- Myla would give no reply nor sign that made clear she even heard as she resumed with her bowl mixture by picking it up from the ice it sat upon and place it on the counter next to the sink. The substance having been mixed and chilled now was much like a pudding material but thicker. Kinda like flour when you've added a few eggs and water and had it mix up nicely. This mixture of hers gave off no smell but it did release an odd aura should one be able to detect such a detail. She was now starting to break it down into smaller pieces, many pieces as at this point in time a new traveler stepped inside. The eye clear to see, not shielded by hair did not even bother to glance up. As the two had their spat she finished and now had about 2 dozen little block pieces shaped as fang-tips. The feline woman stepped over to a cupboard pulling out a liquid which she would now cover in thin layer over the blocks. Finally, the scene in her tavern was starting to hit a nerve. Face now glancing up, the eye behind the hair seen in pure silver glow as she glanced in direction of the boys -

" Tsk. Make a mess within these walls and the both of you will join my collection "

- The woman hissed out as her tail slowly wagged behind her. Her tone nor body gave off any expression. Maybe she was bluffing, then again what exactly did she mean by collection? Fact was both of these two are in a place they know very little about so they might want to rethink going against the hosts' wishes since it is her that can grant them a dry sleeping place for the night and warm food to fill their hunger -

Ears twitching nervously at the angry comment, he peeked over his shoulder at Myla. She certainly was a fearsome sight to behold tail flicking to and fro in aggitation and eyes a bright silver.

Glancing back towards the boy Cypress sighed in frustration before slipping both dirk and dagger into their respective sheaths. The thought of sleeping out in the rain again did not appeal and did much to dampen his temper. Besides, there certainly was something peculiar about this boy that he couldnt quite place.

Turning his back on the boy he walked to where Myla stood behind the counter and bowed low. "My apologies Myla, my pride got the best of me. It will not happen again under this roof." He considered kissing her paw to try to sooth the storm, but reconsidered still seeing the angry swish of her tail. Moving back to his previously occupied bench he peered over at the small teeth shaped objects.

"Do you have a map of the area? Or were you planning to hunt with me tonight for this frst time to show me what it is i should bring back for meals?" he asked politely, trying to ignore the prickiling sensation along his back from where the boy sat.

His right eye twitched at the feline's words. His ears retracting, he released the grip he had on his weapon. The man would let his gloves and cloak dry for the moment. Leaning back, he once again faced the warm embers of the fire. Instead of causing more trouble, not that he caused the trouble to begin with, he sat there and enjoyed the music that was playing.

It was always nice to relax.

Though he was starting to get a little hungry, it would be a little bit before he dared to order anything or ask for a room. Of course, he intended to stay the night; he was miles away from anything and it was rare to come to an establishment like this too far away from civilization. Except at trade outposts, anyways. He'd just have to tread softly around the half dragon while he was here.

- Mixed eyes glanced up at the boy as a faint hiss rolled over her lips as he drew near in act of a minor warning to rethink before he acts. Did the feline know what he had in mind or was it just irony? Either way, once he started to speak in apology she went out messing with what looked like fangs once more. Now that the layer was dried she put them on a flat tray, look a cooking sheet and put that on the fire now letting it cook. This will let it harden and be glossy from the covering layer she painted on. While she let that to cook she walked out from behind the counter pulling the hood of her cloak back up once again putting her face in darkened shadow. The only thing visible was her lips and that was only when the light hit her from the right angle. Finally she would reply to his question. -

" What good would a map do when you could not even make due of the menu?"

- She snorted out finding his question to be not of the brightest when he tried to make read of the menu not to long ago. Was the man's memory that off? The feline shrugged walking closer to the one near the fire stopping a few feet off with arms crossing under the cloak as her tail still swayed but only at the tip. Her mood had calmed since the two did well to heed her warning and not make a mess of her hard-created building -

" You are hungry, what would you like? "

- While waiting for him to think to give her an answer she glanced to the other -

" I can guide you myself or let Binx " - Myla glanced at the skeleton that floated around the room for a moment to make clear thats what it is called and what she was referring too. - " This is of course if you think you can handle what creatures seek habit in these parts " - Apparently she did hear his question which he asked long ago and now sought time or purpose to give him an answer, well a half-cocked answer -

Cypress bit back a retort to the comment about not being able to read. Surely she didnt expect him to know all the languages of the world, what a blow to his pride. Sniffing disdainfully he tilted his head a little higher into the air and watched her approach the newcomer.

Ah now there was one that made his blood boil. Seeing the Red dragon scale armour all over brought red to Cypress' eyes.

"I'd prefer to go with something alive if you dont mind" replied Cypress after taking her choices into consideration "at least then i could ask questions". He chose to ignore the jab about his being able to handle the beasts they may meet outside. "I'll just go get me things" he called running up the stairs to gather his rapier and cloak.

Turning his head at the comment, he was rather surprized that she could sense his hunger. Not that he hasn't seen stranger things, but hey.

"Hmm? Oh..."

And she went back to chatting with the Dragon-man for a moment. He was polite and waited for them to finish up before he dared place an order. Plus, he couldn't really think of anything he wanted in particular.

"Umm... anything edible. Stew maybe. I'm not really all that picky."

Which was quite true. He did have a week spot for a particular drink, on the rare chance he could encounter some. Smiling, he added something to the order not two seconds later.

"And some Chai Tea, if you have any."

Seeing that every family had their own stlye of Chai tea, he should have been specific. Any Chai would do, really, because as far as he knew the only place he could get his favorite blend was his hometown.

- Myla gave a smirk at his comment about the living and couldn't resist on adding more to damper his pride. -

"That is as alive as you and I. The only difference is that it does not need food or oxygen since its body-make up is not the same as your own. But trust me, find the weakness and its soul parts just as yours would if you took on more damage then your body could handle."

- The feline hissed under her breath at her ending word as she felt like she was speaking to an idiot. A weak race with little knowledge and only seeks to win the ladies over or take victory in some pointless battle. Either way, she wasn't impressed and at this rate she was starting to not like. Takes a lot for her to say either way if she likes or dislikes. This was serious. Totally. -

" I can take you out and explore a little before it gets to late but first I will get his meal prepared. "

- Head turned and glanced over to the one near the fire with the same expressionless face and ears in full perk, taking in all the sounds around. A slight nod was given as her answer and nothing more. She disappeared into the back and would return back placing a pot of water over the fire taking the place of the tray as her other hand removed that. Reaching behind her she sat the tray that held the teeth-like things on the counter and would focus the water to get it boiling. She had enough for 2 cup fills. While she waited for that to prepare she would go about getting his food ready. Myla wasn't a.. soup person. It was more drink then food and she perfered to chew what she eats rather then suck and swallow. Instead she would fix up a plate of what was cooked not to long ago, she would just heat it up real quick within what acted as an oven. Different then what acted as a stove. Once it was ready she put it on a plate with a few other things, much of which natural but very tasty. Herbs to add flavor as there was some carrots, potatoes as well as some fruits nicely chopped and arranged neatly. She figured veggies would not hurt since to her knowledge of human recipes veggies where in most stew mixes. Head did not glance up with giving a wave of her hand over the plate and mumbling a few words the plate teleported to the table nearby as well as the tools to eat and soon his requested tea once she mixed the stuff within the boiling water. -

" If that is not to your liking then I can only suggest you try to come give her a go yourself "

Up in his room Cypress quickly began to take off all the random trinkets adorning his person that he would not need. Slipping off his many rings and necklace he placed them on the table carefuly while pulling a small wooden box from his satchel. Smiling he traced the intricate dragon design with small rubies for eyes and watched amused as the orb between the dragons fell away to leave a hole. Peeking in he checked to make sure all his treasures were still intact before dropping his favorite pieces into the box, much to the dismay of the dragon.

His treasures now taken care of he set the wooden box on the table and slipped out of his coat. Grabbing his now dry cloak he pulled the chair back towards the table and dropped his coat in it, flipping the cloak to its dark grey side and clasping it in one smooth motion.

Better to be safe the dragon hissed as Cypress stared at the small bottle of poison sitting on the table. Quickly he flipped open the lid and dipped each of his long claws into it one by one before grabbing his rapier and slipping it into the frog at his waist. Satisfied that everything he needed was on him he stalked out of the room quietly and headed back downstairs.

Strutting into the room he glanced from the boy to Myla before turning to the counter. "You wouldnt happen to have a spare bow and a quiver of arrows would you?" he asked ruefully "I had to leave mine behind."

- Myla now having done enough for now behind the counter would put out the fire and let the coals cool off and then came out walking over to the other side of the room, opposite the fireplace and took a seat upon a chair that stands out from all the rest. It was a chair, larger then her when seated, made of bone, leather material created from the skin of animals and a few bits and pieces of wood. Wood much stronger then most and isn't easy to come by. Each piece of bone that made up the chair was smoothed down and thinned out as needed to fit together like a nice puzzle. For the ends of each piece such as the arm rest was adorned a skull. One having a hole in the center to fit a cup or anything acting as a bowl while the other had a tooth curved as a hook to hang something from.

She sat down with one leg crossed over the other knee with a hand on her lap and the other was in the air near her face with a claw extended but was doing nothing particular nor holding a purpose. It was just there. Her tail layed out the back there was an opening for this detail and it swayed slowly behind. The overall chair shape was boxed.

Eyes closed a moment as she let out a deep exhale. She wasn't tired but not used to have anyone to wait on anymore. The feline was still trying to make real of it as her eyes then opened to glance to Cyp as he started to speak to her. An eyebrow raised...

" Yes I might have one but what kind of arrows do you use? What I have you might not even know how to handle "

Surprised that he hadnt noticed the chair before he openly gawked at it. The workmanship fitting all the bones so snugly together was truely amazing. Tearing his gaze away from the chair he focused on the questions asked. Surely she had normal wooden arrows with metal or stone tips and fletched with goose feathers . "Are the beasts outside so impervious to a normal wooden arrow with metal or stone tips that you dont have any?" he asked astonished.

He had certainly stumbled to a land completely unlike his own. Up until now he had not seen any real animals wandering around up until this point. But for arrows not to be able to damage what was outside, how was he to fight such a creature. Cypress fingired the pommel of his Rapier wondering if even that would do anything to save him should he need it.

- Myla sighed at his question and just rolled her eyes not giving an answer to that question but instead said something else. -

" You can go out and find out yourself. "

- The reason she did not answer is because she has when someone answers a question with a bloody question. He could not answer thus she did not have to offer any since he had to complex things and try to be smart about it.

There was not many species roaming to close to her tavern because other then it clearly being one of a kind on material make but it was spell bound. A small enchantment feeding off a few crystals and gems that decored the outside of it such as the corners where the wall turned and among the roof. This kept what she hunted and then some away. It only affected those meant to keep away. Any one else such as visitors would not be affected nor even notice it unless they had an eye to seeing a spell when its active. One would have to walk about 100 feet away to reach the wildlife that roamed here.

The feline, with wings opening a bit to spread, got up from her seat which Binx took a seat upon the moment she was standing. Myla headed downstairs into a basement which looked like an underground cave. The walls looked like nothing more then dried up clay with a few skulls aligning the wall holding candles to provide lighting. She was only down for a few minutes and when she returned she held a bow with a few simple made arrows. Simple wood with a stone, pointed tip. No feathers. Damn. Perhaps she was just to simple to worry about such detail. Not an indian afterall. The fem tossed it over to him, letting them land on the ground near his feet. -

Cypress glared at the boy while Myla was out of sight, "whats your name boy?" he sneered. Peeved that all he could do was seem to geet on Myla's bad side he decided to take a bit of his annoyance out on the boy.

When Myla returned and tossed him the arrows sans fletchings he stared at her disbelieving. Taking the bow and fletching-less arrows he attached the quiver to his belt and tested out the bow. Trying to keep his face stoic he wiggled his leg about making sure that the daggers in his boot were all still there. If they were going on a hunt, more then likely he'd have better range throwing his daggers then trying to kill something with unbalanced arrows.

"Im ready to go when you are" Cypress said with a grim smile. Hopefully his daggers and Rapier would be enough.

"No, no. That's quite alright."

Ryuma smiled as his food was delivered to him. It didn't take him long to devour the food that was presented to him. Not to long after he would begin sipping his Chai. He was thoroughly pleased. In fact, he would have been content to stay next to the fire this way for a couple of hours.

Problem being that the dragon man had a bone to pick with him.

"God. And you are?"

He was took a sip of tea, content. He wasn't going to give his name until the same pleasantry was granted to him.

- She sneered a moment as her eyes glanced to the one Cyp was speaking to when she heard him start to give answer about her previous comment to him. -

" I'll join when you are truly ready to go. "

- Words indicated that she was aware he was yet to be ready since he still insisted on talking to the one by the fire. Still behind the counter she headed back down into her basement get something herself. A few minutes later she returned the hood off her face once more a necklace now adorned around her neck. Most of the necklace was unseen under the cloak that tied itself at her neck but what was visible was a small skull. It wasn't an actual skull that was once of use, it just nothing more then some bone crafted to create the skull. For the far away glance of it, there looked to be nothing special about it. It had no shine, no glow. Maybe there was nothing special about it but this one can only wonder about. In one hand she held a bow, of bone make of course and in the other held arrows. Arrows to be precise that had no tip. At first glance it looked as though she was just holding some straight sticks but you could tell was meant to be an arrow, or at least once was, due to a bent piece as if the tip was just broken off.

Myla slung the bow over he shoulder after letting it slide up over her arm and let the arrows stick to it like a magnet. Mixed eyes glanced to the two as they looked at each other and spoke so little before her eyes fell to Cyp's fingers and back up to glance at his profile before speaking one more. -

" I do hope you realize you better not touch anything we should get with those hands of yours. " -Words hissed out as she came out from the counter walking closer to the two.-

[[ Image copyright Wen-M from DA. I claim no such credit. Just using his wonderful artwork and design as ref for one of many bows Myla uses. ]]

Cypress nodded to Myla before sneering at the boy, "Cypress" he said between clenched teeth trying not to let his anger get the best of him.

Glancing back at Myla he noticed the new necklace, Special . . hissed the dragon inside curiously. Lowering his eyes he watched as she slid the curious looking bow and pointless arrows into position. All three new items were things he had never seen the like of before. His eyes traveled back to the necklace; what could possibly be so special about that he wondered.

Snapping his gaze from the necklace at Myla when she commented on his claws he narrowed his eyes. "Unless i pierce the flesh, nothing will be poisoned" he replied calmly "It was a precaution or last resort if you will". Shaking hs head he started walking towards the stone door baffled as to how she was able to detect a poison that had no smell or color.

The feline resembled woman now took a stop near the two but just out of reach of an arms' length. She stood somewhat behind the sofa where the one sat sipping his tea in a no-rush fashion as she would let her arms fold across her chest letting her gaze turn back to Cyp. Face showed no expression, no visible thought running through her head but soon she would reply softly. "Good" Was all she said. She had no reason to say anything else.

Truth be told, she did not know everything, far from it actually but she had ways of knowing things, even something of small details most would miss. Though to one it might seem like it was a super skill to be aware of his poison dipped claws but fact was rather simple. Ever single piece of flesh releases a faint smell and aura reading which she eyes can see and her keen nose can smell. By putting something on him it acts as a shield stopping the normal flow that spills off thus her eyes are instantly drew to it. Not to mention she is good at potions and spells alike. She was not certain what it was but took a gander at it and his words proved her to be corect.

" I do believe he is content here for awhile enjoying the warmth of the fire which leaves it just you and me. "

Nodding curtly Cypress about heeled and pushed the heavy stone door open, grunting a little with the exertion it took to fight against the slight wind that had picked up. Once outside he noted smugly how it had stopped raining, this would make stalking up on quarry a bit easier since everything was damp and there would be no crackle of leaves or snap of dry wood under heel to give them away.

Striding further out into the grass before the tavern he turned slowly locating the direction in which the wind was blowing. Stalking creatures while he was upwind would help as well. Sneering in satisfaction he turned towards the open door and waited for Myla to appear. He couldn't help the slight excitement that came over him; the hunt was on.

Myla walked further now stopping at moment once she reached the door and turn to look back at the one on the sofa. "If you need anything simply whisper it out and my minion there will pass it along." The feline now turned back to walk out the door letting the breeze from outside shut it behind her, just barely missed the tip of her tail. Looking now to Cyp an eyebrow raised a moment before she spoke. "Its you seeking if you can hunt thus how would you go about searching if you was alone?" Myla intends to point him in the right direction if he should need but first she wants to see what he is capable of doing on his own.

He should have known there would be some kind of test involved. Turning away he began to stalk slowly and quietly down the hill through the brush and forest towards the waterfall. As luck would have it the wind was blowing in the opposite direction, and seeing as the falls seemed to be the prime source of water in the area, that would be the best place to hunt for food.

Carefully he made his way under the trees avoiding stepping on gravel, twigs, or any dry leaves he could find. Glancing through a gap in the trees overhead he made note of his location by the stars. Once within sight of the falls he began to circle slowly around the pond beneath it, making sure to stay in the darkest part of the shadows beneath the trees. He scanned the ground looking for tracks of animals in the soft mud closer to the pond and looked through the underbrush for well worn trails leading to the water.

Finally after half way around the pond he found the first signs of animals he'd seen since arriving. Pausing he quirked his ears listening for any sounds of movement, hearing none he crouched down and examined the large print in the mud.

*Snap* crackled a twig loudly to the right about 400 meters away.

Eyes narrowing Cypress pulled the two daggers from within his boots and held them ready waiting patiently for another sound. Glancing at Myla he wondered curiously when she planned to step in.

Myla remained in the same spot while Cyp started to look and test the environment. She smirked slightly cornering her lip a bit exposing a fang partially more then the other as she was pleased to see he was no fool, at least not in this department. Everything else that she has seen, she still wasn't impressed with.

Her eyes shifted in gaze in the direction of where the noise came from but her head and body stayed perfectly straight and unmoving. Tongue rolled out and slowly licked over her lips as eyes gazed back over to Cyp curious what he was going to do but then she caught eye contact. Him looking at her gave her a moment to strike or else what caused the noise would go after him.

The feline knew he has yet to see or become aware of what does inhibit these parts, the reason for the unseen barrier so to give him a preview of what is more to come and get worse. With fast motion, after a blink of an eye the bow was now held in her hand, tail flowing a bit parallel to the ground and the free hand pulled off the arrows and dropped them to her tail which held 'em as if was nothing but a table. That paw now picked up one arrow and brought to her bow getting ready to fire. Was she nuts? She held a piece of wood with no point so there was no way it could do any damage. Think again. This is just the key material she needs to create her arrows. Looking in a snearing smirk she exhaled out a word in another language and then the arrow started to collect air particles then change. Now it did have a point and released a lot of cold air. Waiting no longer, she let the arrow taking into the woods hitting the mark. Gotta love cat vision. The arrow struck in the leg and started to take over the body, it was an elemental arrow and it froze its target. Literally. It looked like an ice statue.

"It won't be long before more come noting the loss of that one. "

What was unknown to him was that it wasn't dead yet, just being preserved in her ice block. She did only seek to demonstrate what it looks like not how to take 'em out.

Eyes widening at the sudden draw of the bow and elemental arrow. He had seen this before.. not exactly in the same way no, but he had seen elemental arrows, at some point, though he could not remember how or where he had seen it.

Noting Myla's words he quicky stalked over to the great block of ice to study the creature for a few moments before he found another way to find something to hunt.

The beast was tall, nearly as tall as Cypress himself with long arms that ended in claws nearly twice the length of his own. It had a long thin torso and legs like that of a canine that were covered in thick matted hair. Along its spine and across the main joints were thick plated covering. Its face was long and pointed with several long teeth hanging out beneath its lips.

Stalking around the beast slowly he opened his mouth a bit to breath in deeply and remember the scent of this creature. Dropping the shorter of the two daggers back into its sheath he drew his rapier and returned his gaze to Myla, "Where do you suggest we go to find food as opposed to become it?" he asked quietly.

Myla took about her time with her steps to come up to where he was, stopping near his side with about 5 feet between as she glanced down at it.

" Shame I have to leave it. The do good for my deadly spells. "

She said out in slight disappointment before eyes veered up and over to look at him with ear twitching to his question. "Oh we are going in the right direction but you must go further in. This is nothing more but a guardian to the useful ones. Well, what is useful to us. This is not but we need to move quick. It will melt down in a few hours."

In order to kill something with a deadly bloodline you need to do something a bit different then just stabbing or slicing since that puts you at risk. She was in no mood to put spells or specially made bullets to use, plus, fact was she didn't bring those. All she brought was the bow and few arrows among the stuff she had wearing, nothing to fancy but to clothed her body. But what did the necklace serve? Hmm.

"Its wise to keep to the shadows here but do not stand in spot to long or the shadows themselves become deadly" The feline hissed in warning but it might be the only one she seeks to give. Paw reached back picking up the arrows from her tail and would put them and the bow back. After this both paws gripped her hood and tossed it back over her face letting fingers trail down gliding over the skull to her necklace a moment before she finally started to walk.

Thoroughly perplexed as to why she still wasnt taking the lead Cypress shook his head and ignored her comment about going deeper into the forest. Walking to the very edge of where the grass grew closest to the pond he began to circle quickly looking for a certain set of foot prints. After a short time he smiled down at the slightly heart shaped hoofprints and peeked at Myla before following the prints back into the forest.

Pushing through the thick brush the prints lead to he smirked all the wider at a few strands of coarse light brown fur that had snagged in the bushes, "Hart" he mumered excited as he picked his way down the thin deer trail that had appeared after the bushes.

"That...thing we encountered isnt gaurding the deer are they?" he asked curiously. He still didnt understand what Myla had meant when she said they were gaurding something more useful; "the usfull ones" as she had put it.

Myla looked at him raising an eyebrow a moment. "Hmm? Oh, yes actually there are deer." She was a bit curious as to how he knew but it wasn't worth asking. For the most part she let him lead the way while her own form kept to the shadows where she really blended in well thanks to her dark fur and the other bits of her seemed to get even darker to adopt to her environment.

Myla's ears twitched at something she heard in the far distance. It sounded like animal sounds, the way the communicate as well as noting a slight change in the wind. Soon it would get a bit colder and faster passing over. Myla's arms crossing as she had no use for them right as eyes kept a close eye on the area they was drawing near to as well as him. Finally though she sought the will to catch up to him and if she wasn't keep beside him she would actually go forward a bit. Once in awhile she would stop to take a closer look at some flowers and buds along their travel. Some she would even pick up and put into an unseen pocked within her cloak.

"If you will try to keep an eye out for a blue and red lizard and let me know should you see before I do."

While Cypress was busy finding ways to get himself killed in the woods, Ryuma finally finished off the last of his Chai. He looked around for a moment and noticed he was alone. Or so he thought, anyways. Well, the feline woman HAD given him permission to make his own food, so why not see if there was any Chai left? If not, he could always duplicate what she had done.

He wasn't the greatest cook of all time, but he knew enough to get by. Not that making chai was rocket science; some people just did it better..