//DANCElikenoONES[WATCHiNG]//

[~ ashira]

in a [twisted] world

once upon a time.

I broke into a hearty trot. My paws cut down the young undergrowth. This foliage made the islands look so green, so full of life. The only island that stood out was "The Fire Island". My golden form threaded its way through the trees, the plains, and every other terrain. Mahou had a mixture of many terrians.

I was going to my favorite place - a place where I could let go all the thoughts. I would watch as they danced on the water. My spots didn't seem to hid me. They say that my shadowed ovals made be invisible, but how could that be true? I stood out, backed by green and brown. My plume swished back and forth. My crystal dagger danced on the silken string that hung loosely around my nape. The dagger never hurt me, for it's point had never turned toward my heart. The very memory that its presence gave me brought more pain than death.

I would never tell anyone about my past. No one could understand, anyway. I lifted my skull and gazed towards the sky. Why did it have to be me?

I was nearing my destination. I halted in my path and looked in awe. A magnificent waterfall of white plunged into a large lagoon. Rainbow mist sprayed my carcass. The earth around the falls was beautiful. It held so much life. Grass, flowers, all of the sort. It engulfed all around it. The water was a tropical color. Azure fused with turquoise. I could see everything under it.

I picked up a sprint and leaped into the lagoon, creating a white-water splash. Ripples were sent like morse code out to the lagoon.

\\one can [Never] BE T O O .s.ure

[Faolan]

<sup>As the greenery of spring began to bloom and blossom, making the entire island gorgeous and filled with new life, there was a being, wandering through the foilage. His long, limber legs carried him easily over the flora and a low purr rumbled in his throat. The creature's black ears twitched every so often, picking up new sounds and recording what new information he discovered in his brain.

There was a toucan high up in the canopy, skawking away. Deep somewhere in the bushes, a small tree frog leapt from its perch. This was all new for the Leopard. But he wasn't just a Leopard, though they are very special, he too was mixed with Cheetah. An odd combination, but that was what made him unique, and most definately one of a kind. This, of course, was Faolan.

He prowled through the underbrush on virtually silent paws. His lime green eyes absorbed all he could of his surroundings, they were very peaceful, but that could change in an instant. For now though, the creature padded forth, muscular frame gaining yards steadily. All at once, the Leopard mix came to an opening in the leaves. His spotted hide reclined on his haunches and the Leopard's tail wrapped around near his paws. There, in all its glory, was a large waterfall.

It's plummeting water enticed the beast to get up off his paws and walk again towards it. Suddenly, the creature known as Faolan, stopped in his tracks. His long tail wagged once behind his frame as he saw another of his kind go soaring through the air like a bird. The mixed male watched in awe before letting a sly chuckle rattle his form. A smirk seemed to be plastered on Faolan's muzzle as he continued walking. He sat down again before he finally spoke in that liquid chocolate-like voice of his, he asked,"Having fun, are we?"</sup>

[~ ashira]

//in a [twisted] WORLD

I didn't notice the brute make his entrance. He was a silent one. I just carried on, drenching myself in the refreshing lagoon. The waterfall's roar drowned out any sound, but for some reason, I could heard the soothing voice of the stranger. It did not cause me to jump, yet I was quite surprised by him. Most leopards did not know of this place.

I swam towards him, sapphire optics dancing. A chuckle erupted from my lungs. I was seen so childish. I hoped he did not think of me as immature. After what happened to me, I was anything but. I came to the edge, climbing out and giving my golden carcass a good shake. Droplets of water flew back to its source. Massive paws brought my form over to the stranger. I smiled and dipped my head politely. Don't forget your manners.

"Hello, stranger. They call me Ashira. May I know your calling?"

Light reflected off my crystal dagger. It seemed to reflect all of my thoughts, just as my pools did. That was the strange things about your eyes - they were a window to the soul.

[/i]||one can [NeVer] be T O O s.ure[/i][/center][/size]

[Faolan]

<sup>Yet another smile found its way onto the muzzle of the creature. It was quite amusing, just watching someone enjoy themselves.The Leopard's head tilted to the left before he decided to answer. He wanted to chose his words carefully. The male feline finally pieced together a response,"They call me Faolan. Nice to meet you," he said. His lime green eyes stayed on Ashira before glancing down at the crystal that adorned her neck. Such a strange thing she had. Of course, how could Faolan talk?

He was different himself. "You seemed to be enojying yourself quite abit there. Mind if I join in?" he asked, calmly grooming his fur while speaking inbetween licks. His tickle-me-pink tongue rasped over his spotted body before Faolan turned his attention back to the Leopardess before him.</sup>

ooc//Brain Fart.

[~ ashira]

OOC: Eh, me too. Happens after homework.

Kissers parted into a smile as he introduced himself. He had strange features. Not leopard - at least not pure. He was different, I liked that about him. Who cared about blood? It was all fused together anyway. Even the pure leopards, like me, didn't have straight ancestry. Why bother? It didn't matter anyway. Sapphire optics turned to the lagoon, gazing at the tremendous waterfall pouring its life to the ground. Even from where I stood I could feel a soft spray, covering my face with wet moisture.

I turned my skull back to Faolan, flicking my ebony auds and listening to his words. My smile grew. He wanted to splash.

"So what are you waiting for?"

My lungs let out another chuckle, turning to the water and speeding towards it, pads taking big strides. Once again I leaped into the water, repeating my splash and sending out ripples. Morse code. Dot. Dash. Dash. Dot. Crystal dagger danced as I leapt, and pierced the water. It was a deadly weapon, but it was given as a sign of love. How could it be?

[/size]


OOC: The most horrible post I've done in a long time.

[Faolan]

<sup>The funny thing about lineage, is that it impacts mainly physical features in most cases. Two adults can have offspring that look exactly like them, but turn out to be a rebel, and vice-versa. Bloodline just proves what you are, but not who. Anyone can change their outcome by their actions.

Faolan rose to his paws as he listened to her words. A thin smirk played on his obsidian lips. It soon disappeared into curiousity as he watched Ashira take the plunge yet again. He flicked his tail once behind his frame and then ran after her. The Leopard mix's legs rolled smoothly beneath him. His paws launched off the edge where land and water came together.

In a picturesque movement, Faolan lunged forewards, long legs stretched before him. The male Leopard created a splash of his own, sending sprays of water every which way. For a moment, the figure disappeared beneath the surface. Small, clear bubbles erupted at the surface before a golden head popped up. A clearly joyful laugh came from the Leopard male.

His lime green eyes shone with happiness. "Ha, what am I waiting for? I just wanted to make a splash of an impression,"Faolan said with another shower of laughter. He paddled around in the water a little, thin webbed paws making movement easy. Faolan occasionally dipped into the water, exploring the world beneath the cloak of water.</sup>

[~ ashira]

Paws paddled effortlessly through the water. It seemed that I was born to swim, unlike most of my kind. They hated to get their perfect fur drenched. It put the hairs of their pelt out of line. Phfft. At least Faolan liked water. The roar of the falls filled my black harks. It wasn't too loud. The sound was almost soothing. Nature's sweet lullaby. It was perfect. I dived underwater, exploring the world below. Colorful fish, rocks, and other life blossomed beneath her. Their little world was protected from the cruel one outside it.

Crystal Dagger was weighed down in the liquid. Somehow, it got loose from my nape, and dropped like a stone to the floor of the pool. It went down , down, until it was no longer seen. It had fallen into a deeper part of the lagoon, right under the falls.

"No!"

I cried. Desperately I tried to find it, but to no avail. It was too deep. I couldn't see it at all. It seemed funny, so much fuss about a little dagger, but iy wasn't just a dagger. It was so much more than that. It was memories. It was love. It was my past. It held too many secrets to be lost.

[/size]

[Faolan]

<sup>It was a nice feeling to have someone to swim with. Faolan had been a traveler a long time, and there wasn't such a formation as this that he had seen in his life. It was so enticing to paddle through such clear water. The now soaked creature was completely enjoying himself when he heard the fatale Leopard suddenly seemed distraught. Faolan's green eyes blinked carefully. Something was missing...hmmm

That something seemed to be like a lifeline for Ashira. Her happy mood seemed to have depleted considerably and she was searching for something. Then he realized. Her necklace had so much as evaporated. Faolan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His cranium disappeared under the water, as it had done so many times before, and the creature plummeted to the depths of the water.

The thing about a Cheetah's lungs are that they are slightly enlarged so that they have maximum capacity to breathe while running. This also applies when they are submerged in water. Being that he also had Leopard mixed in, Faolan was fortunate. He could breathe underwater for a prolonged period of time. Maybe by the slight chance, he could find Ashira's necklace. Faolan knew the sadness evoked in something highly treasured that got lost. He knew the feeling all too well. Forcing his frame further and further down, gravity grab ahold of the Leopard mix. It was pushing at him from all angles. But he felt compelled to keep going.

Faolan's vision was blurred when he tried to open them under water. He couldn't spot a thing. So, releasing the hold, he swam towards the surface. The Leopard was about to give in. About to is the key element here. While floating upwards, his hind paw touched something. The suken treasure. But realize, Faolan was a creature designed for land. He needed a breather and then he would make another desent. The Leopard mix's head surfaced and he breathed heavily. He waited a couple moments before again dipping down.

He attempted to go to the exact same spot that he thought the necklace had fallen. And presto chango, there it was. The male Leopard scooped the item up in his jaws. He diligently swam towards the surface. Clambering out of the water, Faolan collapsed on land. His frame rattled with the sudden change in temperature. His teeth chattered slightly, but the Leopard male was proud of himself. Faolan stood to his paws and shook out all the water from his spotted hide. His lime green eyes held a satisfaction that couldn't be protrayed by words. Faolan looked at Ashira, prized clamped in his jaws. "Loooking por someting?" he asked with slightly distorted words,due to the cold and item he heldfast in his jaws.</sup>

[~ ashira]

I did not notice Faolan dive to aid me in my search. I still searched desperately to retrieve my hidden treasure. My sapphires were blurred underwater. In the dark you can't see, right? It was as much use as trying to find a needle in a haystack. It was gone. My lungs screamed for air, and I was forced to dart back to the surface. When I broke through, gasping for air, I notice my new acquaintance was gone.

Sapphire optics searched the lagoon for the leopard cross. Above the water, he was no where to be found. She was so close to the falls now, the roar was almost deafening. She had to dive again to relieve her sensitive auds.

Finally, I found Faolan. He was diving down into the darkness. So brave and courageous. And for me? It couldn't be...no one cared about me. Ever. They hated me. Maybe it was her nature to be different, to stand out in the crowd. To go wild. I never really found out why she was so despised by other leopards.

But Faolan was different. He liked me for that. Being different...rebellious. He had it in him too.
Kissers parted into a thin smile. I treaded the water, looking down, hoping to see him come up again. I waited. Waited...it seemed to long for him to be down there. I was very worried.

But, he finally broke away from the dark abyss below me. He came up fast, but he had retrieved no dagger. Nothing was clutched in his forepaws. My heart dropped. It was gone forever.

Something glinted by his hinds. It took me a while to figure out what it was. When it came closer, I could make it out. My crystal!

Faolan broke to the surface, taking deep breaths and grabbing her treasure from his hind paw. "Looking for Something?" He had asked her. A smirk appeared on my lips.

"Oh yes, I was."

I responded playfully. I made my way over to the leopard. taking the dagger and gingerly placing it around my nape, maing sure it was secure.

"Thank you."

I said in a softer voice, blushing a bit.

OOC: Okay, really choppy.

[Faolan]

<sup>Faolan wagged his tail gently behind him. He smiled widely and reclined on his haunches. The Leopard didn't respond momentarily. He was just watching Ashira. Then, he nodded his cranium slowly. "No problem," he stated cooly. His lime green eyes shone with joy. "I was just glad I could help," he said.

The male Leopard glanced out to the water and shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I suppose we're done playing in the water, want to walk?" Faolan asked with a head tilt. He stood to his paws, giving one more shake to his fur and then took a step forewards. The male Leopard/Cheetah mix peeped over his shoulder and gave her a small grin.</sup>

[~ ashira]

Shadowed harks flicked back and forth, catching all the sounds in the background. Baby birds sung their song, happy to be alive and in the chaos of the world. Little did they know, most would die before growing up. It was so sad. She had made it past her first winter, but some of her friends did not. Ice, Ayla, Sierra, and Resporo. They did not make it. It wasn't that sad actually. They did not live to experience the cruel and bitterness of the world.

Mother nature was so forgiving and kind, well...usually, but her animals were not. Many had wicked and twisted minds. Born to stay with them for life. There was nothing they could do about it. Ashira was victim to one of those twisted leopards. He had kept her prisoner and ripped her family apart. Killed her mother. She gave her the dagger as a sign to never give up, right before he killed her. Never give up? Phhft. Too late now.

"I like creatures like you, Faolan."

Angelic vocals wrapped around his auds, seeming to try to bring him into some sort of trance. They were so soothing. So nice and mild.

OOC: Hey, how about we start a plot where that evil leopard comes and tries to take over the islands. xD

[Faolan]

<sup>Faolan as a young creature, had been dealt a decent hand of life cards. His past wasn't too tragic, but those things that did happened, he'd overcame. Nothing had been able to keep him down long. The Leopard mix always seemed to rise above the bad events and make the outlook optomistic. That had made him a better beast. He was forgiving, more compassionate, and his personality had seen improvement. When Faolan's and Ashira's eyes locked, the whole world seemed to stop spinning on its axis. For a few moments, there was a frost that coated their surroundings. Time slowed down, as if waiting for spring to bloom and melt away the cold. At that point all was well.

But eventually, those lime green eyes of Faolan pulled away. From that point on, time sped back up, the frost melted, and the world went back to its revolutions. Things returned to normal but, there was still something there. "And I you, Ashira," Faolan said quietly. His toothy grin grew wide and there was a low purr rumbling in his throat.

ooc//Yeah we should, my posts are getting shorter and shorter...</sup>

[~ ashira]

OOC: Two leopards...names? I have no idea...oh! If you want I can take your pic and make lime green eyes on him, like mine! xD

Another smile plastered itself on my lips. Such beautiful eyes. I had never seen anything quite like it. They reflected the spring and all its glory. At least that was what it seemed. I let a sigh escape from my kissers and turned around, glancing back at the lagoon and its life blossoming under it. Life...ah, such a wonderful thing. What we were made to live. Pads led the way around to the bushes that I had used as an entrance. I pushed through them, leaves and branches grabbing at my sides. As soon as Faolan had exited, I brought myself back to his side.

"All those little animals...they have nothing to worry about, do they? We should learn from them...live life at our fullest."

I sighed shaking my delicate dial is shame. Why was I so different? It was such a stupid thing to keep worring about, the evil one coming back. He couldn't be on the islands...could he? No...

OOC: Blah, I'm even worse.

[Faolan]

<sup>Faolan smiled and nodded. "They don't have a single care in the world and yet nothing has come along to take that from them. Living life for them is a piece of cake. You're right, learning from their example might be the key to saving us all in long run,"Faolan agreed. His tail wagged behind his frame as he fell silent in thought. The Leopard mix glanced at his surroundings before his eyes fell back on Ashira.

He liked the companionship, Faolan must admit. She also had a good head on her shoulders and knew a lot about the world around them. Ashira made Faolan truly happy, something not too many could do. He then realized he was staring. The male Leopard turned his head forewards again, his ears pulled slightly back on his cranium. "Maybe we should start living as they do, starting now," Faolan said.

He crouched down with his rump in the air, tail waving, and a playful aura about him. He reached out a paw and tagged Ashira on the shoulder. The Leopard male then whirled around and ran. "Tag! You're it!" Faolan shouted. His dainty paws beat the ground in a furious motion, propelling him forewards at an alarmingly fast rate. His frame stretched and compacted like the smooth motion of a rubberband, and his muscles rotating underneat his spotted hide.

ooc//Hey that would be cool. Can you make his eyes green for me?</sup>

[~ ashira]

OOC: Let's move this to Ashira's Fortress. It's a secret place where Morgoth won't get her, but he's too smart for that. Uh-Oh. xD