Getting Around ( Private)

[Leviathan]

So there had been relatively little happening in the samll world in which Leviathan tended to call his own life. Things had been rather smooth with pirate flows being little. Sure every now and again he enocuntered a ship or two in the sea but the tide of them seemed to be moving in favour of his ultimate goals. Lately he had been thinking about that thing he had learned at the festival. That all humans were now born with that kind of horrible disability that rendered them unfit to survive. Honestly it was only begining to confuse him more about how these creatures could even step on one of those wooden beasts.

Then again there had been relativelyf ew humans on board those ships. They seemed to be more like the creatures that had the tanned skins. He had yet to find a name for them. They looked like humans bar for several physical traits that, admittedly Leviathan hadn't really take notice of during his devouring of them. Now he found himself in a completely different area, not quite sure just what he had been doing. Or what had led him here. But here in his Jul form the lord of the sea decided to rest his feet.

It was so, unpleasant walking around on those fleshy stumps. They got hot and the water pooled around them in uncomfortable places. It was much better and faster just to swim. But then again not every race was strong, not everyone could survive in the harsh enviroments that he called home. Still he didnt let it bother him. Just laying back with a slight smile on his face, appreciating the little things. Enough moisture to be relatively satisfied. A full stomach ( of which the contents you would not wish to know) and a cool breeze along the southern stretch.

"...Ah...."

[Aereth]

Ah, the Sacred Grove. It felt so much like home, though her tribe had never spent long within it. It just felt right. Serene. Beautiful. Comforting...

Few could find this place purposefully. It was a skill belonging to fairy and kokiri kind. On occasion, others wandered into the area, which made them instantly interesting to all else within. That was exactly what this stranger was to Aereth. She had spotted him as she fluttered to and from trees around the grove. She was looking for other fairy kind, in truth, but was distracted the moment her eyes detected the anomaly. There was a man, or at least he appeared to be so, with incredibly tanned skin and beautifully white hair resting against a tree. He was not a fairy, this she could tell. But, what he was eluded and confused her. His skin was too peculiar to be human, though his body structure seemed in the category. Then again, she was no scholar on races. In the end it did not truly matter when it concerned her opinion of him.

Still, her curiosity drove her body into action. She had been perched high in a tree, peeking in between and around branches to see him. She felt nosy. She had to know! So, gradually the small glitter of light fluttered downward from branch to branch, eyeing him from different angles. She was getting no clues that triggered her mind toward the truth. The closer she got, the more she could see his expression. It was so pleasant with that gentle smile. Perhaps this one knew where he was after all.

She could wait no longer. The urge to approach was too great. In one quick motion, the fairy flew directly for the top of his head, danced in a circle and then settled down atop the luxuriously white hair. The dusty glow that surrounded her form disappeared as she leaned over his face with the widest childish grin. ”Welcome!” she chirped. ”I see that you are enjoying your stay. I do say, that is very good. Such an enjoyable place this is!”

[Leviathan]

Gah, insects. Plague creatures of the land.

He made a quick swipe as he saw the fast moving thing go for the top of his head. Clearly however it missed, the creature was perhaps to small and swift for such a thing to work. In his Leviathan form no doout he would not have cared about such a thing. In fact it was unlikely that he would have even registered it happening. However this Jul form was smaller. And in that way it noticed the smaller things happening. But what he did not expect was for this creature of plague and pestilance to land on him. Nor did he expect the thing to speak. True it was the langauge of the land people but it was still speak none the less. How was it that something so small could speak? Often he had wondered the same about the Joor but had ultimatley come to the conclusion that their brains must have been just the right size to comprehend sentient thought.

His eyes narrowed in, like one who had some kind of defection. And what he saw was as strange as it was slightly freakish. This insect had the features of a Jul. Yet was so small he could barely make them out. Not least from the speed that she ( assuming by the features) travelled at. Zipping and zooming around. He still fought the urge to crush her. But determined that if she could speak. Then likely she was not an insect as he had intitally thought. That, or she was some kind of highly evolved superior insect. The latter was of course not out of the realm of possibility. It seemed to him that insects were most numerous on this world and lived short, brutal lives(more so than the Jul themselves) thus the stages of evolution in their race would be far quicker than those of the longer lived beings.

" Hello!"

He responded to her in kind. Intrigued by the tiny creature that was now leaning over his hair line and into his face. She spoke of this place and its enjoyability. Indeed. It was an enjoyable place. At least sso long as the breeze continued. Leviathan in reality didn't much like the land. Too dry. Even the moist places whilst infinitly more enjoyable. Were by comparison to the cold embrace of the ocean. Like going from licking a lolly pop. To licking sand paper. " Yes, it is one of the few places in this land I have travelled that I am able to enjoy some sense of relaxation....there is much discomfort here". A slight frown crossed his face. Once again child like mind, But the frown quickly disappeared and he focused his eyes in on her again. It was begining to give him a bit of a headache but it ws the only way to see her properly.

"...I am curious, what are you? You do not seem to be of the Jul, are you an insect of a kind?....but then you seem far too evolved for an insect...I apologise if I cause....anger...offense.....I am new to these lands...and there are many I have not yet seen"

[Aereth]

Oh, her giggles could not be contained as those large eyes looked up at her narrowly. It was clear from that first look that he did not immediately know what she was. Perhaps he did not know what a fairy was at all (or at least what they were like). He was not the first person to be confused about what she was. It was turning out to be quite a common thing. Sure, she had not really run into a massive amount of fairies simply roaming the world in her lifetime, but she not formerly thought them to be so uncommon. Somehow, it was even more exciting to meet those who did not know what she was without being told.

His words reassured her assumptions. He indeed did not know what she was! And compared her to a bug, which was an understandable mistake. She could not take offense to it. No, there were many beautiful insects out there. All vastly different, unique in their own ways. And, all peaceful creatures simply trying to survive (ignoring those that eat one another for said survival). To her, it was actually a compliment. “Indeed, while I am very much alike an insect, I am very much different,” she responded in that same chipper tone as before.

“I do not see why such a question would anger one such as myself.” As she spoke this time, the tiny woman fluttered up from the soft cushion of the stranger’s hair and came around to hover before him so that she may get a better look at his expressions. “It is not like my kind commonly populate the streets of civilization.”

Aereth spun in place for a moment, then came to a stop with an even wider grin than the one she had donned before. “I am Aeretheryn, sir. A fairy,” she admitted, holding out her arms at her sides slightly before bending her body to appear to be bowing. “As a fairy,” the small voice chirped, pausing for a moment so that she may change forms. Only after moving slightly to the side, her body suddenly shifted – not so much in form than in size. It happened rapidly and in a haze of glittery light, that swiftly dissipated to reveal her full form. That form was of a full grown woman, possibly ‘Jul’ if she understood his meaning. She appeared standing, but quickly took a seat at his side with her legs folded beneath her.

“As a fairy I have two forms. One being much more your size.” She had no idea how untrue the statement was. “I apologize that you find the land uncomfortable, but I am most pleased that here you find rest and ease.”

[Leviathan]

Ah so he had not been entirely wrong when he had called her an insect, good at least he could save himself that much embarrassment. Apparently her kind were like his in that they did not tend to....walk around with the rest of the worlds species. Then again considering that his were at least to his own knowledge all dead. Well.

That kind of spoke for itself. She seemed a friendly type, unsure of why he would have angered her by calling her thusly. Leviathan knew all too well about the people in this land and their intolerance to the ignorance of those who did not know of their own ways. He had been chased off more than once for associating a minish to some other animal, and a human to a defective monkey. “ There have been...misunderstandings in the past”. He was glad, glad that this creature. A fairy as she called herself. Would be so friendly and understanding. Whilst a darker part of his mind wondered just what she would taste like. (After all. Most land animals tasted wonderfully unique). Licked lips. But no. Her friendly nature put him off eating her. Leviathan had came to learn something in his lonely existence. Whilst everything was indeed lunch, some lunch was...not lunch. It was a complicated way of looking at things.

The best way for him to describe it was, that humans used some animals as beasts of burden. But also used them for meat. In this manner. Leviathan could use some people for meat. But alternatively he had found another use for them. Quenching that other hunger. The one that longed for company. A child alone in the world. Apparently these fairies could choose their size. Small or Jul sized. Which to Leviathan meant that indeed she was a kind of prey. The small size likely indicated a kind of weakness, evolved in order to hide from the larger more fearsome predators. ” Ah, I have a similar ability...but only in reverse”. What he of course meant by this, was that the size that his current form took, was not the largest size he could reach. Which of course was completely relevant considering he was in actuality a giant sea monster.

He let out a smile as she apologised for his discomfort. Such a lovely little thing she was. In a way. Almost like his own mind. Innocent. “ You need not worry, there are ways of making it more comfortable...”. Leviathan reached out his hand and whispered something under his breath. A language known to only those who ruled the skies and seas. With that. A light rain began to fall upon the grove.

“ This place, is most enjoyable...as is your company...you have given me your name...so now I give you mine...the people of this land they call me Leviathan”

[Aereth]

The fairy’s face expressed such interest in what the stranger had to say. Truthfully, she had hoped he would reveal more than the vague statement of misunderstandings, but not knowing would not kill her. Or, could it? Her curiosity so often seemed to burn a hole right through her mind. It was quite frequently impossible to neglect. Whether or not it meant her life, she just wanted to know certain things! For the moment, she was willing to let the curiosity subside as she watched him. All that she could gather from him own expressions was the simple fact that he was very easily accepting her company and close proximity. It was such a tempting open door.

Aereth quickly understood what he meant by his statement of ability. Her mind erupted then with a new curiosity. He can get larger!? But, in what form? Did he transform into a giant humanoid, or was he something else entirely? It drove her wonder of what he was into a full-blown fascination. She knew not of any large land creature that could change into such a form as what they currently inhabited. Then again, she did not know all that was to be known of the races of the world. She was ignorant to much of the world.

Her curiosity drove her desire to be closer, as if being near him would provide answers. She scooted along the ground so that she came so close one of her legs had to be lifted to rest against his own. Her fingers occupied themselves by toying with a lock of her long golden hair as she smiled and stared inquisitively up at him. She was just about ready to begin berating him with questions when he strangely stuck his hand out and seemed to summon forth the very rain itself. It was very clear, as she was a first-hand witness, that it was magic that caused the rain. It was magic that she had never before seen or heard of. The men of these lands tended to use magic to cause harm. She used it to reverse harm already done. This... was too fascinating to ignore!

Her eyes lit up with pure joy, comparable to that of a child being given a gift they’d long awaited. She looked up at the sky to find the newly formed clouds above the grove. What a beautiful power he had. If only she had such a talent...to call the rain when she desired it. For once, she felt jealousy for another being... This stranger with the gorgeous white hair.

“Leviathan? What a remarkable name,” she muttered through her shock, finally lowering her chin to meet his gaze again. She smiled, almost shyly this time. “Never have I been witness to such a magnificent power as yours. Tell me...is it common to your kind or can it be taught?” It was all that she could do to contain her excitement and keep from attacking him with question after question. She wanted to know what he was, but did not want to pry too far. Then, she would want to know everything about the race and what other hidden talents he might have... where he was from, what they were like, what his full form looked like.... She could go on forever.

[Leviathan]

It seemed that this female. This fairy reminded him much of the smaller schools of fish that shared his ocean. The small tended to be energetic. Excitable. Not that this was a bad thing. Merely that he was drawing a similarity between size and personality. It was this comparison between fish and slightly superior insect creature though that made him feel slightly more at home around this one. The curiousity in her eyes was quite apparent. And a sly grin spread up his face. He wondered the if like the others she would be bothered by such a form. Was she like the fish in that she was skittish. Perhaps. But something told him that sho would not be. Perhaps it was that smile on her face, the shy look of curiosity. But there was a strange air of acceptance in this place. And perhaps more than the pouring rain. This made it more relaxing in the land of the Jul.

She commented on his name, he didn’t find it all together that amazing. It was after all a name given to him by those who he had hunted. It was his understanding that it was more of a general term for his entire species in the tongue of the land walkers as opposed to a name for a singular individual. But still, he supposed that it did apply considering now that he was the lone scion of the Leviathan race. Next came the points about his power to make it rain, that made him smile.

Taking a sort of gladness in that she enjoyed it. But her question was a good one. And he didn’t really know the answer. “ My people have a connection to the water....we feel it all around us...it works with us as we work with it...it comes to us naturally”. Best way of explaining it really, he was born knowing some basic water magic’s, so it came to his people naturally. But was it limited to them? He doubted this. “ I do not think that it is impossible to teach...if a person is willing I think they could learn...but it would be like teaching you to swim....a fish can do so naturally, but land walkers need to learn through trial and error..”.

He tilted his head now curious about the girls own race. “ What can you tell me about your own people?”

[Aereth]

It seemed the stranger did not react to her getting closer at all. It was not too much of a surprise, considering how comfortable he seemed to be with her imposing before, but there was still enough to cause a stir in her mind. It was such a pleasant discovery. It had only been fairy kind that would accept her friendliness so easily until now. This realization led her to compare the two in her thoughts. It made him seem so alike the fairies. Accepting, friendly, loving to smile, and a general enjoyment in nature. How untrue the first part might have been, she did not yet know. Were she to learn of his contempt for humans, she might find something to disagree with, but for now all she saw in him was the positive.

In truth, she was a little disappointed by his answer to her questions, but in the end her excitement and joy were too great to let any hint of negativity to show. She found his analogy interesting, to say the least. While it may have been disheartening to hear it compared to swimming, something she was not truly skilled in, it was just simply interesting to listen to the way he spoke. He certainly was not from around here, this was apparent. He had the power to call water. It came naturally to him... He spoke of fish in contrast to ‘land walkers’. Was he a sea creature? He had to be. His name would have one think so, but names did not always have meaning.

Aereth’s excited grin tamed down into a simple proud smile. She was also pleased that he wished to know more of her own race. “Fairy kind are also born adept with magic, but of another nature,” she admitted in a friendly tone. She then held up her hand, palm to the sky, as a faint white light emitted. She had nothing to heal as a demonstration, so simply culling the power into light would have to do. ”White magic is our way. It hardly takes effort . Like swimming for a fish, I suppose.” The light in her hand sparkled then went out, her eyes lifting to look at him once again. ”Most live in tribes, like the one I was raised in. Some travel, as I do. Generally, we are peaceful. I have yet to meet an unpleasant fairy, I assure you.”

[Leviathan]

So the Leviathan continued to listen to the story of Aereth. She was indeed a kind hearted soul. And there was no need to have any fear of her. Not that there would have been much fear of course. Generally one as large as he did not have to fear the smaller creatures of the sea. But at the same time there as always the implied caution. Small creatures may not have large bites. But their poison could be far more potent than the larger ones. The fairies had magic like his people but it was different. White magic. He wasnt quite sure what in full that applied to. But if he had been learning well enough among the Jul and their words, then his mind brought him to the conclusion that they were a people of healing.

Which in truth. Kind of explained a lot.

It seemed though that her kind in general seemed to be quite nice. Although thena gain that was going off her own opinion of facts. but he wasnt going to question that. Leviathan was somewhat well, gullible. " Oh thats good, perhaps I should be speaking with more fairies then, the other land walkers haven't been particularly nice" Again his smile broke into a frown as he seemed to think back to the occasion in question. But that once again changed back to its usual beaming self.

" My people dont tend to talk to others much...or move beyond the sea really".

Of course he didnt mention the reason they didn't talk much was because mothers always said not to speak with their mouth full. But that sort of went without saying.

[Aereth]

Her curiosity had been tamed only temporarily. It had waned as he questioned her kind and she answered briefly, but his words again stirred it once more. He was, in fact, from the sea. A creature far different from herself, quite obviously. But, how different was what she wanted to know. All that she had to go on was that he was large, had magic to call water, and could change forms much like she did. But... did he have fins or wings? Was he a beast of the sea or some sort of bird or dragon? Dragon... that would explain much, but there were still so many possibilities. Oh, but how thrilling would it be to meet a dragon! And one so sweet as he. She had never heard such pleasant stories of dragons, but she did not like to assume truth in rumor.

Aereth’s smile faded into a frown as well – which would be shocking to anyone who knew her, as she so rarely let go of a smile so easily. It was disheartening to hear that others had been unkind to him. “I do not see what would tempt any to be anything but nice to you. You have been nothing but nice to me. Alas, I cannot say I always understand how the minds of men function.” She let out a chuckle before continuing, her smile already replacing her unhappy frown. ”Such silly creatures do walk these lands, while the intelligent kind-heartened ones quietly walk among them.” It was possibly the most negative thing she had ever said about another race...while delivered through a kindly spoken tone.

“If the sea is where you find comfort, I cannot blame you for wishing to remain there. There are many unhappy experiences to be had in these lands, but also many happy ones that make wandering it worthwhile, in my opinion.” Aereth tilted her head as she analyzed her new friend’s features. Perhaps it is as she thought... If he were a dragon, it would explain why people were so unjustly mean to him.

”Are all of your kind as sweet as you?”

[Leviathan]

More discussion among the two and it seemed that they only had more to agree on. Humans with their defects could be considered silly creatures. But part of him understood why they did not like him. “ It is a sense of...foreignness...I think, they do not like what they do not understand what is new to them...I think it frightens them”. He went quiet for a moment. This was ultimately in the long sense true. People got into routines, to normality. And when something came into that routine that was different. Things were thrown into chaos. That light of curiosity returned to her eyes. He wondered just what she wanted to know about him. He nodded at her next comment about the sea. Indeed it was the place where he found the most comfort. It was home after all. Everyone felt more comfortable in their homes. “ I have seen many nice things whilst travelling this land, but many bad as well...this place and you have been among those nice things, and the food! So many new things and flavours to eat!”. Of course likely her idea of food was much different to his. After all Leviathan were known for their ravenous appetite which tended to include well...more or less anything.

Then she asked him a question about his own kind which caused the bodyhe was in currently to do something strange. His face felt unusually warm. He did not have a name for what it was. Externally she would be able to see his blush as he tried to answer her question. “ I-I cannot honestly answer that...for I do not know how to...I have never met another of my kind, so I cannot say for certain what they are like but I do hope that they are-were, of similar mind”.. His final words in that sentence hinted at his status as the last scion of the leviathan. He tilted his head.

“ Is there anything else you wish to know?”