeen. Of course it had been an accident, the ring his father had given him to sabotage his human half had done just that, but since then it lie dormant on his finger, and everyone made it out alive so all was well in the world. "You're one of the new counselors huh?" The slightest smell of smoke brushed past his nostrils. Not the cedar smoke that he normally caught from his own breath, but a cleaner, oak or maybe pine smell. A fire elemental then?

"If I'm not mistaken, you're Adena, that Fire Elemental that we've heard so much about." With a grin he stuck out his hand, the single tooth in his top row that never wanted to change back from a fang more obvious than the afternoon sun as it hung a bit over his bottom row of teeth as it always had. "I'm Athest, the Director for the camp. Welcome aboard!" He pulled a few items from his pocket, a green bracelet that matched his and Nick's, and a wooden bead that matched one of the several he had on a leather cord around his neck.

"So basic info time, this is your staff bracelet," He said handing the bracelet to her. "It's the same thing as the campers'. It helps suppress your powers but since we're counselors it's toned down quite a bit seeing as how we've got that mostly under control. Really it's just to set an example for the kids. But yours only works with you, so don't get it mixed up with anyone's alright?" Next came the bead and a leather cord from his other pocket. "These are just for show, something me and Nick started a while back. You get a bead for each year you're here, whether camper or counselor," He tugged at his own that had several wooden beads of different colors and intricate engravings, as well as quite a few metal rings. "And the small rings are for activities we do at the camp. If you win the 'End of Season Capture the Flag' game, you get one, there's one for the people who jump in the ice cold lake at 6 A.M, just fun stuff like that."

The sun had started to dip below the mountains that ringed the camp and the sky turned a deep purple. "Looks like it's almost bonfire time. The staff cabin is right up the hill behind me. and if you'll excuse me for just a second," Athest pulled a bullhorn from his backpack and turned towards the mess hall. "Attention Camp Keystone staff and campers," His voice blared through the metal and plastic tube. "The welcoming ceremony and bonfire will start as soon as the sun goes down and everyone is required to be there to kick off the new year! See you in a little bit!" Tucking the megaphone back into his backpack, Athest smiled. "If you have any questions, Nick or I are happy to help. Feel free to drop your bags up at the staff cabin and we'll see you at the bonfire." With another grin, he turned towards the stage, his beads bouncing around on their leather necklace. This is going to be a fun year.

Aurae Draco

they had been flying for a day now looking at the sun Aurae guessed she was probably late for the camp opening "dammit Mum were going to be late" she roared at a 50 foot red dragon with a sleek yet powerful body. then looking to the largest dragon; her father who was covered in beautiful black scales that caught the light from the setting sun. making his obsidian scales look like they contained fire. "so beautiful" shaking her head she remembered her father for what he really was a 0 foot black dragon capable of killing an elephant with one swipe of his sharp claws. "well its not my fault that that bear decided to steal from my game now is it" spoke the red dragon.

Aurae knew how possessive her mother was with her food, she didn't even let her own mate take anything from her kill.Hell her mother was the sign of beauty and ladylikeness but get on her bad side, well just don't get on her bad side, even her father fears his mate when she is angry.

she did quite like the fact that she was going to this Camp Keystone "I still don't understand why I have to go " she mutered under her breath. Aurae realized she had spoken out loud and hoped her father didn't hear her or she was in for another hour of "its good to mingle with other kinds dear" lecture. but of course things weren't in her favor to day was it for her father heard what she said and started up his lecture again. "damn his acute sense of hearing.

after an hour of his lecturing they swooped in low and stayed level with the treetops. Aurae brought her arm a bit and let her claws graze the top most branches of the trees; slicing them as her claws passed over them. smiling wide, Aurae brought her wings up and she shot up, flying as fast as she could. as she reached a good height Aurae dived back down towards the awaiting earth. "this is what flying really means; being free". the distance between her and a very painful crash was drawing to a close and at the last moment spread her wings wide open catching the wind and her entire 30 foot body jerked to a stop.

"are you done dear we should be there in a couple of minutes" her father stated. "hmmp fine then I'll stop for now" she said with a hint of rebellion in her voice. she started to glide and soon the treetops opened up into a large campus with a bunch of building sprinkled in just the right way. her father led them to a large building which she guessed was where they would drop her off. they circled for a moment in the parking lot then descended. her wings beat up a dust cloud that was enlarged even more by her parents wings.

settling onto the hard ground lightly and looked around. there seemed to already be people here and she watched as a car sped off into the distance. her father sat down on his haunches as did her mother and her father looked about with a slight smirk on his face when the little people scurried about, proabaly at the sight of 3 intimidating dragons landing in their parking lot. Aurae spotted a unicorn and saw it with great clarity as well as two small people sitting in the grass thanks to her dragon sight. her father then spoke in a rather loud booming voice "who is the camp director, are you not going to greet your guests?" he said with a hint of disapproval. 'show off' she heard her mother whisper to her. but Aurae didn't think so it was dragon etiquette to greet guests I one didn't it was considered rude. and even ruder to transform into their humanoid forms without being greeted.

"Geez, can't get a damn break today." Athest muttered following the loud thuds and bokming voices of the dragons that had so nearly flattened his campers. Spinning on his heels, Athest greeted Aurae and her family with a wide, but genuine smile. "That would be me. Athest Euridiclyes, camp director and heir to more than one empire." As he spoke, Athest began to grow, his fingers extending into talons and wings tering through the back of his addmitedly worn out shirt. After about two minutes, Athest was fully grown to his dragon form, only a bit smaller than Aurae's father. "I take it that you're mister Draco, which would imply that the youngling here is Aurae correct?"

"It's not something you need to worry about." Athest replied to Draco as he double checked that he hadn't crushed any of his campers. "To be perfectly honest, you're much more polite than my father's clutch about it." Finally, Athest's scales took on their rightful tint, which in the evening light all seemed a deep orange. In actuality however, the scales were a combination of ebony with ivory spots (or maybe ivory with ebony spots, even he was unsure about that one) that formed a sort of camouflage pattern on his hide. The scales themselves were ridiculously polished however and reflected almost as well as a mirror. "I can tell though, that you're not used to dealing with Lamias. It's alright, we're rare nowadays." The malcontent is plastered all over his face a quip of a conversation he'd overheard from his father played in his head. "Aurae," He said turning to the young dragon. "If you'd like, the whole valley and most of the mountains around it are all hidden from the outside world. Feel free to do some roaming. Just be back at the stage at sundown. Draco, you and Twilen are more than welcome to stay for the bonfire tonight if you wish. It's up to you, but I need to go find the rest of my staff." Athest said, slowly reverting back to his human form.

Avery raised his eyebrows before averting his eyes when the girl first appeared with less clothing than would be desired. My, that was embarrassing. Not a good way to start summer camp at all. When she returned with the proper attire, he, like the unicorn, watched the exchange between the camp director and the dragons, feeling incredibly small at this point. Even smaller than usual, that is.
He gave the unicorn a smile at her request. "Not to worry, I'll go see him," He agreed, but didn't make a move until the camp director had reverted to his human form. Much less intimidating this way.
He made his way over, a little weary of getting too close to the dragons still being there. He tapped lightly on the director's arm, unable to even fathom reaching for his shoulder. Man, he was tall, even if Avery was the size of a normal person.
"Sorry, but I just got here and a Miss Leena sent me over to tell you that she needed a bracelet," he said brightly.

Aurae Draco

listening to the two talk Aurae was glad her father didn't upset the young dragon. 'he is quite handsome too I've never seen a dragons hide that color its pretty' Aurae shook her head realizing she had been staring nodding her head at what Athest said she watched him as he reverted back to his human form. "that is a very nice offer Athest but me and my mate must go, normaly we would have let Aurae come here on her but Twilen insisted that we see her off." Twilen nodding agreement began to prepare to depart and looked back at Aurae "you be good deal make some friends and don't "accidentally" eat any one alright" she joked giving her a wink.

Aurae gaped at her mother for saying that 'it was an accident I swear' Aurae began to reminisce about her past. when she was on her third molt she got extremely mood and aggressive as most dragons do and at that time she had a human friend who gave away her secret of being a dragon. which angered her very much and she ate her human friend. therefore she and her family had to leave before they were all found out.

Aurae still regretted doing that and besides its been 4 years since then and she hasn't eaten a human once. 'they probably taste disgusting now anyway'. the sound of wings beating the air brought her back and she saw her parents lift up into the air and soon they were mere specks in the sky. looking back at Athest "so what do you propose I do now?".

As Adena rushed into the hall, she was stopped by a guy who towered over her. He was much taller than the average person and had a muscular build. He was older than the average camper and seemed to be about her age so she deduced that he was one of the staff. "Whoa whoa, what's the rush? Camp hasn't even started yet." He said to her. The moments she heard those few words, she relaxed and let out a sigh of relief. "It's a good thing camp hasn't started. I won't want to miss anything interesting," She mused.

"If I'm not mistaken, you're Adena, that Fire Elemental that we've heard so much about." His words broke her from her thoughts. How did he know who she was when they had just met a few moments ago? She glanced at the hand he offered and reached out to shake it. "Yes, I'm Adena," She smiled as she noticed the fang that stood out against all the other teeth. Whatever questions she had about him were answered the moment he introduced himself as the Camp Director. She had heard a lot about him, both positive and negative, although she decided not to believe those stories until she heard them from the man himself. From what she knew, he was a half dragon.

She slipped the bracelet he handed her onto her right wrist, since her watch was on the left. She was glad that the bracelet existed, since she wouldn't want to lose control and end up hurting others although such episodes are extremely rare and only happens when she is very angry. She took the leather cord and strung the bead before tying it around her neck. She shuddered at the thought of jumping into the ice cold lake at 6 A.M. Now that would be one ring that she would probably never earn since she had hoped she'd never have to enter any water bodies after her swimming lessons back when she was much younger.

"If you have any questions, Nick or I are happy to help. Feel free to drop your bags up at the staff cabin and we'll see you at the bonfire." He said to her. "Sure, thanks for filling me in. I'll see you later," She said before remembering that in her hurry, she left her bags in her car. She sighed and headed towards the car park to retrieve her bags before heading over to the staff cabin.

Well, this turned into a waste of time, Avery realized, seeing another man(presumably a counselor) taking care of Leena's problem, and talking with a few others. May as well remove himself from the dragon-y group. The mother joking about her daughter accidentally eating someone really did nothing to inspire confidence.
"Well, never mind. That's been taken care of," Avery hummed. "Sorry to interrupt, then, director person. I'll just go." He slipped away quickly. He found his way over to the small group just in time to hear a disgusted "What the hell is that thing?" from a taller boy. Considering the object he held so much dislike for was a red bracelet that he'd already seen several people wearing, well, that was a disconcerting question.

Aurae

‘eh duh silly me what kind of question is that’ mentally face palming herself Aurae willed her body to change. She began to shift and soon her white scales and horns were soon replaced by tanned skin and ragged white hair threaded with countless beads and feathers and only standing 6’2.her blue and green eyes now a duller color than before but still quite shocking. She had a large tattoo of a dragon curling around most her body and there were two more on her back where her wings would have been. She wore a light purple tube top and beige low waist cargo pants and sneakers. ‘Wait purple I thought I was wearing blue’ scowling at herself for her forgetfulness she looked about her surroundings.
Aurae never really felt like her when in this form since it always dulled her dragon senses greatly but it was bearable enough. She spotted the unicorn and gasped just as she transformed after another young man put something on its hoof who turned out to be a small woman with blonde hair. How did she do that I thought unicorns didn’t have a human form.
Curious now she walked over to them and pointed to what was in the man’s hands “what is that and how did you that?” looking back at him.

(ooc: sorry guys was at the gym. Time to start with the best part!)

Athest grinned at the camper, and turned to find Nick taking care of the other staff member. "Well Aurae, I suppose you could follow me if that's what you want. I know for a fact you'll be in my cabin, the similarities and all. Plus I get to pick cabins for everyone anyways." He said chuckling. "Oh but before I forget, here." Athest rummaged through his bag and pulled out a cigar box, filled with red leather and cloth bracelets. Thumbing through them for a minute or so, he finally pulled out one that had 'Aurae' etched into the cord with a triumphant look on his face. "Here, you need to wear this at all times here at the camp. But you might want to wait for a bit, because it does change you into a human and I know my shirts never survive that change in one piece." He said pointing to the two massive holes in the back of his shirt. The cloth was nearly falling off his frame at this point. "Time to start the festivities I think." Athest said, replacing the cigar box with his megaphone once more. A short screech preempted his announcement. "Attention Camp Keystone! Everyone is required to be up at the stage in the commons in five minutes! If you have trouble finding it, look for the camp director or crowd and follow them! If you have yet to check in, Nicholas, the camp coach, will be able to set you up with your bracelets at the stage and you'll get your cabin numbers there! See you in a few!" With an audible click, the megaphone shut off and he turned back to Aurae. "Shall we?" He asked with an obviously joking, deep bow. With a grin he started toward the stage, knowing he'd meet Nick there.

Aurae Draco

oh she smiled at the woman who called herself Lenna Mei. "oh im Aurae.' so thats what they were for.she llooked for the man who had them but he was gone and walked back to Athest who gave her a bracelet and a necklace saying something about his shirt. she smiled alittle and cringed when Athest megaphone clicked and announced the start kf the bonefire. Aurae was somwhat relieved when he told her he was her cabin counselor but also a bit worried about how he would freat her after her fathers lttle performance. she givgled a bit when he bowed invinting her to walk with him to the stage and he headed off with her close behind.

(OOC:sorry bout that Echo and Beach had to kinda multitask a bit thereXD but i managed)

Avery had begun wandering away when the announcement was made. He winced slightly at the megaphone's initial shriek, but still listened in. So the first camp meeting was upon them, cabins would probably be divvied out, and who knows what else. But there wasn't much else to do, he didn't really know anyone's names, so he set his course for the stage area.