` on the wing . [ammut]

[` eori .]

The dragon was starving, to put it simply. As usual, she hadn’t found a human kind enough to feed her in town, and until now she had been too lazy to hunt. But a rumbling belly wasn’t anything pleasant to deal with, especially not if it had been two days since its last meal. So it was off to some place secluded for the little girl to shift forms into the mighty reptilian one she so coveted. After all, a human child’s body was near-useless most of the time. Orphan children were considered inconveniences and were always in the way. Really, only another crying mouth to feed. Oh, how Eori wished she could show them who was really insignificant! But showing that she was a dragon would only get her into more trouble. People already thought her strange because of her eyes. It wasn’t her fault they glowed pumpkin.

The nearest place Eori found was a simple forest. The sun was nowhere to be found today; presumably it was behind the clouds that filled the sky, a darkening gray sheet that pressed down on the earth. In a moment there was no longer a child of only seven standing in the large clearing but a snowy white dragon, not large by the species’ standards but sizeable enough to pose a threat. She could, after all, take on just about any creature. And she fully intended to. Raising her ivory wings as high as they could go, Eori then slammed them down, the force rocketing her above the treeline and stirring up the leaves below in a frenzied whirlwind of orange and red and brown.

Once she had gained enough altitude, the dragon began to search for a meal. It had to be something worth her time, nothing small like a squirrel or rabbit. Though, if she had to, Eori would resort to such simple prey. But no, luck was with her today as her brilliant optics honed in on a well-camouflaged creature picking stealthily through the leaves. Perfect, she thought, beginning to fold in her outspread wings. Her body started into a shallow dive, rapidly deepening as she sped towards the ground. This cat was hers for the taking. The dragon’s forelegs extended out, ready to scoop up the seemingly unsuspecting creature from the ground.

[`Ammut,,]

This day was not going well, not going well at all. Every time he had tried to swoop upon an unsuspecting cart, he was fended off with a few whacks. Every single time. Damn, what was he supposed to do? Ammut had no other means of food except hunting. But... he was far too superior to hunt. Ravaging meat off of dead animals? Sounded oh, so unappetizing. It just wasn't his thing. Sure, he was mostly animal himself, but he didn't have any bestial instinct except for those senses of his. Therefore, there was no need to hunt. His human instinct told him to steal.

And when he couldn't steal, why not go for a walk through the forest? He wasn't going to kill any animals (unless they decided they wanted to kill him first), but perhaps there were some wild berries or fruit.

Ammut hastily changed from his human form to a sleek spotted leopard cat. He had large glassy eyes and an arrow-like head. His paws were small enough not to make a noise as he trumped through leaves and grass. His tan fur and pitch spots also blended in with the changing scenery. How could one not love being a leopard cat? They weren't domestic cats yet they were small enough to sneak into houses and not cause any ruckus.

The shapeshifter sat back on his haunches a moment, surveying his environment. So far, nothing to eat. Nothing even mildly interesting. Not even a creature stirred. Ammut looked up at the trees and was going to get a better view from there until he saw a bleak dragon hurtling toward him.

With the quickest of reflexes, he shifted into a large creature with one horn and tough skin. In defense, he also swiveled his head around so that the horn was facing the dragon, ready to impale it if it still decided to have him for lunch.

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[` eori .]

Dinner was in her claws. Eori could taste the little cat already, juicy and succulent. She always felt bad for killing innocent creatures. She never took more lives than she needed to continue her own, but it was still a simple fact of survival; kill or be killed, eat or be eaten. Though, not many would eat a dragon unless true desperation took over them, but still. She would rather be slain than die of starvation.

The hunting process was simple; dive, catch, kill, eat, then repeat if necessary. Eori was well into the first step and readying herself for the next one when suddenly her prey was no longer there. It had instead replaced itself with a rather intimidating foe, something the dragon had never seen before. She almost couldn't backpedal fast enough to escape the deadly-looking point upon its snout.

After scrambling backwards a bit, Eori finally steadied herself enough to land gingerly. She sat herself upon the ground much like a feline would, her four medium-sized paws pressed neatly together with her long tail curled gently around them. She was still poised to spring back in the air, however, if need-be. Her wings were placed carefully upwards, looking like two sheets caught mid-billow in a breeze. "I'm terribly sorry!" she said in her most apologetic voice, which echoed gently throughout the small space the two occupied.

Hopefully the creature could understand her. If not, she was going to vacate the area as soon as possible. Of course, she didn't know of any ordinary animals that could shapeshift as such. Perhaps it was a human in disguise?

[`Ammut,,]

Some measly little dragon was trying to have him for lunch? There was certainly no preying on Ammut unless you got quite a mouthful later.

When the dragon landed, Ammut swung his head back facing forwards and lowered it, ready to charge if need be. The dragon should be so lucky that it didn't come any closer to him. Otherwise, he might have had to change into a magnificent yet powerful creature. One with lightning fast reflexes and muscular limbs. A big cat? Certainly. His favorite: a panther. Though, for a dragon he might need something bigger. A chimaera, a manticore, he didn't know. But if that dragon made one more move toward him, he was ready to shift and strike.

"You're terribly sorry, hm? I ought to charge and rip out your insides right now. That make a good apology. Because... isn't that what you were going to do to me?" Ammut snapped, quickly changing back into a leopard cat. He outstretched his one wing and then gave his feathers a few licks. Then with a glare toward the dragon, he snapped it back to his side.

"Why don't you leave now before I change my mind," he snarled, standing with his back arched. The fur on the arc of his back stood straight up and his tail bristled almost like a bottle. Ammut brought his front paw up, leaning backwards with a glare up toward the dragon. Sure, it looked like a pathetic attempt to scare a dragon, but he was prepared to change if needed, and he was sure this dragon knew that by now.

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[` eori .]

That ungrateful little--! Eori could have killed him easily just now and he threatens to harm her! She had apologized in earnest, after all. But, she wasn't going to provoke him further. It wasn't wise, especially not with the powers she assumed he possessed. Besides, the shifter seemed to have quite the temper and a simple spark from her could send him up in blazes.

In an attempt to show him no ill will, the dragon transformed from beast to little girl in a matter of seconds. Her tangled blonde hair tumbled down her back as usual and her intriguing orange orbs locked onto the one-again spotted creature.

"I really am sorry," she said again, her eyebrows raised a bit. "I didn't think you were more than simply a cat from my vantage point. I was only trying to find food for myself, you see. It was foolish of me to assume, and I apologize." She took another step back, just to insure her safety. She needed all the precautions she could because, damn her curiosity, she had a question. "Why do you only have one wing?" she asked, cocking her head slightly to one side for a moment.

[`Ammut,,]

Hm, interesting. So this dragon was really a girl? And a rather young girl at that? Well, no matter. Ammut would treat her the same as if she really were a vicious dragon. He hated everyone the same, so why not?

He had no intention of showing her his human form. Not at all. He was a mangled, misshapen being. At least in his beastly forms, his beastly wing was somewhat normal. As a human, it was odd and out of place. Only freaks had one wing. There were people with wings, born with wings, but they also had a pair of them. So it wasn't so odd.

"Simply a cat? Simply a cat! I can take on any form I want to. I could take on yours if I wanted. But it's of no use to me, so why would I?" Ammut snapped back at her, throwing his snout in the air.

Then the dragon girl asked him a question that threw him a little off balance. Literally. He stumbled a bit to the side, but immediately threw a hiss at her to not make himself seem so clumsy or air-headed.

"You ask why I have only one wing? For the same reason a bird has no song. Because it's a freak of nature. You're a freak of nature. Do any other dragons have snow white scales that you've ever seen?" he returned matter-of-factly. Like he would really tell this person he just met his whole life story. Especially since she had tried to eat him. That was just unsportsmanlike. If she really wanted to know, she'd have to have him on his dying breath. Ammut didn't reveal anything about himself nor did he want to.

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[` eori .]

This male was quite the arrogant species. Eori was amazed he had even survived this long. Many creatures with such an attitude, one that led them to believe they were below none and above all, were generally the first to perish, at least in Eori's experience. The only ones who escaped such a fate were either royalty or quite cunning along with the crippling pride to provide a life-retaining balance.

"It was only a question, no need to become all flustered on my account," the girl remarked, her wide child's orbs narrowing a bit. And then, without warning, she spun around on her heel and turned her back completely on the half-winged feline. Her expression was completely void of any emotion, not that he would see.

Perhaps it wasn't wise of Eori to do so. Exposing herself entirely to attack wasn't, in fact, one of her more thought out moves. But, if this creature wouldn't accept her apology and would continue to insult her, what good would he be? Unless, of course, she chose to turn around and attack and make him her meal after all. But then, that would be even more cruel, and knowing she was taking the life of something bright enough to use communication and probably also with a family wasn't something Eori wanted to keep on her conscience for eternity.

[`Ammut,,]

Why was this girl still hanging about? Did she like being mocked by Ammut? Or maybe she liked silently mocking him? Well, if that was the case, he could certainly show her what he could do. His tongue was sharp, but his claws were also. And not just in this form; in about any form he changed to.

Ammut grinned the only way a cat knew how: by drawing back its lip and revealing its teeth. This person seemed to be growing angry with him. That was funny, because she still wasn't leaving. In fact, she had turned her back on him. Not a wise move. But, he wasn't angry enough to attack her, nor was he stupid enough to attack her in this form. And he shifted, she would surely hear.

Hm... without further thought, Ammut shapeshifted into an osprey, one of his favorite animals. He silently lifted himself into the air with his black wings and perched on the girl's shoulder. Though, it wasn't exactly a friendly gesture. To keep his grip on her, his talons burrowed deep into her shoulder, and even more so knowing that she had turned her back on him.

"Are you angry because you are a freak or because I told you that you were?" Ammut said quite magnanimously. Truly, he didn't care. He just wanted to make the dragon more irritated than she already was. Maybe then she'd leave him alone to forage. All in all, it was just a scheme to get her away from him. If it worked, he'd be almost kind of surprised. This girl was very persistent... it almost made him suspicious. Was she someone from the Queen's Army or something? No, that wasn't possible. His parents didn't want to see him nor did the Queen care about a single person.

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