[Sabrina]

Sabrina had spent so long in the open, crisp air of Bangor with her brothers and father that she had nearly forgotten how much Elysia made her heart pound erratically with excitement. She might be shy but she was pretty adventurous when there was an opportunity to be so, and realised how bored she had been back on Earth, despite being so close with all three of her brothers, for once. Everyone had noticed how changed a girl she was since actually making her way into Elysia over half a year ago, and Stan had taken a shining to Eva. It was obvious that even Stan was a little disappointed when both Sabs and Eva left Bangor again, but it had to be done.

It had to be done because Bangor was boring, as pretty and fresh it was. Sabrina had made something of a life for herself in Elysia, and so now she felt that she belonged there more than she did on Earth. Sure, it wasn't as if she had pointed ears or stood at just over three foot tall at the prime of her life, or had a beard even though she was a woman, but she still felt that she couldn't fit into Earth's society anymore. Her true race might be discreet to humans, but it wasn't home there, anymore.

After spending the majority of her time in town while on Earth, it seemed appropriate to visit the forest, her natural environment. She wasn't physically fit, but today, Sabrina felt almost giddy with energy, though she didn't wander far from the portal. It was pleasantly warm, and there was only a slight breeze. The Nymph tied her jacket around her waist, a little regretful that she hadn't chosen a skirt, instead of jeans and tennis shoes. On the plus side, the footwear was a good choice, especially since Sabs continually tripped over protruding roots and loose twigs on the forest floor.

Eventually, she sat in a little alcove between two old gnarled roots, with her back against the tree trunk and her feet wedged underneath the roots to keep herself in place. Sabrina was suddenly a little afraid, realising that coming alone was not the best thing to have done, because the forest was... silent. Too quiet. In fact, she preferred to have her back to the tree so nothing could sneak up behind her, and so she could survey the area around her like a monarch on a throne.

Sabs wasn't exactly the bravest person in the world, but she wasn't going back, because that would just prove what a coward she as. And she was not going to do that, not because no-one would ever know that she had chickened out, but because she could never face herself; it was only a forest - her natural environment -, and she could easily run, she was pretty nimble sometimes...

In distraction, she brushed her hand over the loose Earth and tested her own abilities, to see on what scale they were on. With a lot of concentration, the best plant she could create was a bluebell, but even then it didn't seem... right. A little on the small side. She tried again, and another bluebell sprung from the ground, a little bigger, and within the next five minutes, after using her utmost concentration until she had a headache, the ground around Sabs was literally just an area of bluebells.

[Alexis]

Alexis watched the eagle hover on the thermal from the top of the tree he was lounging in. He gazed in wonder at how, without flapping it's wings, it soared miles over the seemingly endless forest. Basking in the sunlight and reveling in the still silence of the forest, he let his mind drift, to his many wanderings with his old friends back on earth. most now dead. He remembered a time similar to this back on earth, feeling alone and free, up what must have been at least 40 feet above the forest floor.

For a time he simply lay there, letting his mind wander, and absorbing the radiant light filtering through the few leaves between himself and the canopy, before opening his eyes again like waking up from a deep sleep. Suddenly, the true silence hit him. The lack of birds singing, the chatter of squirrels. Nothing. The forest was never this silent. Well, not when there was no one except himself around. He smiled curiously, wondering who else was wandering around here, Before skillfully dropping down, branch by branch, to land on the forest floor, the layers of dead foliage, as well as grass and other smaller plants cushioning his fall, and masking the sound of his impact to a quiet thump.

He straightened quickly, looking for whoever else was around, somewhat apprehensive, knowing he had nothing of which to defend himself, except his skill as an outdoors man, but not very weary, knowing that no truly dangerous person would have quieted the forest so. After turning almost all the way around, He spotted the source of the silence, or at least what he thought as the source, as bits of an arm and leg, sticking out from the side of a tree, no doubt hiding the rest of the person relaxing there. Watching, he gazed on in surprise as Bluebells grew up from the ground around the person, before grinning, and slowly making his way around so he could see who was sitting there. Surely no one who made flowers grow around them was any danger.

[Sabrina]

¤ Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Kyuusho ¤ Aethereality ¤ Hanna Beth ¤

"Oh, damn it."

Sabrina giggled and decided to up the level of difficulty with her gift, so to speak. The best she could muster lately were flowers, or small herbs. She didn't think that shrubs were quite within her grasp yet, but she could feel life. Flowing through the plants around her, almost ricocheting through the trunk of the tree she was sitting against. The forest was deadly silent, though, and, although the life she could feel around her was definitely real, that was the only think that reminded her that she was not in a desolate place. Surely, if it was desolate, the life forces she could feel wouldn't be quite as cheerful, as it almost seemed now.

She was a person easily intimidaed or frightened, potentially because of the slight figure she laid claim to, but also because of how shetered a live she had led. The perfection was shattered only by losing her mother, and even then she hadn't exactly been fazed. But, going to Elysia was the best damn thing she'd done yet, and, with a grin as she cupped some loose Earth into her hands, and then let it slip through her fingers. As she brushed her hands together, sweeping off any traces of Earth, she froze. Footsteps. Behind her. Although she shouldn't be scared of another humanoid, caution, she supposed, was useful.

Sabs picked herself up on the ground, and brushed the dirt from her jeans. She would never admit it, but she was frightened, and, although she had been on display for quite a bit of a time, she pressed her back up against the tree as if she could make the person go away. Even though her being seen was inevitable, and she had probably sparked the curiosity of some unwitting individual, hoping for a quiet day in the forest. Oh yes, before she came along. biting her lip, no doubt looking the epitome of a tense person. So, she was just hoping that, whoever it was, was friend and not foe, and, were they the latter, they would clear off. Of course, the area of bluebells around her would probably pique someone's interest ("Nice decision there, Sabs," she thought sarcastically).

[Alexis]

Quietly walking to see who the person was without unduly startling them, Alexis gave a small start when whoever it was suddenly stood up, attempting to hide in the curve of the tree. Apparently he had not been as quiet as he had thought. He gave a start at the idea that someone might actually be scared of him, before letting out a light laugh, sounding somewhat like the tinkling of bells, as his mother had said. Abruptly becoming aware of the state of his clothes, he gave an attempt at straightening his shirt, and brushing off the dead leaves and bark that were all to visible against the white and gold cloth. Sighing at the fruitlessness of the task, he gave up and again walked, this time more obviously, around the tree to present himself to whoever was there.

About to speak, He gave a start at seeing a girl, roughly the same age as him, (In appearances anyways) apparently cursing herself for being noticed. Unable to speak, he simply stared for a moment, before realizing what he was doing, and tearing his eyes away. Still somewhat shy, he attempted to straighten his shirt again awkwardly, before forcing himself to stop. C'mon Alexis he thought to himself. She's just another person. He forced his eyes back up to meet hers, before speaking in what he hoped was a calm voice.

"I hope I didn't startle you..." He looked away again nervously, before again forcing his gaze back to her face, and this time forcing himself to keep it there.

"My names Alexis." He said, starting to hold out a hand to shake, before pulling it back, not knowing how the girl would take it.

[Sabrina]

¤ Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Kyuusho ¤ Aethereality ¤ Hanna Beth ¤

Sabrina obviously came across as a little frightened animal, scared back into her little hiding hole. That was probably an accurate way to describe her, and her lack of finesse in her decision to hide herself. Of course, it was unavoidable that she had been spotted, but it was perfectly acceptable that she treat whoever it was with caution. She had no way to defend herself, think about it; she was a Nymph and, thus, couldn't even give whoever it was a whack with a stick unless it was as a last resort.

And then, that laugh. A very pretty laugh, but she thought that the phrase she had used to describe it made the owner sound effeminate. With a small smile playing on her lips, she cautiously peeked around the trunk of the tree, quickly regaining her former posture when she saw whoever it was - her gaze on the person had been so brief, she had only gathered that he was male -, in a silly attempt to look casual.

"I hope I didn't startle you..." With what she hoped was a little more decorum, Sabrina offered a pleasant smile, leaning against the tree carefully. She wasn't exactly bad at socialising with new people, it was just more of the fact that the circumstances oftenly made her timid. "Oh, no, no. I was just kinda worried that you were..." She giggled sheepishly and waved a hand dismissively, automatically letting her cautious outer shell slip away.

Sabrina had noticed that she had been causing some discomfort in people lately, and she wasn't sure whether or not it was just her having a little more control over her allure, or not. She hoped it was the former, and not that it was just her personality that they deemed unattractive. So, she would endeavour to be as charming and as charismatic as she could to this fellow Elysian (who she now dubbed a Dracovari, seeing his slitted eyes and being vaguely reminded of Loranth).

"My names Alexis." Sabrina grinned and went to take his hand, and her slender fingers were nearly about to close around it. With a blink of surprise, she mimicked the action and dropped her own hand, blushing and then hoping that this didn't verify that her personality was somewhat ugly. "Enchanté." French was attractive, right? "My name's Sabrina, but you can call me Sabs." She said this with a smile, not allowing anything to faze her. She wanted to say something, but she wasn't sure what to say that would make her come across as the nice person she had always thought she was. So, she waved to the area of flowers around where she had been sitting, and burst into spontaneous laughter (she might be an open book, but she was glad to know that it didn't sound strained). "Don't ask. I was practising."

[Alexis]

Alexis struggled, more successfully this time, to gain control of himself and act more casual. Despite the fact that the nymph, whom he decided Sabrina was after truly taking in the bed of flowers around her, was seeming to take on characteristics of a scared animal, she came off to Alexis as very sure of herself. More so than she let on in any case.

After noticing her extend her hand to take his he cursed himself for withdrawing, but he couldn't very well take the action back without acting the complete fool. Struggling for something to say to excuse his presence here, he almost breathed a sigh of relief when she greeted him. He smiled more openly after hearing her address him in french, a language he had always liked. He gave a flourishing bow, hoping to overcome his nervousness before.

"Content de vous recontrer!" He grinned again, deciding to break the ice between them by mimicking the french accent many of his official teachers had on earth. He let himself stare at first her, then the bluebells before speaking on, imitating the accent many of his teachers had.

"Ahhh, but the bluebells are so pretty, how could I not inquire as to their origin? And Sabrina, ahh, it is such a lovely name to shorten simply to sabs! " He gazed at her in all attempted seriousness, before bursting out into laughter. After straightening himself Alexis looked back up at "Sabs", a warm smile on his face.

"But, truly, I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Sabs. "

[Sabrina]

¤ Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Kyuusho ¤ Aethereality ¤ Hanna Beth ¤

There, at least they had been able to connect. French was a pleasant language, one which Sabrina didn't stumble in or stutter in when she spoke the little french she knew, when she was nervous. It was strange because, when speaking her mother tongue, if she was nervous or uncomfortable, it would show on her face as well as in her tone and voice. Even if she wanted to be an introvert, she would utterly fail at the task of making herself one.

And, there it seemed that she was dazing yet another person. Personally, she had never met any other Nymphs (other than her family, and she didn't see the charm because of the light she viewed them in) before, and, thus, couldn't notice the captivaton. A pang of yearning hit her, with that thought; she had never met another Nymph who wasn't her kith and kin. In fact, she was suddenly aware that she didn't know a great deal of people in Elysia, or have a truckload of friends.

"Ahhh, but the bluebells are so pretty, how could I not inquire as to their origin? And Sabrina, ahh, it is such a lovely name to shorten simply to sabs!"

Sabrina grinned and felt her cheeks heat up, blood flocking to tinge her cheekbones and put her sheepishness on display, not that she needed any help from a blush. She had never particularly thought about her name, rather taking it for granted, and although it was all charming flattery, she appreciated it a little bit more. The only other person named Sabrina, that she knew of, was 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch'. And look what happened there.

For a moment, his pretense of the situation in all its seriousness had her going, and she was unsure whether or not take him lightly. Alexis was definitely turning out to be quite the character, she thought as she joined his laughter, her own sweet, light-hearted giggle joining his own. After the wave was over, she smiled, in what she hoped was a soft, friendly manner. "But, truly, I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Sabs."

"As I am to make yours. If you don't mind me asking, are you new around here? Or are you familiar with it? With Elysia, I mean."

[Alexis]

Alexis laughed again, glad to see his method of overcoming boundaries worked. He was never sure whether something he was going to say would be a hit, or simply make the situation awkward.
"As I am to make yours. If you don't mind me asking, are you new around here? Or are you familiar with it? With Elysia, I mean."
Alexis grinned, looking around at the forest. He still couldn't tell if she was a native or not, but by the way she had jumped, he guessed she wasn't. He most certainly did not consider himself a local. He had visited a few times before, but had mostly grown up on earth.

"No, I don't mind." He said, grinning. "I am new here, though I have visited a few times before. As such, I am taking my time to explore areas, as well as meet new people. Truly, you are the first real acquaintance I have made since I came here." He said the last with a grin for her. His previous visits had been with his parents, and they were very short lived visits. He had never had anytime to explore, or talk to people.

He gave a sudden grin. If all the people here were as charming and interesting as she was, he couldn't wait for the chance to meet more of them. But for now he relished the moment, talking to the first other person he had met who was also clearly nonhuman.

Again curious to find out more about Sabrina, as well as the natives here, he asked"Are you familiar with Elysia? It would be nice to have someone to explore the country with." He said the last with a bit of a blush and stutter, nervous about what reaction he might get.

[Sabrina]

¤ Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Kyuusho ¤ Aethereality ¤ Hanna Beth ¤

Sabrina wasn't new to Elysia anymore, and for that, she was glad. She had hated not knowing the landscape and the lay of everything, and how it had been like moving house (which it was, just moving dimension instead). She had known that it was basically a family-wide acknowledged fact that she, the most adventurous, would go on to discover their own heritage. So far, she had discovered nothing more than some of her abilities.

Well, whatever (did she perhaps overruse that line nowdays?).

She listened to Alexis and had a sudden wave of nostalgia, the memory of her own first few weeks in Elysia hitting her without any warning. She remembered how she had felt lost until she had met others, and that before she had made their acquaintance, she had been almost... frightened. Like when you're a little kid, and you move school, and it seems hard because there're intimidating kids and ignorant kids and downright mean kids and then this one nice kid who befriends you.

She offered a smile, as if reassuring him that it was just fine to be new and that she wasn't an unpleasant person. She had never been one to ridicule anybody, or mock them, or degrade them. Sabs had always been a pretty considerate person who, when, all flaws aside, could be a fierce, fierce friend. "Oh, yes! I know Elysia very well, now, or at least, most of the areas... Well, some. It's a big place, but I'm familiar with it." She grinned in response to her own words, almost bouncing on her heels. "Maybe, I could show you around a place I know? I could even help you with the portal system, it's easy once you get the hang of it."

---

ooc; we could move the roleplay to somewhere else in elysia, if you wanted. such as a more urban location.

[Alexis]

ooc: of course, just gotta show him how to use portals first, seeing as he wandered here, as has no ideas what they are.


Alexis smiled at the eagerness of his new acquaintance to give him a hand learning the area. He had always thought it was funner to explore with friends than simply by himself. And of course his ignorance was betrayed by her mention of portals.

""Maybe, I could show you around a place I know? I could even help you with the portal system, it's easy once you get the hang of it."" He gave a small start at the thought that there were more than just the one connecting Earth and Elysia.

"You mean there's more than one? Wow, and I thought I new a little about this place. Just goes to show how helpful having a friend would be." He grinned at Sabrina. It seemed he was going to have a little more trouble exploring this place than he did exploring on earth. And for once it seemed he would not mind being led around. He gave another start. What was coming over him? He was always the one to lead when exploring, even if the area was as confusing as this seemed to be. And yet she seems nice enough... he thought, before forcing his mind away from the subject. He needed something to distract himself, and his mind fell upon the portal system she had mentioned.

In an effort to subdue his wandering thoughts he addressed the question of the portals.

"So...If there's more than one...where do they go? And how do they work? They sound quite intriguing." He gazed at her expectantly, forcing his mind to keep on the subject of the portals with some difficulty.

[Sabrina]

¤ Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Kyuusho ¤ Aethereality ¤ Hanna Beth ¤

Justified by the fact that her allure was becoming stronger as she did the same, she really thought that Alexis was well and truly drawn into her web of terror. With a lopside smile at the thought, she had now found the secret to getting the attention of the people around her. And it was apparently the key to making new friends speedily, but... she felt as if the whole allure thing obcured herself, Sabrina. As in, her characteristics, her personality, what she enjoyed, et cetera... All the things that were compulsory for friends to know.

Essentially, it was partly a bit of a hindrance, and partly a help. Sabrina supposed her allure would be good for persuasion, she supposed. Though, she had never endeavoured to actually try such a thing, as in her eyes it semed pretty wrong to manipulate people with that kind of power. She wasn't sure, though, as to how strong a spell she could weave and how far her control over it extended. And, she wasn't all too willing to try. Best left alone for now.

"So...If there's more than one...where do they go? And how do they work? They sound quite intriguing."

Sabrina nodded and smiled at the onslaught of questions that she was to answer, giggling slightly at his eagerness to be made familiar with Elysia's main form of transportation. She was pretty neutral with the portals but they sometimes sent her into a wave of nausea when she stepped out from them, and she preferred to ride animals. Somehow, animals liked her and they didn't seem to be frightened of her, just a litle shy. That's why she had always liked - and yet been a little nervous of - horses, and now horse-like creatures, too.

"I don't know where they all go, but I do know that you can go anywhere you want with them. You just like... step into the glow, so to speak, and you think their destination. I'm pretty sure that it's safer if you think only of your destination, as I got lost once when I was thinking of something else at the same as I thought my destination. They're pretty easy to use, come on, I can show you." She had walked in a straight line from the portal when she had first arrived, skirting only around trees that got in her way, and had assured that she didn't walk too far away from it. "Look, there it is." She pointed to the glow two or three minutes later, grinning.

[Alexis]

Alexis gave small start, glancing at Sabrina warily after catching a hint of the lopsided smile, which seemed a little...malevolent to him. He followed after her cautiously for a minute, but when she gave no other sign of malevolence, seemingly turning back to her former self, he soon forgot the smile though he did remember a few lessons from his parents on his previous journeys to Elysia.

"You must remember, Alexis. Elysia is not like Earth, though it may appear so on the outside. It is a land of magic, as well as its inhabitants. Always be cautious, for you can never know what lies behind the beautiful shell of the flesh. Even the most innocent seeming creature can turn into a demon if you are not careful."

He shuddered at the thought of Sabrina turning into some sort of demon and chasing after him. His doubts were soon forgotten as they came into view of the portal. Though he had seen it's like before, when he had traveled from Earth to Elysia, he gazed on the portal with a new aw and respect as It's supernatural glow bathed Sabrina and him in an eerie light.

Anywhere? he thought, possibilities racing through his mind. Well, anywhere there was another portal no doubt. But what if you wanted to find someone perhaps? Would it take you to the portal nearest them? Thoughts flashed through his mind of methods for finding anyone, perhaps using a system of triangulation or some such. He circled the portal much like a large cat circling its prey, his Draconian instincts coming to surface at the new found possibilities. His ideas would have to wait though, until he knew more of this land.

A sudden thought burst into his head. "You say you got lost when you traveled before, by thinking of something else? Could this perhaps mean that they don't only take you to the destination you think of, but if you thought of a need they could take you to the place that is best suited to fulfill that need?" He looked up into Sabrina's eyes all but trying to force the answer out of her by sheer force of will, his eyes burning with an intense light sparked by all the new possibilities and his voice taking on something of a hiss.

He felt...good...inside. He had finally found something truly new and different from earth. He hoped this was the first of many new discoveries to take place. It felt to him as if the energies from all the wildlife around him were flowing into him, almost making the world go along with his happiness; He had never felt so much emotion before. He had never felt so...alive. He had truly entered a world where anything was possible, and every fiber of his being, as well as what seemed like the entire universe, was urging him to fly like Icarus, that Greek child from so long ago who had tried to touch the sun.

He grinned a fierce, joyful grin at Sabrina, pressing her to feel what he felt at that moment, hoping for and urging her with all the emotion in him to help him explore this new discovery of his.

"If we truly can go anywhere, then the World awaits. Where shall we go?"

[Sabrina]

¤ Piper's Boutique ¤ Dafont ¤ Kyuusho ¤ Aethereality ¤ Hanna Beth ¤

More than a little alarmed by how Alexis circled the mystic portal, like a feline stalking something, Sabrina raised an eyebrow and empathised. She had, when she had first been introduced to portals, been fascinated by their ethereal glow and by how magical the prospect of being transported to any place she wanted to was. Both in Elysia or in Earth, too. If confronted with the ludicrous notion of still feeling this way, she would heatedly deny it. It totally wasn't true.

But, his question left her a little shellshocked. She opened her mouth to speak and then shut it again, but frowned slightly in her uncertainty on how to answer. So, she stook for the classic 'it's an enigma, sorry' sort of thing. "I'm... not sure. I think it's when something else occupies your mind, you know?" Though, she answered with a bewildered look, which hopefully looked adorable enough so that he excused her lack of an answer for his question.

But, the intensity of his gaze made her flinch inwardly and smile back radiantly, pleased to have found a friend and a companion. Her day had been looking somewhat bleak up until now, and she sensed the prospect of adventure could be ahead. Though, where she'd really love to go, a place she had been craving to visit again ever since the first time -

"Danurai!" Sabrina had had an epiphany, once it was established that he was free to let her be the leader, and she grinned, her grin mirroring his own. "We can hire horses, okay, and go exploring. C'mon, it'll be fun!" There was that trademark peppy attitude that had seemed to dull once she had matured a little, but now... "It's back, baby." That youthful grin still on her lips, she dashed forward and snatched his hand, forgetting boundaries. Tugging him along, she yanked him mercilessly into the glow and thought hard about how much she wanted to go to Danurai.

---

ooc; would you like to continue in danurai? you can start the thread. gmod with permission, btw?

[Alexis]

ooc: started the thread "The World Awaits..."

________________________________________________________________________________

Alexis grinned, hearing the name of the city, as well as the new attitude that had taken over Sabrina. It seemed the proposition had exposed the child within her. He always preferred people when they let their true self's show. He could never understand what made people try to pull the masks over their faces to hide who they were. He gave a start as she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the tunnel. He grinned though, and started running with her instead of having her pull him, as a gleeful laugh sprang from his lips. As the light of the portal enveloped them, He concentrated all his will onto going to Danurai.

His life had truly begun it seemed, and he couldn't think of any better way to start it. He had once last glimpse of the tree and the bluebells, just on the edge of sight, before the light completely enveloped them, and they were gone.