Shimmerscale's Story

((Everyone, your savior has arrived! :) ))
Vyjallen twisted the silver bracelet on her wrist. She had only asked Adionna about jewelry to test her position with her, but as she played with the bracelets Adionna had given her as an apology gift, she couldn't help yearning to know how to make something like this. Honestly, Vyjallen didn't really care about staying in this room now. It was quite nice, and reminded her of her old Dynastinae nest, all dark brown colors. She made up her mind. While she was here, which would be a long time, probably forever (a fact she had sadly accepted, unless she could convince the tribe to try to stop the pronghorn's plan, which wasn't likely) she might as well make something of it. "I'll go find Adionna tomorrow," she thought. "I'll tell her I want to make jewelry." After her mind was freed of that indecision, it was able to go back to thoughts she had been trying to avoid: the pronghorn's plan. While she didn't like the Dynastinae any more than the pronghorns, she squirmed at the thought that her entire species could be enslaved. Up until now, the Dynastinae had always sat at the back of her thoughts, a safe place she could go if she was in trouble. But now what? Vyjallen didn't want the beetles to be enslaved AT ALL. She sighed. "I guess I'm not being realistic," she thought as she curled up on the bed. "What's one girl going to do about it? The tribe won't help me."


Shimmerscale: ((I know, you're probably saying whaaa? who's dat? but she does exsist i've just never used her.))
I turn to Blackwing and roll my eyes. Our squadron leader, Oak's-song, means well, but everyone talks about her waving arms and fake smiles behind her back. Blackwing, surprisingly, doesn't laugh like usual, but insted turns his head and makes a "shush" finger. Annoyed, I turn back to Oak's-song. She is passing out papers labeled, non-suspiciously, "the secret plan". It is in our squadron's very detailed secret code, but still. I skim the paper, most of which is taken up by the squad logo, motto, and other accessories. My eyes gravitate to a sentence at the bottom, however, that makes me forget these annoyances. I can barely make out Oak's-song's sloppy scrawl, but I get the idea. I do a little dance in place. Blackwing nudges me. "What?" he whispers. I show him the paper. It says,"Some Crocs are leaving on a journey very soon. Our squad is going to keep tabs on them. We have chosen a select few to stake out and watch them. Those are-," My name and his are both on there. His eyes light up. "Yes!" he whisper-yells. "Finally something! A real mission!"

Shimmerscale:
Blackwing and I left for the Croc's journey a few days ago. I have become used to my feet aching. I long to swim, but of course that's too dangerous on Croc territory. I think we made good time, though. Some other spies from our squadron, Suntail and Shadyridge ((mwa ha ha)) told us a small band of Crocs, including 2 males and 1 female. "Look!" Blackwing cries now. Silver-ringlet follows his gaze. There, in front of us, is the Ridge. It is basically a cliff drop-off, signaling the end of Croc territory and the beginning of Zhu-cran. Silver-ringlet woops. I scream in joy and do a somersault. Blackwing looks at us with superior amusement, but then again, he's been on a real mission before. We haven't. But his face breaks into a grin when he sees us doing the happy dance we invented when we were spawns. "We'll have an easier time tracking them through Zhu-cran," he says. "There are less hostile people there, and it isn't really anyone's territory. They probably won't drive us off." I nod, then peer down the cliff-face. "How will we get down?" I worry aloud. Blackwing smiles mysteriously. "You'll see!"
He leads us to a small pond at the edge of the cliff-face, leading into an almost vertical rapid. "Silver-ringlet jumps in, the water splashing me. It feels so refreshing on my sun-dried scales. I step in, gingerly. The water is cold, but I'm too dried up to care. Blackwing gets in and pushes his way to the front. "Just swim down," he says. To prove his point, he hurls himself into the spray. Silver-ringlet and I watch anxiously as he pummels down, then is lost in the foam. When I see him again he stands up and shouts," It's fun! Promise!" Silver-ringlet looks at me. "You go first."
"Why should I go first?" I protest.
"He's YOUR boyfriend,"she says, giving me a shove to the edge of the pool.
"Then," I reason, "I don't need to impress him."
In the end we agree to go at the same time. I open my eyes halfway down and am struck by the amazing view. What seemed scary once is just fun now. I scream. Silver-ringlet screams back. We land at the bottom, and Blackwing lifts me up out of the water and kisses me. "Ugh," Silver-ringlet says giving Blackwing a shove. "Get a room."
Blackwing grins. He nods to the incredibly attractive herring standing on the lake shore. "That's our escort. Why don't you go introduce yourself to him?" He puts me down to give her a shove in his direction. "Hey!" she yells, loud enough for him to hear. He glances up and Silver-ringlet clamps a hand over her mouth, blushing.
"I knew he was your type," he says.
Silver-ringlet glances at me. "How do you stand this guy?" she asks. Blackwing sticks his tounge out at her. I chuckle, even the boy who always pretends to be superior to every one has a silly side, I guess.
((My longest post yet! Yay me!))

((Sorry all, roleplay gateway was acting weird)
Aca:
I walk out the door while it's still dark. My pack is on my shoulder with my not so carefully folded dress (made of my baby scales, which were kind-of reddish) and heeled boots. I hate the dress. It was fine with sleeves, but my little sister Marlie decided that it wasn't "girly enough" and my mom got rid of the sleeves. Now I have to rely on being a girl to wear the dress. Oh well. I am dressed in a t-shirt and jeans now. I run down to the river and hop in. I begin to swim almost immediately. I reach the meeting point a few minutes early and I take a deep breath. I'm going to see Marqun again. I need to seem calm, reserved....never mind. This fascination with boys is insane! I never cared before, what makes now so different? It didn't matter before, but now it does. I suppose it's "growing up". "Stupid hormones," I mutter, then look around. I hope no one heard me. I look and I see a flash of red on a ridge. Is it a herring? Yes it is. I consider attacking, but why? They could just be bathing or swimming for fun. I quickly flash them a message in the secret herring language. If they are a spy they would understand I said "I'm watching you." If not, they'd just see my fingers wagging, which is all the language looks like to the untrained eye. I am quite skilled in the language because my fingers are nimble. Most crocs-and other animals for that matter- haven't got a hope. Marqun and Michael have arrived and we exchange glances. I say "Red herring, left ridge" and they nod. If we are aware, we won't divulge anything important. Not that we do anyway, but still. We keep swimming until we reach a waterfall out of croc territory where noise is easily concealed. It means we can't be heard, but it also means we can't hear others. Oh well, every great strategy has a weakness, and that is our current one. Lesson number one of my gang: Weakness and fear are illusions. Never have the same weakness or fear twice, lest they become reality. That is our law, that is out gang, that is our life. No mistakes, no words, only survival. Sometimes I wonder if I wouldn't rather be a herring.
((P.S. I got the language from a book. The nation that has a major industry of spying has a secret finger language, that only a few out of the country know. Shh.......))

((Beautiful plot twist!!! :D :) :D ))
Shimmerscale:
We are now in the forest. We herrings are not used to travel with no stream around us, and we have to be careful not to make a sound. We walk on in silence, alert for every sound. By about mid-day we reach a clearing. There is a pool there, making it the obvious place to set up camp, but there are also charred sticks and a fire circle, not quite scattered. There are a few Croc footprints. This is good but also bad. We are on the right track yet we may be too close. I call Black-wing and Silver-ringlet over. The guide hangs behind, clearly unsure whether he is invited.
"I think we should set up camp here.It seems to be a good place, and if we go farther and can't find another pool we won't be able to do our prayers to Aquibu ((god of water)). Black-wing nods. "You have a point, but what about all these signs that Crocs have been here? I want you guys to go and look for more evidence, good or bad." He turns toward the forest. "I'll start making a shelter."
I follow Silver-ringlet as we go to the edge of the clearing. We look at all the trees and search the ground for anything that says the Crocs are still using the area. We split up and I am on the opposite side of the clearing from which we came when I see a name carved into a tree. Looking closer, it says:
Blue-glow
Michael
~SAFE~
I stare at it. "YES!" I shout. Blackwing runs over, a bundle of sticks in one hand. "What is it?"
"I point to the tree. "Look! Blue-glow was here! They must've moved on. Come on, let's get Silver-ringlet and we'll help you with the shelter." We run over o where Silver-ringlet is. She is on her knees, pawing through the grass for clues. We tell her about the sign and she jumps up. "Great! I was looking all over, all I found was this."
She holds up a piece of a Cicada wing. Blackwing pales. "Oh yes," he says. "The cicadas!" I laugh nervously. "Don't worry Blackwing, they want to invade the forest. They allack major camps. They won't be concerned with us."
I swallow. I hope I'm right.

(bet none of u saw Michael's specialness coming!)
Marqun:
I have been fading in and out of consciousness all day. My leg is stiff and achy but that is good. It means I haven't lost it. I hear a voice calling out, one that makes my pace quicken. Aca is saying "He's awake!" my eyes open and I see he face peering down at me anxiously. "Marqun, are you ok?" I open my mouth and try to speak but my throat is too dry. Ace looks around and says in a commanding voice "Water." That is the voice I use when I'm in charge. In seconds a glass of water is brought to my lips and I drink greedily. Then I sit up. Aca smiles. "Thank God your awake!" she says and I smile. Crocs have no religion, so we use religious phrases loosely. Aca looks at me and says "While you were asleep I took over all your duties. You have no ide how weird it was. If you hadn't woken up I would have had to replace you in the meeting which I wouldn't have liked at all. Do you know how annoying it is to have to answer the same question 12 times a day? I keep telling people 'NO! You really DO need to pick up after yourselves, we do NOT need more trash around here!'" She laughs a short laugh and then say, "You're in charge? But I thought Michael..." I trail off when I see her face.
"Yeah, Michael is dead. But don't feel too bad. He was a herring." She sneered.
"Michael, a spy?" I feel anger rising.
"Yes, and the worst thing is we don't know his name. However, we know he was reporting to some people tailing us."
"How do you know that?"
Aca smiled "Because we caught them"
(Placevalue, if u don't like that I can change it)

((Hey, placevalue here, Avnix is my brother and he is new to rping, so cut him some slack. Also he hasn't read any of our posts so he doesn't know what is going on.))

Shimmerscale:
We are trekking through the woods. Silver-ringlet is the first one to hear the voices of Crocs, raised in battle. With horror I realize we must've been walking straight to Zhucran's border, instead of along it. Black-wing whirls around and for once the silly expression is gone from his face. "Get DOWN!" he hisses. Silver-ringlet and I obey, crouching in the leaves. Blackwing tries to peer through the trees from his current position to see what is going on, but finding it impossible, he creeps closer. My heart constricts in my chest. He could get us all caught! But there is no way to call out to him over the din of battle without revealing that we are here.
He is dangerously close to the edge of the trees now. He turns around and gives us some signs in the sign language all herring spies know. "They are fighting and have guns."
I start to sign back but he turns his back on us to resume watching. We hear a long cry -it sounds like a herring!- I think, and then Croc voices, loud and outraged. The battle seems to be over and they are within meters of our hiding spot!
One of the Crocs flings a metal lid aside and it his Blackwing's foot. Silverringlet and I cringe in unison as Blackwing shouts very loudly in the sudden silence,"Shit!"
The Crocs come trampling in the forest in a wave. One of them grabs me and I bite their arm, but their grip only tightens. They carry us into the battle-torn clearing. It is Zhucran's main area, I know that from spy training. "Let me GO!" I shout, but my cry is ignored.

((Wow, I really can't decide whether I want to use past or present tense, you can tell in my writing.))
Ah-quaz:
I hear loud yelling. I get up from the bed I was sleeping in.
"Ah-quaz! Wake up! WAKE UP!" Ah-de yells while shaking me.
"W-What?" I wonder
"Your sister sent a herring with a letter it reads:
Dear Ah-quaz and Ah-de,
I will be going to the pronghorn nation. There seems to be some tension there, please go to Zhucran, quick! Fly if you have to, just go! Bring as many members of the army as you can, a map will be provided to tell you where it is. Please don't be afraid to fight, Ah-de will make sure to provide you with weapons and a bit of training. There will be crocs there, make sure they aren't hostile first. Please be careful.
Best,
Zoozoo-um

"We have to go, now! No time to say goodbye to everyone."
Ah-de grabs my arm and runs outside. Ariannona seems to have left with Vjallen, maybe it's best she didn't come with us. We run for a long time, flying for part of it, and walking for another part. Once I reach the mesa I realize that I am finally home. I fly onto the mesa and into the treehouse. Ah-de quickly grabs many sharp weapons, food, money and medicine.
"Come on" Ah-de wasn't his usual self, he seemed more serious that I would ever expect.
I dropped down from the treehouse and Ah-de reached a large group of army members that were training.
"I need a minimum of fifty leave minimum of one hundred." Ah-de's words seemed like gibberish to me, but they seemed to understand perfectly. A huge group of army members began following us and we rushed to Zhucran. Zhucran was over a mountain, through a forest. When I saw a extremely developed city with guards patrolling it, I knew this was Zhucran. Suddenly I noticed crocs entering in huge amounts. It is cruel, the crocs were capturing a group of herrings with no remorse at all. The army was at the border of Zhucran, fully prepared for a battle and possibly outnumbering the crocs while I was scared with only Ah-de to hold onto. How could I even defend myself?

Aca:
I herrings are responsible for spying on us. They are responsible for the meeting and they are responsible for our dead. If we capture a few and wring some answers out of them, what's the harm? My cousin Shunan was killed. THEY DESERVE DEATH. But will we give it to them? No we will "Question them," and "Give them chances to defend themselves." I could care less. I want justice, I want them to pay, I want...I realize I am crying. I just got back from the meeting and I fling myself on the bed. Everyone was dressed up like it was just a normal meeting. Like 45 crocs did not just die. And now the herrings have called the peacocks. And what will we do? We will EXPLAIN nicely and without anger what the situation is. I want to wring that skinny little herring's neck and take out a few peacocks for good measure. If I went out fighting It wouldn't matter. My cousin would be avenged. His wife and his children would be avenged. All of them died together and I am supposed to keep calm. Marqun tried to calm me down and when he did I punched him squarely in the jar. When someone tried to sedate me I took them out too. Try to tell ME to calm down. They can go to Lamon (croc hell) for all I care! Shunan should not have died, and those herrings risked one of their own people for this mission. The cold-blooded monsters. I put on jeans a t-shirt and my converse and march right into the area where Shimmerscale is being held. No one stops me because of the murderous expression on my face. I storm in and slam the door behind me. "How dare you?" I yell tears streaming down my face. "My cousin is dead because of you! How can you live with yourself?"
((Can not go further without Shimmerscale. You may have me say what you want as long as you keep it within her character))

((Kay cool))
I blanch. I'm the one tied up and she expects me to say sorry for all the crocs that have died because of herrings?! Not even me, just herrings in general. I spit in her face. What can she do? Amend that. What can she do that won't be done to me anyway?
She punches me, hard in the jaw. She has obviously practiced fighting and I almost black out. I can't let her see how much I am affected though. I put on a sneer. "How am I supposed to control my fellow herrings?" I leer. "Guess what. My boyfriend was killed by crocs. You apologize for that!"
"That wasn't me, idiot," she spits. "Yeah, and I didn't kill your cousin. We are AT WAR. THERE WILL BE CASUALTIES."
I break off, sobbing. I just called Blackwing a "casualty"! What is wrong with me? She, seeing how much I am hurting, lowers her hand. I try to bring back the tough face, but I can't through my tears. I feel exposed though all I've done is cry, I feel as if I just tore down a barrier. I'm still now ready to accept this croc demanding I feel guilt. As if I don't already!
"Why don't you just kill me then?" I ask through my tears.
Her eyes darken. "I wish I could, believe me." She stalks off.
((Sorry for short post, I'm too lazy to write more.))

((Lol, sure.))
Shimmerscale:
The croc is coming back, but she doesn't look so angry this time. She stands by where I am tied up and fishes for something to say. I decide to break the silence. "Look, I'm really sorry about earlier. I guess we got off on the wrong foot, well the worse foot, we were never going to be best friends, seeing that I am sort of your enemy-" I break off, realizing I am rambling. I turn my attention to shifting my weight so the ropes don't dig into my arms.
"Hey, um, it's fine," she says awkwardly. I can tell that she doesn't want to apologize. But that's fine, I guess. We are enemies after all.
"Do you know where we are?" She asks. I pause. I'm not sure whether it would be best to answer this truthfully. Would they think that I know too much. I remember Blackwing telling me,"The best lies have some truth to them." We were at the spy training camp, and I was about to be assigned a squadron. Blackwing was telling me everything he had learned so far in the squadron. I had been trying to remember everything he said, but I think most of it went through my head. Except that one peice of advice. I had been fascinated by it. Or maybe by him- he had leaned in extra close to me, whispering that in my ear. Either way, it stuck.
"Um, we are in the unnamed forest right?"
Best to pretend I have no idea what Zhucran is. "Have you heard any rumors of why the crocs are here?"
Somehow I know I won't be able to lie my way out of this one. I decide to change the subject.
"Are you sure Blackwing is dead?"
((Sorry for short post but I need your character. By the way, he is not, he is just been captured as a slave.))

((Ok, I'll...be evasive with that last question, lol))

Aca:
Shimmerscale is being evasive. I know she knows the truth. I saw her by the waterfall that one day. Then she asks me about her boyfriend, and my heart drops. Revealing that would make me a traitor, so I say "He is not in our custody." I stress the word our hoping she'll get the hint. The pronghorns found him and well...he's a slave. But I can't tell her that. Shimmerscale bursts into tears but I can tell she's acting. I saw her eyes widen with a shocked calculating look. She understood. I pat her back awkwardly, then sit down.
"Look, sorry about earlier." I bite my lip. That was harder than it should have been, but crocs have a hard time admitting they're wrong.
"it's fine," she says. "You had a good reason."
"Why were you spying on us?"
"We were working for the pronghorns and peacocks. The Pronghorns betrayed us and have captured many."
I don't know what to say to her.
((I don't know what to say to her))

((Um the croc hibrydes don't have tails, they'd just get in the way, so somewhere along evolution they lost them. Read character descriptions.)
Aca:
The place was filled with an expectant atmosphere. I could see many different peacocks on our territory. OUR TERRITORY! I know they "come in peace" but I swear to God (I laugh inwardly at this) that if anyone else is hurt I will rip off the responsible peacock's feathers, one by one. I want Shimmerscale to go free, so I don't like our requirements. Marqun and the leader will lead these peace talks. Marqun because he has earned respect from the others for what he had 2 do with Michael. Or Blueglow. Whichever. "Hi and proud Ome," said Marqun, "we understand your alliance with these herrings, but they have passed on some very secret conversations to you. You must understand that what they have done is a capitol offense here and the punishment is death." Marqun sat down. The Ome looked annoyed.
"I understand how you feel. If we were to destroy all record perhaps-"
"Ah...but memory lives on." Interjected the leader, "You could easily read through all reports and memorize them before burning. Besides, how can we trust that you will even destroy the papers? How can we trust that you will keep your word?"
The Ome looked outraged "How dare you suggest-" he began, but I stood up completely out of line.
"Ome, sir, I'm sorry, but they are paying for a capitol offense. While no one here is saying YOU can't be trusted, there are others who might not. For example, the beetle stealer that many claim is among your numbers. Not to mention that tensions between the tribes have always been high. The world in which we live in is a dangerous place, and we can't trust each other. While it pains my heart to say so, I think that if we were to set them free they would just come back and spy again. SO what if we set them free with the deal that if they ever return, they die." I sat down, thinking I had made a good argument. Now I had to wait for what the peacocks would say.
(your move)

((Placevalue, look at what I posted on starlight academy and on welcome to the black. I need you input in welcome to the black. And please don't run away yet.))
Aca:
What I am doing is treachery. I will probably be killed if they find out. Not that it's top-secret information, but because fraternizing with the enemy is bad. I walk into the Shimmerscale's cell. She looks up at me.
"You're free. But you can never come back lest you be executed." I say, my eyes shining with tears. Shimmerscale jumps up from her seat and hugs me. We cling to each other. Then I say, "You need to know," I say, "Blackwing is with the pronghorns. At first he was a slave, but I now know, he's being tortured. A pronghorn emissary came and mentioned it in passing. You have to go soon!"
Shimmercale looks at me in surprise. "Why?"
"They want secrets about us. They want to enslave crocs and so they're searching for our weak spots. They want domination. We HAVE to stop them. Which is why," I take a deep breath, "I want to come with you."
Shimmerscale's mouth drops open. "WHAT?" she exclaims, "No way, you have no experience!"
"I small for a croc. I'm a fast runner. I have an extensive knowledge of the secret language, and I've got a good reason to be in pronghorn territory. After all, we're allies."
Her mouth opens and closes like a fish. Finally she says, "Fine," in a snappish tone. I knew I'd won.
"You're free tomorrow. I'll pack some small clothes for you. I'd say a child's size...10?" I tease. Shimmerscale sticks out her tongue, and I leave.

[img]file:///Users/Student/Desktop/Lord-of-the-Rings-Doll-Divine.jpeg[/img]

more characters, still can't think of how to end post. (sigh....)

Heh heh. Um, I don't know what was up with that, but these are Starheart, Shimmerscale, Christiana, and Moonbreeze (right to left) Anyway, Placevalue, you get to post from you point of view, since i was controlling your character, and I can't (don't feel like?) concentrating on it long enough to come up with a suitable ending to a post that is entirely too long anyway. So, your turn.

Aca:
Leaving was hard. Marqun came to me when he suspected. I told him why I had to go. He warned next time we met we'd be enemies, but I could accept that. It's kind of sad when you think about it. He has lost both of his companions here. Our group will look weak. But I couldn't stay. I couldn't keep hanging around a place that was in negotiation with the Pronghorns...with slave holders. I can't support suffering...I can't support this evil. When I told Marqun that, he simply smiled.
"I Wondered when you'd say that" He says smiling sadly.
"What do you mean? You were expecting me to leave?" I ask in confusion. Not that I'll admit it, but that stung. He obviously thinks I'm to weak for the group. Right?
"I mean you've always been one of the kindest, most gentle people I've known, except for on the battlefield. There you are at peace and willing to hurt. But the moment you leave the fight, you look at the bodies and feel guilt. You feel cold and cruel. It doesn't matter who the enemy is, you hurt. Don't even try to deny it," He added. seeing I was going to protest. "I can see it in you face."
I sigh. "So I am weak?" I ask, my voice overly controlled, myself determined not to let any hurt show. Marqun looks exasperated.
"No!" He says frustrated, "It's a strength. That's why you're our best tactition! You once told me that when you try to look at how to bring down an enemy, you imagine you are the enemy. And in the moment you understand them, in that moment you learn how to completely tear them apart, you love them as you love yourself. That is not weakness, that is strength, and that is why you are leaving. You are strong enough to be able to see it from the slaves' points of views, you are brave enough to."
I look up at him, wanting to cry, but suddenly he leans down and kisses me. I am shocked for a moment, but then I kiss him back. I feel warmth rushing through my body and I realize I am happy. I am truly happy to be leaving, happy to be kissing Marqun. Happy to know he feels the same way. When the kiss finally breaks off, Marqun says "And that is why I love you, and that strength that I love is why you must leave. You must go and do everything in you power to do what you think is right or else you wouldn't be the Acaralea I love." As he finishes I lean up and kiss him again, and then I say,
"I love you too Marqun. Goodbye."
He smiles at me and nods, and I leave to find Shimmerscale.
Shim and I are heading up a hill together. I let her get a bit ahead as I turn around to see our city. I smile and say quietly, "Farewell Marqun." as a single tear falls down my face. Then I grab my bag and turn around, ready to face a new adventure.

Christiana:
War was coming. I could taste in the air, smell it on the wind. My fellow crocs worked endlessly to try and create goods that would be useful. When gang members came to us, asking for glass spears...well...we went to work. I stayed up late into the night, sketching deadly blades of glass, with steel reinforcement worked in so that it would cut deep into flesh. I was always tired, but I could care less. The work was exhilarating and the grim looks on the faces of those preparing to fight filled me with a yearning I hadn't ever felt before. I wanted to fight...my body was coursing with adrenaline...and I felt great. But I'm not a fighter, I'm a worker, and I kept working, satisfying myself with imagining I could use my weapons.

When the news comes the gangs are recruiting, I feel a yearning to sign up, but I know I can't join any of them. I don't belong.

It's late Summer/Early Fall when she first comes to the shop while I'm the only one working. She and her companion. They are both Masquerading as gang members, but I can see only one of them is. The other is not only NOT a fighter, but she is also NOT a croc. I stare at the one who is not a croc. Then, she shrugs off her disguise, and I see she's a herring. I should alert people, but I can't. She is beautiful. Her shimmering dark brown and black scales, her dark eyes, her long, wavy red hair...

It's wrong of me to be attracted to someone of another species. Especially when I have a boyfriend...but this girl...this girl makes my heart beat faster.

Her companion comes forward and I see she is also beautiful...but My eyes stay on the herring. The Croc leans forward. "I am Acaralea and this is Shimmerscale. And we," she glances at the herring -Shimmerscale- before continuing, "Need someone to help us make these." She spreads out a blueprint and my breath catches in my throat. I look up before nodding the affirmative.
"I'll help." I say.
((OOOOOHHHHHH!!!!!!! Cliffy!!! Hey Placevalue, do you mind the whole Christiana/Shimmerscale thing? It wasn't my plan...it just flowed out. Let me know ASAP please!!!! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

((I approve of Shimmeriana/Criscale! I'm thinking of ship names for Vyjaxmen/Zoozoo-um...Vyjax-um? Zoozoo-xmen?))
Vyjallen narrowed her eyes at Zoozoo-um, trying to figure out what she saw in Vyjaxmen. He had been irresponsible and hot-headed, not to mention drunk, throughout most of their journey, but she supposed maybe he had changed a bit. I don't actually know him that well, she realized.
Something tapped her on the shoulder and tensed, her hand flying for her knife. Turning around, she saw the familiar orange-ish white fur of Arrianonna.
"Geez, Arrianonna, how do you do that?"
"What?"
"Creep up on people like that."
"It's my fox side, foxes are naturally quiet, Vyjallen. Maybe I should ask you how to fly."
Vyjallen cut the interchange short to ask what was really on her mind.
"So- Vyjaxmen and Zoozoo-um! What do you think about that?"
"Yay, two people I never really liked got together! Good for them!"
Tezecan bounded over to Zoozoo-um. "So, can I see the map!"
Vyjallen got up and went over, eager to see it too. Zoozoo-um pulled out a rough sketch of the nations, drawn in charcoal on the back of the old copy of the Racon Times they had found.
"The cicadas attacked the rhino beetles first," she said, pointing to the old Dynastinae territory on the map. "It's logical to believe that they live west of the nation- a theory backed up by the fact that there's mountains beyond the forest with Zhu-cran and a sea beyond the herring and croc territories. The woods beyond the Dynastinae would be the only place they could be."
"What if they took Ah-quaz underground?"
"They might've. But we can fit in the slave tunnels- we should be able to fit in."
((I think the cicadas might have taken Ah-quaz for her feathers. Maybe they are trying to make the wolves' potion?))
Shimmerscale:
Christiana let us stay in the guest room of her shop as she completed the sword. Acaralea is suspicious, but I think she should trust this croc- after all, she's not in any gang. I've never seen a croc not in a gang before- I barely knew crocs naturally had tails.
I wake up when it's still dark and get dressed, knowing I won't be able to fall back asleep. The mirror in the guest room reveals that my hair is a rat's nest and there is dried blood along a scrape on my cheek. I go to the well out behind the shop and rinse my face, though I don't have any towel or soap.
The lantern is lit in the workroom, and I glance in the window to see Christiana still at work on the sword. It is beautiful- the blade is not shaped yet but the glass glitters in the lantern light like water. My gaze travels to Christiana. I know that she was staring at me last night. She is pretty...but she's a Croc. I shouldn't be thinking things like that.

((Hey all, I'm writing this on my phone with shoddy internet connection 'cus I'm at my Grandpa's. Anyway, I think that Shimmerscale caught on 2 C's reaction 2 soon. She should prob think it's revulsion.))
Christiana:
The sword is amazing and elegant. The gun is swift and deadly. And the glass shrapnel that catches on fire when it hits you and melts within your body...well..that's almost impossible. See...basically the two girl are fighting slavery. They're fighting the very nations themselves. I agreed to make weapons to arm them, (They're gonna find ZooZoo) and they hope 2 find more fighters. The sword is elegant with a half moon blade. Most swords are straight, but this one is curved...to cut through scales..ore exoskeletons..or regular skeletons. (Maybe the cicadas should be on our side?) It is made of metal infused glass. It is hard and sharp, but can also grind through bones. For the gun, I took metal and melted it, then shaped it like glass. When you put it in my custom made gun...let's just say it leaves MASSIVE holes.

The final weapon needs to have a chemical interaction where the components of blood mixes with the chemicals inside the shrapnel. What will happen is the shrapnel will break up even further. The chemical-which is similar to kerosine- will hits the blood, which acts like the match, causing fire to burst out beneath the skin, anguish killing instantly! With the equation 1/2 kx D= F 3^2, I can use the mathematical equation used 2 describe the formation of our planet (made that up, yay!), I can determine that the trigger would be Iron based on our planet's core. Now, I need to determine which chemical will work. It is hopeless.

3 days later

Eureka! I found it! Acaralea's shampoo worked! Or rather, the coconut water did. Amazing, I k now. Now I just have 2 work out some mechanic hitches and I'm done. You see, Acaralea was going to take a shower (I'm still in charge of shop) when Shimmerscale came flying out of the kitchen with ketchup to try for our chemical (hey, can't blame a girl for trying!) And ran right into Acaralea! The shampoo flew up, and mixed with a sample of my blood. Because the cap was still on, only liquid came out (the cocunut water) and BAM! Instant fire. Now, I expected Aca to be mad, she's so surly, but she was the first to laugh!

((Sorry if Aca seems to go through a complete character transformation. I decided to reshape her a bit. I lost track of her through all that weird romance I was writing. Well, don't worry. Aca's back on the straight and narrow of awesomeness!))

Aca:

She's to perky. Seriously, waaay to happy. I have found my hands convulsing to her throat a few times. I am not uptight, just aware of the fact that I am a marked gang member in another two gang's neutral territory. I am also aware of the fact I am a runaway with a herring spy who is plotting to destroy slavery....yeah I'm going to fail.

Christiana is intelligent, surprisingly so, and she's good at what she does. She almost seems to speak to the glass, the way it bends and shapes for her...it's amazing. Of course, Shimmerscale thinks I'm being to hard on her, and that is a possibility, but I am not used to being surrounded by crocs, and yet entirely isolated.

I sigh and break away from my thoughts. The most amazing recent inventions for crocs and they will be used against them, by a traitor. I finish packing up my bags and head out to where Shimmerscale and Christiana are saying goodbye. Since we are leaving, I can allow myself to focus on my fello croc's better aspect. You know, I am rather fond of both of them, even if Christiana is far too perky.

I open my mouth to tell them both so as I near, but then I hear Shimmerscale ask "Wanna come?" and I hear Christiana answer
"Whet the hell, sure." and I close my mouth again. I hate them. Absolutely hate them both.