Looking and Not Finding (open)

[rat]

The sun was just reaching the highest point of the sky when Sheer took a left turn into the hanging gardens. Since he had never been here before he was unsure as to whether this was a prohibited area or if he was just being paranoid and it was okay for anyone to be here. 'Anyone' probably didn't include him, though, since he was a feral hybrid and most city people wouldn't welcome him anywhere unless he put on a collar and a leash.

The teen wandered through the garden, every now and then running a hand through his hair as if he knew how conspicuous it made him. Every time he moved one of his hands there was a small clink sound that came from the many bracelets around his wrists. Overall, it was painfully obvious that he was someone who didn't belong in a place like this. Still, he strolled around with his hands in his pockets like he had been coming to this place every day of his life.

Sheer's brown eyes carefully analyzed every pathway, tree, and bush. After waking up this morning from another weird dream that he had already forgotten he had decided that he was more than finished with his frustratingly hole-riddled memories. It was time to find some answers, or at least some clue as to what he was supposed to do. His mom had always seemed to like gardens when she wasn't obsessing over her missing husband so he had decided to search this place.

A half hour in, Sheer had to admit that he wasn't going to find anything. He had already forgotten about his family, anyways, instead he was staring down a particularly colorful maple tree that was probably very new because it was about his height. He had been looking at it for the last five minutes, trying to memorize it so he could paint it later. Somehow, he had never tried to paint trees before. He scratched his arm and then froze. He wasn't sure exactly what it was, but he knew that something was wrong.

[cerasri]

Ohh the Hanging Gardens....

Gold did love the Whitestag Gardens. Particularly the way the sun shone just right on this particular bench. Wriggling further into his spot, and marveling at the feel of the white marble as it soaked up the heat of the sun, the cobra hybrid let out a satisfied hiss. He’d been here most of the morning (After he’d taken Master Nicholas his breakfast of course), and the marble bench had finally reached the optimum temperature.

That of course, was why he was laying the way he was, sprawled out flat with his cheek pressed against the warm stone and his eyes half closed with bliss. Few people wanted to come into this part of the Garden anyways. It was a far enough away from the Garden’s entrance that few humans would be bothered by his presence, and well, the collar on his neck tended to dissuade any protestors.

And well, it was nice to be away from the manor every now and then. And Gold thought with a blissful sigh, it was quite nice not to be beaten away with a broom every time he thought to sun himself. Stretching out his arms with a languid hiss, Gold settled his cheek further into the warm stone, quite content to laze here for a few hours more. Or at least, Gold corrected, a few more minutes.

He couldn’t leave Master Nicholas for that long, now could he? Besides…he’d already been here for four hours. Still…a few more minutes wouldn’t hurt. Maybe thirty more. Or forty five…maybe fifty

The sun was just…just so nice...

Blinking sleepily, Gold got himself ready to sun himself for a few moments longer only to blink one eye open as he caught sight of a shadow from the corner of his eye. That hadn’t been there a few minutes ago…

But then again…he’d had his eyes shut for the last hour.

Shaking his head and rubbing at his eyes, the cobra hybrid frowned, narrowing his eyes as he focused in on the shadow, who, with a few more moments of staring, turned out to be a hybrid.

A hybrid, Gold thought with a furrowed brow as he took sight of the hybrid’s neck, a hybrid not wearing a collar.

Eyes widening, Gold shifted back, fumbling as the action near sent him tumbling from the bench he was situated on. Righting himself with only a slight flush, the cobra hybrid slowly stood up, eyes narrowed and head cocked curiously to the side.

The hybrid was familiar- and a…tiger…if the scent was any indication.

Taking a curious step closer-cautious as it was, Gold frowned.

He didn’t know of any tiger hybrids…and Idris hadn’t mentioned anyone like that. Pursing his lips nervously, Gold’s frown furthered before he scowled-only one way to find this out. Taking a quiet step forward, the cobra hybrid slid closer towards the unknown hybrid, eyes narrowed and mouth open.

“Hey! You ssere! Who are you?”

Well, he never said he was subtle.

Besides…this way was much faster.

[rat]

Sheer shrugged off the vague feelings of discomfort and walked a few steps away from the maple to look at a statue. It was amazing to him that he had never thought to come here before, there were so many interesting things to look at and to later paint. His eyes moved rapidly, trying to capture the exact way the light fell on each stone and leaf, so that for a moment he almost looked possessed by spirits.

The uncomfortable feeling returned, this time more insistent. Sheer pushed his hair out of his face and turned around to go find out what it was that was wrong because it was bothersome to have to deal with that paranoid feeling that was plaguing him. He didn’t see anything, though, so he uneasily went back to observing the flowers. No more than a few uneventful seconds had passed when a voice came from behind him, breaking the silence.

Very slowly, Sheer turned around and curiously studied the newcomer. His nostrils flared from his scent, it looked like this person was some type of snake hybrid, a cobra maybe. His eyes were drawn to the snake’s neck and the collar around it. Almost carelessly, he lifted his fingers and trailed them across the skin of his own bare neck, a small smile played on the corners of his lips.

The snake was wonderfully direct; it made Sheer feel more relaxed to know that. Someone who spoke so bluntly was less likely to result to dirty tricks… though the white-haired teen wouldn’t be so quick to pass the same judgment on himself. “A pet? You would do better to go back inside, it’s rather dangerous out here.” He laughed.

“Though you should be safe enough with me, it would be irritating to have to deal with the repercussions of hurting you.” Sheer certainly didn’t intend to hurt the snake hybrid, he didn’t like fighting and it would bring him dangerously close to loosing control of his tiger form. That didn’t stop him from starting to plan a dozen ways to mess with the pet hybrid. Here was someone new, someone he had never seen before. That was practically a gift designed in order to stop the crippling boredom that had been dogging his steps for days now.

Letting a small amount of his apathy show on his face, Sheer absently played with some of the bracelets on his left wrist. Even though he wasn’t looking at the snake hybrid directly he could still see him in his peripheral vision. He wasn’t so much of an idiot that he would dare take his eyes off a snake, even a tame one who’s been turned into a pet. “I am the ‘Prince of Dust’, or the ‘Clown with the Tear-Away Face’, if you must, you can call me Sheer.” He said dramatically, pausing to bow in a fake show of pride. “Who’re you? Since you’re the one who interrupted, you should at least say your name.”

[cerasri]

Frowning slightly as the white-haired hybrid gazed at the collar on his neck before trailed his fingers along his own neck, Gold took an unsteady step back, eyes narrowed and lips pursed. His heart beat hevily in his chest, pounding against his ribs, but the hybrid made little other move to escape, even as the hybrid laughed.

“A pet? You would do better to go back inside, its rather dangerous out here.”

Eyes narrowing further, a low hiss built up in the back of Gold’s throat and he frowned.

“I’ll have you know I’m well enough where I am. You’re Ssthe one who’d best go back.” biting unconsciously at his lip, Gold chanced a glance behind him, though he took care to keep an eye on the other hybrid in his peripheral vision. It was stupid after all, to turn one’s back on another when faced with a stranger, particularly a feral one at that. “Ssthe nobles don’st like Ssthose ossther ssthan sseir petsss here.” Unconsciously rubbing at the nearly healed scrape on his arm from one such noble who hadn’t taken a notice to the collar around his neck, Gold frowned before he returned his attention back towards the tiger hybrid, particularly as the other continued speaking.

“Though you should be safe enough with me, it would be irritating to have to deal with the repercussions of hurting you.”

“Irristasting?” Brow furrowing, Gold took an unconscious step forward, face indignant as his arms moved to cross themselves across his chest. “I’ll have you know I could at leassst gest off a killing blow.” Licking his lips slightly, Gold blinked and then shrugged, fingers twitching against his sides. “And besides…Masster Nicholass would be displeased at sse very least…”

And that was enough to stop Gold’s train of thought, calming him down slightly. The hybrid after all, had said it would be at the very least irritating to deal with the repercussions- which of course, meant that he didn’t want to deal with the fact that most nobles, whether they liked their pets or not, tended to get antsy when their possessions died.

Tilting his head further to the side, the hybrid uncrossed his arms, more curious now that he had dubbed the other hybrid less of a threat…for the moment at least. Eyes darting up to the other’s face, he frowned as the hybrid allowed a small amount of apathy on his features, and the cobra couldn’t help but blink in surprise as the other bent dramatically into a bow-no doubt a show of pride-though whether it was false or not, Gold couldn’t tell.

“I am the ‘Prince of Dust’, or the ‘Clown with the Tear-Away Face’, if you must, you can call me Sheer. Who’re you? Since you’re the one who interrupted, you should at least say your name.”

Blinking at the odd names- really, ‘Prince of Dust’? ‘Clown with the Tear-Away Face’?-Gold frowned. “Sssheer….?” he echoed, drawing out the other’s name with a tilt of his head, “Ssssat…ssat is a funny name. Not as funny as your other namess ssthough.” Crossing his arms behind his back, he fought back the flush at his own rudeness. Master Nicholas would most likely be upset that he had forgotten to obey the proper social structure. Turning his gaze downwards with an almost petulant pout, Gold stared at the other from the corner of his eyes. “Gold.” He murmured beneath his breath. “…you can call me Gold.”

Coughing slightly in order to cover up his own rather apparent humiliation, the cobra hybrid frowned before his stance relaxed and he blinked. “Waisst…you are a feral correct? Ssssen…sthen perhaps you know Idrisss…he iss…he is a rebel? Iss he perhapss sse reason you are here? He did say ssat he would be sending a…”

Stopping himself midsentence, Gold shut his jaw with a snap, resisting and then failing as he fought not to cover his mouth with his hands. It was bad to give out to much information. Really bad-from what Master Nicholas had told him. It was always best to make sure that they thought you knew more than they did. Right?

Uncovering his mouth with a brilliant flush, Gold scratched at the scales upon his cheek, trying and failing to cover up his flub in manners. “….my apologiess. I had not meansst sto be rude. Buss…but what are you doing here? You…you did not answer my quesstion…”