Welcome to Gaia! ::

The marsh was in it's last few days of sunlight. Frogs and fish began to come out. Taking advantage of the cooling earth. Insects buzzed around, a norm amongst the watery land of which Delta Herla called their home. Some would call them crazy, stating in a place that could eventually mutate their genes and make them look like monsters. It was too late though, many of them were already changed or on the verge.

But, there were a select few whom did not share their brethren's far off looks. Rogues, runaways, hidding from the mainland they had called home and mingling amongst the delta. One of these had been a male from the mainland. Coming as a traveler and planting his seed in a young delta fay.

Thus, we come to one of those children which the male from the mainland had produced. An enduring red, as many put it. It was because of this he found himself alone most of the time. His stern face and clipped attitude coming off as someone who had a bad temper. It was not that, he just liked order and was not all that...social.

Ahote was far away from home today, having taken a few days for himself. Becoming of age, he was given the freedom to come and go as he pleased. Like any day, he roamed, explored, and learned. But if you were to ask him, he would say he would rather be with his sisters and mother. Providing protection seeing as their father had passed before their birth. Only his sisters and mother had ever seen the soft side of the young male, knowing of the kind soul that lives beneath the rough outer appearance. A rumble from his stomach made the male stop, looking around for a suitable meal. Like many, he ate grass, berries, and roots. It seemed grass with cat tails in it were on the menu. Never to be a picky one, he walked over and began to munch on it.

Rippit!

Looking down, he tilted his head as a frog jumped not far from him. As the grass moved, he ducked behind the grass and peered through it. Orange and yellow hair giving him away somewhat. Ahote's ears gave a twitch, cautious as he peered at this stranger. It was a mutant Herla. At first he thought it was a female, the way it's hair was long and it's face slender. A jewel was on it's forehead, glowing in the growing darkness. He raised an eyebrow as the strange Herla licked it's lips. Just what was she planning?

((sorry it took me so long, and I know boo is a boy, but I want to give ahote a scare xD ))

Ahote almost jumped himself when the purple and white Herla did. Her attributes clear now. The female was part feline, and meat eater. Telling by the way she just grabbed the poor critter between her jaws. Having never meet a meat eater before, the herbivore gawked. Watching in morbid fascination as the frog was eaten. Relief washing over him as the Herla's hair blocked his view of the truly gruesome scene. Only able to listen to the sounds.

But now, he was able to grasp a look of the mutant. Cat ears, long purple hair everywhere, and black scales it appeared along her joints. Ahote felt himself blush as he watched how her muscles moved as she feasted, unsure if to be scared or smitten by the predator. He gave a start, giving his head a shake. No! This was a some strange Herla he had never meet before, thoughts such as these should not exist. Never being good with girls, he decided to just leave her to her meal.

That is until his foot made contact with another frog, this one luckier then it's friend, and stumbled back forward as it let out a loud croak at the intruder. Ahote wasn't really scared, just startled slightly after having just witnessed a frog get eaten and did not want to kill one himself. The memory would haunt him. Thus, the short haired Herla found himself bare of his cover, out in the open for the female to see him. Crap.

"Ummmm, hello. I'm sorry, obviously you are eating and I need to go." Turning his back on the other, something he rarely did, the 'enduring red' tried to make his grand escape as to keep some of his dignity. Hiding his embarrassment as he kept his heas held high and a firm stride. Stupid stupid!

Ahote gave a startle as the other talked to him, thus making him stay as so not to be rude. Looking over his shoulder, the fiery red watched as the other came from behind her cover. Only to reveal she, was in fact a he. The enduring red almost choked on his own tongue, unknowing of how he could make such a mistake. This was defiantly a trap of sorts!(just for you love xD) Uncomfortable with having his back to the other now, he turned and fully faced the hart and watched him with a critical eye. His trust was not so easily won.

“Nonsense, I was simply just startled.” He scoffed lightly, taking to offense the word ‘frighten’. There was no room for fear in these parts. With predators around every corner and strange Herla, there were more things to worry about then some simple gender bending Hart eating a frog. Ahote raised an eyebrow as the other stepped closer, bowing his head and giving the exact same look he saw in predator’s eyes. Yet knowing it was from one of his kind, the fiery red felt odd.

Boo? What an unusual name. Something he would expect when one poped out of the bushes to try and scare another, something his sisters attempted often. Not one to be rude, he placed his right leg forward and swept his head into his own bow. This time doing it correctly. “Ahote, it is a pleasure to meet you Boo. But please…” He arose, still with the stance of one who was of noble blood, and gave the Hart a small smile. “…Reframe from calling me Prince.” Ahote was not a cocky b*****d, he was in fact humble. But having heard the title 'prince' tacked on was not something new to him. It was funny, a b*****d son like himself being called such. Thus by such a georg-...no, no. Not going there. His smile quickly wore off, circling the other just so as to seem unweak.

Ahote’s face went into flames as the other was openly complimenting him. Calling him a prince and dashing, just what was he getting at? Always the thick headed one, the male had never really took note of such things. Most did flirt with the male, but never so openly! Poor Ahote, he never stood a chance. “Don’t be absurd, your just making things up now.” He huffed, turning his head away as to hide his reddening face. It was a good thing his coat had red already in it. If his sisters saw him making such a face, they would surely howl in laughter. But at the question, the red herla looked back to the mutant and shook his head.

“I am not use to someone such as yourself I suppose. Just please reframe from saying such embarrassing things.” He gave a exaggerated sigh, turning back to the grass he had just come from. If the other was hungry, he would not let him starve. “If you are so hungry then I will help you, but I refuse to kill them.” He explained, shifting through the long grass in search of that dastardly frog that had caused all this. May he pay with his slimy life!

Soon enough he heard it give another ‘riiipit’, revealing itself. Finding the large frog once again, he nudged it with his snot towards Boo. Being it’s guidance to it’s death he supposed. As so, a small twang of guilt did fill him, but Boo needed to eat and as such would gladly help in the male’s search for food. While grass and such did not move, providing easy meals. Living creatures put up fights and were not as easy to capture. Plus, this may hide the fact his face had been in such a state. As the frog landed next to the mutant herla, it just sat there. Unsuspecting of the death that laid right in front of it. Coming back up, Ahote gave a small start as he realized he was mer inches from Boo’s snout. Close enough to feel his breath upon the fur that surrounded his face. He tried to keep another burst of embarrassment down, always having been one for personal space. “Here….to make up for interrupting you earlier.” Ahote dead paned, brushing off it off. Why was he getting so flustered? Boo was another male, it wasn’t as if he would do anything. Plus they had just meet! He tried to back up and give the other some space as so he could take the damn frog and just get to eating.

Ahote was amazed by just how much one could tease. Obviously Boo did this enough to be so relaxed with it. He remained quite, choosing not to give in less he be humiliated further. The red heels didn't even flinch as he heard the sickening crack. The frog's croaks ceasing.

"Your welcome." He did not let the sickness show. After all, he was not called 'The enduring red' for nothing. It was when Boo came back, with a frog leg in his mouth no less, did he finally turn from the scene. "Didn't your guardians ever tell you not to play with your food?" Flickering his tail, the delta herla went off a small ways to drink water as to calm his nerves. And stomach.

Coming to the edge, he drank small sips, hoping it would help. Just seeing that...With the gators it was natural. But to see one of his own kind, no matter the genetic mutations, was a little sick.

Boo was truly a beautiful beast, yet also dangerous. Even if he was not on the menu, those teeth could do some damage. Washing his face off, Ahote let out a relieved sigh. At least he had managed to keep his lunch down. He did wish to converse more with the odd Herla, but he was unsure if he could also watch that.

Ahote made sure he himself was clean, lightly washing the wet dirt from his hooves. It wasn't until he heard the other talk about his guardians did he turn back. Knowing that he was done by this point. Walking forward, the red herla gave a chuckle as he watched the other yawn. Looking content and sated with the full belly. "To impress someone? I guess that would make sense." Obviously that was where this was coming from. Even his own mother would blush by this Herla's sheer words alone.

It seemed it was contagious as Ahote gave his own yawn, seeming drowsy as well. After all, he had been up since the sun first rose and it was a lovely day. Not quite wishing to go home, or be alone out in the open like this, he turned to Boo and gave a smile.

"Would you care to join me for a nap? It seems we are both quite tired." Ahote chuckled, seeing the droopy eyes the other held. Besides, sleeping with another to listen out would be nice. Truth be told, he also wished to know more about this beautiful creature.

Ahote gave a shrug, really not all that scared that Boo would do something to him. If he was, he would have done it already. "I figure its safer to get some sleep then go around half asleep." he explained, avoiding the bold comment. Walking forward, he brushed gently against the other male, on accident, and went to where the brush grew.

It would be thick enough for the gators not to reach them, but not enough as so they would be uncomfortable. Plus it was in the shade and the moss was growing nicely on the ground. Bedding himself down, Ahote awaited the other to join him.