Time to learn him something...

[zhilbar]

Warily entering the Nexus just long enough for Naoko to lead him over to the dimensional locator, he dropped in a scale and got the coordinates. The girl wanted to be the one to input them, but he'd do it himself.. Can't let the vassals do everything, right

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[zhilbar]

He really should be paying more attention to her, but at the moment he's just making sure not to hit her with tail as they go down the tunnel. Keeps trying to convince himself that this is all wrong, he must have been mistaken, this isn't home at all.. And when he turns into a cavern littered with goblin courses he can ALMOST manage it. Except the curve looked so familiar..

Going a little bit further, nearer to his own clutch's teaching chamber, he tries rationalizing, figuring what could be wrong with his sense of recognition, "Just wanting it to be more righ- Dear BAHAMUT!Older!Zhil is going to be so embarrassed about that one

[zhilbar]

It's the wing that really causes the pain. He's not going to be using that for awhile.. but what's the tinyperson doing?

She's cleaning it? OWOWOWOWOWgood to get those stoOW!OW!OWnes out of there, at least.

"Oh? What wi-nrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!" You know what that sound is? That's the sound of cold water meeting hot dragon, and yes, it certainly DID sting. On the plus side, the suddenly-boiling water must've gotten out whatever germs were left while turning to that cloud of steam, right? That's what boiled water does!

Good thing you had that scarf touching in him and not your fingers, Naoko.

[mistressnaoko]

Naoko jumped back as the water hit the blood. She'd completely forgot about dragons being literally hot blooded creatures, but at least it should kill whatever germs was around.

She waited till his wound had stopped steaming and looked up at him. "I'd forgotten about the cold water... Forgive me, dearest one," she did sound sorry, but her senses were a bit more alert. Something was hiding far below where they were, and they had stirred... although not enough to know that she and Zhilar were high above them.

[zhilbar]

"Well, you did say it would sting.. I'm sure no-one would accuse you of being a liar." He smiled a little, even though the strain of doing so showed plainly.

"Shall we continue?" It looks like a narrow, twisty road comes down from the ledge.. but while it may be slower, it's still a lot better than flying with a messed-up wing!

[mistressnaoko]

Naoko shook her head. "Just give it five minutes, and then we'll continue, alright?" she smiled.

She looked at the narrow road; it was more than wide enough for a human, but it was very narrow for a dragon; the width suggested that perhaps it had been carved out for humans, as three could walk it abreast and not fall off it, but she wondered if there were humans in this place.

After five minutes, they began the descent down, with her leading the way.

[zhilbar]

Five minutes later, he just ached more, as the feeling had time to settle into the joint and make every movement of that wing agony. Luckily, he didn't have to move it very much; the trail provided little enough space for stretching, but serpentine movements were second nature to a dragon. Hatchlings often used such paths before they learned to fly..

Still, he was glad that they were over a cliff instead of somewhere that was steep on BOTH sides, as they gradually wend closer to that ominous presence...

[mistressnaoko]

She went ahead with cautious steps, often going slow so as not to strain his wings. Though he hid it, his involuntary winces told her that waiting may not have been the best idea; it might have been better for them to keep moving. Even so, she couldn't overcome the dread feeling boiling up; there was something down there.

"Are ye alright?" she asked him as they descended, hoping to break the silence.

[zhilbar]

"..Just ..fine!" He's so totally lying. Of course, he hasn't taken his oath as a Truthspeaker yet, so had best get it out of his system while he still can!

"How about yourself?" Oddly enough, at this point she's unquestionably better at sensing things than he is. The babe has no idea anything's up ahead! OW. Wing. Don't show nothin'!

[mistressnaoko]

"I'll be fine, dear one," she smiled. Truth to be told, she was getting more and more alert as they walked down. If Tiny!Zhilbar could sense it, Naoko was letting her usual tight control over her powers slip little by little.

A whip appeared by her waist, materialising over a few minutes. The armbands she wore got more shiny and gleamed. Her eyes had flecks of gold, yet one would not be able to notice it unless they were looking for it.

Sukina would have known immediately that her sister was preparing for battle, and not even berserkers would stand against her.

[zhilbar]

Sadly, (Relatively)Tiny!Zhilbar has roughly the extrasensory perception of an average brick. The changes go unnoticed, at least until he looks at her again.. But he's beginning to smell somethng that's making him uneasy..

"Are you catching that?" Yay, ambiguity!

[mistressnaoko]

Naoko barely nodded, her hands tense. They were approaching a corner, and whatever was behind it was resting, but it *was* there. Every instinct of hers screamed caution and care, but none were urging her to run away. Instead, she was more concerned for the hatchling behind her.

"Yes... something this way stinks," she grinned.

[zhilbar]

They round the corner, ready for just about anything, and...

It was a cockroach.

Okay, a bright red DEMON cockroach, about the size of a weiner dog, but still!

"Fear me, fear me! Ohshit." It seemed the roach just noticed the dragon behind her.. Who then snatched out with one paw and grabbed it, ebony claws pricking lightly in five very vulnerable spots.

Apparently, Zhilbar wants to know something. "...What ARE you?"

Hopefully, Naoko's questions will be more useful.

[mistressnaoko]

Naoko, unfortunately, is more amused than frightened. Cockroaches the size of this one though was unusual, and the random "Fear me!" scream seemed more like someone who was insecure about his size, which made her think that perhaps the change had been recent.

"What's your name?" getting up close and personal with prisoners always unnerved them.

[zhilbar]

"I am Krahe, scourge of nations! STOP THAT, I AM!" Apparently, lilZhil had just flexed his talons a little bit inward.

"I am the demon roach that brings terror and chaos in his wake! You better tell your pet not to mess with me, Missy; I KNOW people! All the way up to Darastrivaeralar herself- OWOWOW QUIT IT!" Mmmyep, you guessed it; Zhilbar didn't like that 'pet' crack.

"..Who?"

[mistressnaoko]

Naoko's reflex was just a second behind Zhilbar's, mainly because she pulled out her leather gloves and then proceeded to slap the cockroach as hard as she could.

Which in a normal human, might have resulted in their head spinning off their body. In this cockroach though, it twisted his head about 3/4 of the way, which made him look like a cockroach that had its head nearly twisted off. It could still talk though. In her anger, Naoko had retained enough sense to not kill the roach outright.

"He's. Not. My. Pet." Each word was delivered in a cold, precise tone.

[zhilbar]

"GAAH! You crazy bitch! AAAAAGH!!! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ABOUT AUGH!!" Bitch? Oh, no babe. Talking about Naoko like that is a one-leg penalty, didn't you know? You might even get beaten with this pulled-off leg, if you don't get your act together!

"Fine, WHATEVER! Your baby-daddy, your B&D boss, your pack mule- Just make him STOP!" Uh-huh, more pain. Zhilbar's enjoying this a disturbin amount, by the way...

"You said a name. Who is it?"

"It's the big boss of these parts! Keep going this way, and you'll reach her cave- but unless you've got a death wish, stay the hell out! If you do, have fun dying horribly." Even in the throes of agony, the roach is still a dick.