"I told you we were being followed!"
There's a sigh, and a cloaked figure steps around the corner, embers flickering around him like fireflies or orbiting stars. Well, that would be the bird-smell, then - you can see a hooked, hawk-like beak set under alert, attentive eyes.
He scans the room, raises one clawed hand - and a volley of embers streak out, surrounding one of the spiders, then flaring bright.
One hit, one kill. Yes, definitely
not someone you
-want to fight-1. The second spider goes down in flames a moment later - it turned to confront the new threat, and was caught entirely unprepared when a second gesture from the mage caused a lance of fire to lash out from the still-smoldering corpse of its compatriot.
"Clear."
He stalks towards you, and a second figure comes into view around the corner: a two-tailed vulpine lady with pale golden fur, wearing a somehow-pristine white dress set with- are those sapphires? Your gaze focuses in on the gemstones. Small. Medium quality. Reasonably well cut and obviously enchanted, though - likely that has something to do with how the kitsune's outfit is free of dust or stains.
You don't have any gems at all.
-You'll need to fix this.-
Though... maybe not here and now...
"-do you mean, 'clear'? There's a monster right there! It's looking at me!"
Huh. People don't stop doing things just because you're busy looking at gems?
2
"Rude."
"See?" The avian has turned back to glance at his companion, an open book in one hand. (Why does that seem familiar?)
"Not a monster. Monsters don't talk. Excluding tax collectors, of course. No," he turns back to look down at you (wait, he's in reach of your tail, when did that happen? Oh, right, you were looking at gems.)
"She's obviously a dragon. How very interesting."
"A dragon?" the fox yelps, taking several steps back.
"But- what- Why are you acting like that's better?"
There's a momentary urge to just attack these two
-obviously-incompetent adventurers-. One of them has been foolish enough to walk right into your reach. The other gives every indication of being even less capable. And, now that he's this close, you can tell that there isn't even a third - the one in your reach smells of both bird and cat. Perhaps he has a familiar hiding under those robes. Perhaps he's more griffin than pure avian. Hard to tell with the concealing robes in place.
Your tail twitches.
Shadows pool around the adventurer's feet, then fade again as his eyes flick over and note that that wasn't an actual attack. Hm. It seems he's not as obliviously incautious as it had appeared, though how whatever defense that was would fare against an actual attack...?
Probably best not to test that just yet.
Where were you? Right, conversation was happening.
"Of course a dragon is better."
"Exactly! There hasn't been a verified dragon sighting anywhere on the island since Garscander's Folly-" He's scribbling excitedly in his book, now, a feather-quill pen in his off hand while the other holds his book open.
"-And I'd appreciate it if there continued to be no 'verified' dragon sightings."
"Oh, no worries on that account, madam - I'm just taking notes for my own personal research. Ah. Speaking of - might I inquire your name? I am Tarin Ashfeather."
"My name is-"
-Your name is--
There's a void, there, where there ought to be meaning. It feels like the answer should be right on the tip of your tongue, but then there's just... nothing.
...
"-not for the likes of you to know."
Nailed it. That won't be suspicious at all. Everything is fine here.
"Oh. Well. Hm. Do you mind if I call you 'Zageya', then? It's an Old Imperial word that roughly translates as 'spear', which," he gestures at your tail,
"seems fitting, really."
"Or we could just shorten all that to 'Notfor'."
[] Name:
"...Zageya will do."
- Not like this is permanent; you can correct him once you remember your actual name. You're confident that will happen any moment now...
[] Name:
"Yes. I mind."
- Punt. This'll probably get you called 'dragon', or maybe 'hey you', which isn't the most dignified... but better than a fake name? Maybe?
[] Name (Write-in):
- Well, you're on the spot now. Quick, maybe you can come up with something else? That's not "Notfor", at least. That was terrible and you'd absolutely bite her for it if she were in range.
(Please do also note, again, that yes, I reserve veto rights over write-ins. "Notfor" is preemptively vetoed. So is "Argelasterixionaga the Terrible, Scourge of the Catacombs". Simple nicknames like 'Spike' or 'Blue' are fine, as is anything sufficiently dragon-y that's not too over the top.)
1 For added clarity, I'll note that the emotion here is more along the lines of playful cruelty than hatred or anger. Mindless skeletons and maddened, rotting spiders just aren't particularly
fun. You're quite confident this one would taste much better.
2 Reality - or whatever passes for it in this story - does not, it seems, have a convenient pause button. As the dragon says, rude.
