Hunter gulped and nodded. "Ok.B-but it's a solid band. Master melted it on,so there's no lock..." He said,moving his head to provide a clearer view of the collar. And indeed the collar was an unbroken band of iron,no lock in sight. Slearly someone of great power had created it."It hurts badly.." Hunter whimpered. He barely seemed to notice the other wounds on his body-he was bleeding from several gashes on his back and arms,and he bore many bruises and scars,some old and some fresh.

Hikari watched carefully,noting the lack of a lock or keyhole on the band. She also noticed that it was made of iron. A scowl marred her features. "How cruel,to weld iron onto a Fae creature." She said. It was common knowledge that Fae folk of all kinds were weakened and hurt by iron,and though many wouldn't know it,werewolves like the boy in front of them were in fact products of the Fae-children of the moon just like fairies.

"Well...... then you'll just have to trust me...." She said quietly, growing rather quiet as she touched the star that was around her neck. She placed a fingertip on it's center and part of the metal disappeared, a tiny swirling dark purple, dark blue, and black vortex briefly visible. She reached back to touch the handle of her sword upon her back, whispering an ancient phrase in a celestial language long forgotten from a planet long dead. She was considered the cursed star, as for it's death it held no true element of its own but death itself. Even it's apparent necromancy required borrowing from the dead, as she borrowed now from her sword. The enchanted metal released several silver orbs into her palm which she then held to the vortex. As the two touched there was a blinding flash of light, the stars and moon seeming to twinkle slightly with it.

Now Arie stood, her hair silver and her body covered in a strange silver armor. She was now the wielder of metal, at least for a time. She drew her hand upwards, whispering another phrase and then lowering her hand, slicing her now metal covered claws through the air towards the collar. She hoped the wolf would stay still or he would mess up her aim. A silver arch of light appeared where her claws struck the air and raced with great sped towards the collar. It would slash through the metal, creating a crease that glowed with white light. She then twisted her hand and formed a fist. The silver would spread outward, creating deceptively delicate designs over the iron. Soon the lines turned red and rust began to spread over the iron until the metal was eaten away, turned to the dust from where it was once mined. She then touched the star again if the wolf did not move so she could succeed, the armor disappearing in a flash.

She gave them all a smile to reassure them and checked the wolf's neck for damage, appearing as strong as amused as ever. The observant, however, would notice she seemed paler and that one of her hands shook. If touched they would even notice she felt cold... Even a star child touching death had consequences. It would not be a lasting effect, but for now death held her and tried to pull her in...

Hunter held perfectly still while the cat woman removed his collar. When she finished,he reached up hesitantly to his neck,a look of disbelief on his face. He had been a slave of that collar for longer than he could remember,and to finally be free of it was beyond his wildest dreams. He looked around at the people surrounding him,and smiled. "T-thank you. Thank you." He said,reaching a hand out to the cat girl who had taken it off. "Thank all of you so much..."

Hikari smiled."I could numb his pain briefly. It wouldn't last long-just long enough to get him to the river." She offered gently. She couldn't imagine the amount of pain the wolf boy must have been in,having been beaten as he so clearly was. And to be trapped in iron! She shook her head,disgusted with the abuse on display.

"No problem, I had nothing better to do today anyway." was her rather flippant response. She gave them all a flash of a smile before turning away. She began to casually walk towards the river, knowing it would do her little good but figuring there was no reason to bother anyone else. Her ancestor had failed to protect her planet, this was the price. She would be an energy vampire, trapped eternally as the guardian of the dead. The celestial would never die, never age, never give birth, never be truly alive. It was the way of things, and she had accepted it. So she continued her stroll with a smile, gazing at the moonlit sky.

His bellow broke the air around him in his frustration, the powerful pounding of wings filling his ears as his eyes flashed in the moonlight like white-hot coals. He was quite upset, frustration boiling through his veins and pounding under his scales like liquid metal. Bright fuchsia eyes shone in his skull, black scales speckled in touches of deep violet reflecting the stars and moon. He was trapped. A spell of stealth and power. He did not even notice its presence when he had drifted into its net. With a defeated and infuriated growl he brought his wings to his body, legs curling in close as he dove, opening his wings slightly to slow and level his decent to expansive garden below. It reeked of magic.

There was a whoosh of air as he landed, plants bending under his claws as foot and winged slammed into fertile earth. He stood, balancing on his wings as he looked about him. Well tended plants stinking of life. It was rather intoxicating. With a snort he shifted, growling low in his throat as he lifted his head and inhaled, taking in any scent that wasn't the intoxicating stink of life. All he smelt was the plants. With a disgruntled snarl, Hahnu lowered his crested skull, lowering his body onto the ground. This was infuriating and the proud wyrm was in no way eager to fuel the flame of his frustration. He was going to be quite late. Called by a friend from old times and now trapped in a place he had no idea he had even entered. What a wonderful story this would tell that crotchety merchant better appreciate this. The mighty Hahnu held captive by a garden! Oh he would never hear the end of this would he?

(Hope this'll do. If I made any errors with the setting or time, just let me know and I'll edit it. Also no colored text because I don't feel like it right now. *rolls away*)

Hikari nodded and stepped forward.Just as she did,a bellow echoed throughout the woods.Adrian asked if she could take the wolf boy instead,and she nodded again just before he left to go find the source of the sound.Hikari shifted back to her unicorn form and stepped forward.She touched her horn gently to the wolf boy's chest,and a blue glow spread over his body,numbing him.

Hunter closed his eyes tightly as the unicorn touched his chest with her horn.They flew open instantly when the numbness washed over him,making him able to stand up.The unicorn turned,inviting him to climb onto her back,and he did so,laying down gratefully.He knew the pain would come back soon,but he decided to enjoy the numbness while it lasted.

Hahnu had been drifting off, confident in his own power and natural armor to fall asleep comfortably in a place that, admittedly, offered an intoxicating comfort with its very scent. It was the soft pound of distant hooves that caused his fuchsia eyes to snap open, nostrils flaring as his head shot up. He smelt horse and, to his ever growing frustration, his stomach let out a nasty groan. Well...it had been a while since he'd eaten. With a huff and a frustrated growl he heaved himself up, tilting his head to locate the large grazing animal. Not too far off. Steady gate, relaxed....heading right for him. Unusual. He turned his head, eyeing the direction in which the beast would come from. There was probably a rider upon its back. No wild beast would come near a wyrm, especially one who had made so much noise in its decent. Perhaps it was accompanied by a mortal who knew this place...who knew of a way out.

Hahnu had built heat into his throat the closer the hoof-beats had come. When he saw the humanoid half, his jaws clamped shut, allowing his chest to cool. He blinked, eyes wide as his nostrils flared and he took in a long, dragging scent of the creature before him. There was the smell of earthy things, horse, the faint smell of iron. But what pushed to the forefront of the wyrm's mind was the thick stench of fear. The half-horse was scared of him. He chuckled low in his throat, mouth curling into the strange half-smile his kind could manage.

"Aaaah, thank you," he practically purred, bowing his head low to the other. "Ishtar...a peculiar name for a Goddess...and that of the volunkrein you say? Very strange..." He lifted his head, eyeing the great orb above with big and blinking eyes. "I did not think the Great Egg needed such a thing..." He lowered his eyes back the centaur, shifting on his wings. "So what may I call you, keyjoor? I am Hahnuziivolun, but you may call me Hahnu." He lowered his head again, closing his eyes. "And please shoulder your zun. I have no intention of making you my food." He gave a low and throaty chuckle, as if laughing to some joke only he saw.

((What time is it? Translation time! Most of these words are taken from Bethesda's dragon language, so a pop on the wiki can help clear up if I miss anything. Also I need to try and not make these OOC's too long :|

volunkrein: literally 'night-sun', or 'moon'
keyjoor: literally 'horse-mortal'
Hahnuziivolun: literally Dream Spirit Night, Hahnu's full dragon name
zun: weapon ))

Hahnu continued to watch the smaller creature, blinking at each tiny movement. Skittish and tense, still very frightened. Honestly was he that frightening? "Stormchaser...I think I prefer that one better. Strong," he cooed, pushing himself up, stretching his wings so that he could lift his head and neck over the lush thicket. "Others you say...Bah!" He snorted, dropping down and shaking his head. "This place stinks of life and growth! I can not smell a thing!"

He returned his attention to the other's shifting, tilting his head. "If it eases you mind, Stormchaser, I do not eat joor. Only raan or those who would prefer death in my teeth." He wondered absently if the centaur could understand the language of his kind, tilting his head at the small spark of confusion his words had caused. He doubted he could. Not many mortals spoke the dragon-tongue and those who did were very rare indeed.

((Yes it is! Mostly because I've been on a Skyrim kick and the dragon language is one of my favorite mythical languages in media.

Raan: animal))

Arie picked her way back to the river, absently glancing back at the two briefly. She was surprised the unicorn let the other ride it but she supposed it might not be unusual. She'd only known a few in her time as her duties meant she'd ordinarily have more contact with evil then good. She shrugged and continued on, her head bent slightly. Once she reached the river she took a drink, her mare glancing at the unicorn. The wolf smell seemed to make the creature nervous but it said and did nothing more then paw the ground once before drinking the water. Arie patted the mare as she stood, a small motion of comfort.

Hahnu blinked, tilting his head curiously. "Oh...oh my," he muttered, shifting on his wings before bowing his head again. "Krosis....eh...my apologies," he said, lifting his head. "I am not used to jo-- mortal language. It...does not rest well on my tongue." He took the time to take another look around the garden, huffing at the plants. "If it will put the...garden's mind at ease," he started, lip curling slightly, "then I will not harm any of its guests." He shifted again, looking back to Stormchaser. "Unless they deserve it...it has my word." He bowed his head again, brushing the petals of a flowering bush lightly, releasing a slight puff of air. There was a jolt, a white hot arc of magic through his spine, flashing in his eyes before fading. His word had been given. He could not take it back. He clicked his jaw, shaking his head of the fog the spell had caused. He hated that. Always left an electric taste on his tongue.

((Morrowind's mine. So much detail was put into that game and there's so much content that I am still finding quests I didn't even know existed.

Krosis: literally sorrow, but often used as an apology))

Hikari followed the star cat back to the stream,shifting every so often to help the wolf boy stay on her back.When they reached the stream,she let the boy off her back and shifted to human form.She didn't like being ridden,especially by men,but she figured it was the best thing she could do to help.

Hunter slid off the unicorn's back just as the numbness wore off,making him fall to the ground in an exhausted heap."It smells so nice here..." He mumbled vaguely,reaching forward towards the water.He was suddenly extremely thirsty,and felt that if he didn't get a drink right away he might very well die.

"Yes... it does." Arie responded with a slight smile, even as inwardly she thought 'the better to trap you with.' That was what this place was she felt, a beautiful and elegant trap. She gazed up into the trees as she leaned back on the trunk of one which her mare lay next to. She didn't like the idea of it but she knew she could escape using her star. It was a protection to allow them to get wherever needed for the unpredictable beasts of destruction they followed but it served well to get them out of magical prisons and barriers as well. Still, what of these others?

"What's your names?" She finally said simply. She lowered her gaze to them, those unreadable cat like eyes showing nothing but amusement as usual. She had pushed her way away from emotion as was her nature, it just made things easier. The one who had gifted her mare to her had broken that for a time, and though she did not regret it she was not particularly interested in enduring the pain again of lose.

"I see. Thrn you have my word, Stormchaser. Unless they deserve it, I promise nothing more than a nip or two," Hahnu said, lip curling into a mischievous smirk. He lifted his head again, taking in a few deep whiffs of the air. It was clearer now, the scents of others in his nose. The smell of wolf, some faint smell he didn't quite recognize, and....a unicorn? He let out a rough snort, shaking his head lightly. "And that will be unnecessary, Stormchaser," he said, suddenly rearing onto his haunches and spreading his wings. "I must stretch my wings and I doubt you wish to take a ride." He dug his claws into the soft soil, a chuckle in his throat. "I shall meet you there, key-joor!"

He was in the air with a soft boom, air rushing and bending around him as he took the sky. It took him a moment, but he soon found a burst of wind to get him higher, circling as he rode the wind. Ah yes there! The scent was blowing up to him, guiding him. He circled once more before he was off, drifting and gliding lazily, scanning the surface below for these other guests and a safe place for him to land.

((I played Oblivion first as well. I guess I just got into Morrowind more.))

Hikari gave a cool but polite smile as she stooped down to help the wolf boy get a drink of water."My name is Hikari.Though these are not the best circumstances to meet someone under,I am pleased to meet you." She said.She was increasingly aware of the fact that there seemed to be no way out of the garden.

Hunter accepted Hikari's help gratefully,taking the water quickly.Once he was feeling a little better,he sat up."M-my name is Hunter.I'm sorry to appear so filthy in front of you.U-um...I am also very grateful for everyone's help.I was so sure master would kill me this time..." He trailed off,his hand going absently to his neck where the iron band had been,as if by reflex.

((Might be on less consistently for a bit all and responding less.... family's having issues. ))

"People call me Arie, pleasure to meet you both." She said absently. She gazed up at the sky again now, sensing an unusual energy. Dragon.....Yes definitely a dragon. What kind she didn't know, just that it was a dragon of some sort. She wondered how they would feel about that.... all of them had some type of magic but any feared dragons. It was not truly in her nature to fear anything, too many battles for far too long to fear something even if it could kill her. There were many enemies in the past who could kill her and eventual one would in the future. That was how they all died eventually....

"And Master? Nobody's your master anymore boy except yourself." She said with a chuckle as she hid her thoughts.

Hahnu circled, eyeing the stream below as it bent near a mighty tree. It was a beautiful plant, stinking strongly of life. He snorted before, with a slight flourish of his wing, bent into a dive. It was mere moments later that he slammed into the ground for the second time that night, finding himself nestled comfortable in a clearing by the stream-bed. He lifted his head, eyeing the three huddled close to the water, nostrils flaring as he drank their scent. The only male seemed injured, stinking of blood and fear. His lips curled, eyeing narrowing slightly at the copper scent of blood and burnt skin. "Drem, joorre," he growled, shifting on wing and claw before he slumped to the ground with a loud thump. His wings were a tad sore now. The constant standing and the day's flying had taken their toll. "How are all of you, this fine evening?"

((Oh, I'm sorry to hear that Staria. I hope whatever is happening resolves soon.

Drem: Peace
Joorre: Plural of 'mortal'))

Hunter grinned widely.It hadn't truly hit him until then,but Arie was right."No master...You're right,I have no master.I'm free!" He said happily.Just as he said it,he caught scent of a reptile,but it was different than most..Before he could figure out what it was,a dragon set down next to them and said something in dragonish.Without thinking,Hunter responded."Fekiikiri,wyrm." He said.

Hikari stood up to get a better sense of her surroundings when the sound of wings beating the air reached he.She looked up to see a wyrm descending upon them.Being largely equine,Hikari was naturally inclined to be frightened of the creature.She stepped backwards as it landed and spoke to them,but she didn't understand the words.Then,to her surprise,Hunter spoke back in the same language.

((Fekiikiri,wyrm=greetings,wyrm))