Kastanika's borders

"Oh! Uhm..." He'd never sold any of his wares to a stranger before, mainly because no one had ever crossed the border 'til now. "How about you just take this one on me, and tell any of your friends or people about what I sell? You're the first to ever come into this city from the outside, that makes you special."

He extends his hand to give the lotion to her.

"Thank you very much..." She takes the lotion, going to test it on one of her vampires to see if it really works.

The traveler decided upon Kastanika again; he didn't know what drew him in to the sheltered city, but the secrecy left a curious, burning ache that he had to assuage. Romano wanted to unpick the very threads of the city, and it would start with the hot-headed bunny-thing-person he had met before. 

"Hey! I'm back!" He called out on the outskirts of the city, glaring at the high walls as if they were going to lunge back at him.

ooc omgomg i jumped on as soon as you messaged me lmao
welcome back <3

ic 
"State your business, deceiver." Fierre regarded him in a flat, almost bored tone. His patience would not easily be tested today, for preparing for the incumbent war between the Diarmidians and Kastanika had kept the shifter's temper under check.

His tail was tucked under his army jacket, long ears pointed backwards in a defensive position.

"We hold no ill will against you, and wanderers are free to pass. You must however, tell us why you're here." Fierre made it seem like he was reading off a script,

"Well, ya see," he began, knotting his fingers together in a nervous motion, lopsided grin trying to shroud his anxiety under veiled confidence. "I got nowhere else to go, buddy. Heard Kastanika had been put on the map after so long. Maybe you'll put up with an outsider like me? I can be real useful." 

As he touched the ends of his hair they morphed from a deep auburn to neon pink tips, smile wavering. "I can be anyone you want to be, or just a simple labourer. I'm not fussed; I just want to help." Sincerity ran clear in his tone.

It took him mere moments to make his decisions, baring his teeth in a large smile. "That's not a problem at all. You can live amongst us shapeshifters - under my protection, even. Do you know how to fight?" Fierre decided to take the man under his wing; at least he could keep a sharp eye on him in that position.

"Yes, I was taught by my traveller friends before we went our separate ways." He insisted, before his lips graced into a smile. "I've heard of you, Fierre. Your people fight with the appropriate force of your shapeshifting animals. I believe I could find a group who fight like I do."

He drew his legs into a balanced stance, precise and practiced in his movements. "You will not need to protect me." He appreciated the offer, but he did not want to appear a burden to his new ally - the only one who would take him in.

ooc i see you read my bio post then!

ic Fierre appraised the man in front of him, considering which clan would be suited to his abilities. Of course, he couldn't know from one martial pose, but he had an instinct on where Romano belong.

"You hear correctly. I am the Swiftbound, the practices of the Stealthborn clan are second nature to me. Your style is similar to ours, but you also seem to possess traits of the Vanguard. Perhaps you would like to fight me, or challenge all of the clan leaders so we can make a joint decision?" He proposed it as a choice, but it was clear Fierre wanted all of the clan leaders to help him place the new blood into their world. Having only ever tested one other non-native, he did not perceive his judgement alone to be best, even though he was the sovereign leader.

"The decision is ultimately yours, but I would like to test you, so we can improve on your strengths." Fierre became cordial in that moment, his feral nature carefully diminished for now.

ooc yes! Very enlightening. (Tell me more!)

ic He noticed the change in the man, the subtle differences which identified him as a leader, rather than just a simple clan member within Kastanika. He could feel it in his heart - the authority Fierre held - it was like it came naturally to the Swiftborn. Perhaps it did, but Romano doubted that. It was a warm pressure, one that pushed but did not force his mind into making a particular decision.

"Would be honoured." He grin broadened, revealing crooked teeth. "I'm a bit scrappy but I'll find a way round you all. When do we start?" He had switched from his polite voice to his casual tones, as if he was acting the opposite to the person in front of him.

Romano did not relent from his position, expecting the fight to start immediately. Hell, in the past it had.

"Now."

He shot forward, his passive posture from before suddenly morphing into one of sheer precision and agility, feeling the wind batter against his face as he drew his claws. His speed was borderline insane - usually a shapeshifter with very keen eyes would be able to track his movements, but nobody else. He would see what Romano could do, but would ensure he was prepared for the other clan leaders. 

He darted at Romano, claws ready to slice at the boy's sides. He aimed for his waist, honing his senses into that one area. If he was agile enough, he could strike twice before moving out of harm's way. In that moment Fierre became one with his speed, a living entity of the being he became when he transformed. Traces of his jaguar nature could be spotted in his features, but he hadn't changed yet.

Holy crap, the man was fast.

He felt a tear at his left side, hands darting to cover the wound as he barely kept with Fierre's speed. Eyes scanning between the blur of movement, he changed his mind and placed himself into a defensive position, realising that the shifter was not going to relent. He was the Swiftborn, why would he?

As his heels burrowed into the ground he took a step back, deftly pivoting on his toes. Instead of fighting the increased wind he moved with it, trying to anticipate Fierre's next move. He was unsure how to approach fighting someone so agile, deciding not to strike back yet. When Romano fought, it was far more calculated than most others.

His manner was almost rabid, charging at the man with a reckless precision that... threw him off guard. Why wasn't Romano moving? what was he planning? This slight falter in his movement swayed him, causing him to slow down and reconsider his action. What was he going to do? counterstrike? use brute force to knock him over? 

There was so much he didn't know about his opponent and it mystified him.

No, he didn't have time to think like this; He had to trust his instincts. He bolted forth, fully extending his claws and baring barb-like teeth. A growl hummed from his throat, escaping as he tore towards him again. This time, he was going to plant a bite in his legs.

"Fighting on impulse is your weakness, y'know." 
A cocky smile graced his lips as he deflected the attack, using Fierre's own energy against him as he sent the shapeshifter hurtling past him, narrowing redirecting the boy's movement. Sadly the razorlike teeth had broken the skin, a trickle of blood seeping down his legs into the floor. It smelt vile, the stench of rotting corpses tainting the air around them.

"Try again." He steeled himself, waiting for an onslaught.

He stumbled, almost toppling to the ground with the redirection of his attack. But the smell-
oh god, the smell.

It defiled his sensitive nostrils, the pungent stench practically rotting at his own insides. How did it smell so awful? Fierre couldn't comprehend how anyone could think clearly with such an overpowering, disgusting reek.

But somehow he gritted his teeth, blocking out the assault on his senses. He was about to descend into blind rage... but he stopped. He mimicked his opponent, carefully planning his next move. Romano was relying on him exerting his energy, dashing towards him and failing. So this time he'd let the boy approach him on his terms. 

He drew his posture back into a fighting stance, clearly not ready to give up. He had broken skin, the surface, and that was all the inspiration he needed.
"Ladies first." He teased, still baring his now bloodied teeth.

Ooc lol Mexican standoff

Ic A sharp, shrieking chuckle filled the air as the laughter left his lungs. He felt a sense of amusement at the battle, a feeling that had long evaded him since he committed to traveller life. 

"I am really enjoying this." He said aloud, as if for that brief moment he had forgotten that Fierre was ready to tear into him. Either way... Could he be looking at a new friend?

"I think my strategy was fine, how 'bout you come over here instead twinkletoes?" He winked, the laughter erupting again.

Fierre suppressed a growl at the comment, his teeth appearing to bare into a smile except for the snarl that threatened to leave his lips. Although Fierre found their exchange entertaining, it wasn't the point. He was trying to test the man, not form bonds with him.

But it could be useful...


"Don't you want to fight me? I am lost." He stated flatly, still drawn into an aggressive stance as he spoke. "If you wish not to fight me because you perceive me as a .... friend, then I can ask another Stealthborn." He tried to remain professional under the pressure, feral instincts temporarily held at bay.

"The Vanguard are keen to meet you, word travels fast." He added, before dashing forward to land a blow to Romano's chest. Romano's aggressiveness would be challenged in that moment, wondering if the surprise would unsettle the traveler.

Romano felt the jagged claws bury themselves deep within his chest, suppressing a yelp at the sudden influx of pain. He had honestly been caught off guard, even though they'd been in a fight. Damn, Fierre was fast - that was why he was the Kastanikan leader, he supposed. 

He felt the hard impact of grass before the collision registered in his mind, trying to shake the heavy weight of Fierre's body off his nimble figure.  The shapeshifter may have thought he wasn't trying to win, but in all honesty he had just been trying a subtle approach to a direct confrontation. Romano admitted to himself that he'd made the mistake of sitting still against the Swiftborn.

"No I- well, yes, I do consider you my friend." Romano smiled at him through the pain, clearly not too fazed by it. "But I wasn't holding back at all; I truly did not expect that."He offered as a congratulation.

"As for the other clans - I would like to meet them all, and spar. I'll be more prepared next time." In one movement, Romano tried to roll out from under Fierre, swiping at the man's legs and trying to unbalance him so he could stand.

Fierre resisted the boy's attempts to shift him away, but ultimately the angle in which he'd had Romano pinned worked against him and he yielded, letting both of them stand and face each other as allies. A bloodthirsty grin was plastered to his face, clearly satisfied that he'd manage to land a decent blow to Romano. The boy was good, but Fierre's agility had come up trumps.

"Well met, my friend." He offered a hand to shake, indicating that there would be no more fighting. "You can put me on the floor again, but I won't hold back." The threat was subtle, but borderline comical. "I will summon the Harbringer now, she wants to personally challenge you, and I shall dictate the winner of the battle." 

Suddenly his features cracked, a large snapping noise rising from his throat as his facial features shifted into one of a black jaguar. His mouth opened, sharp teeth releasing a summoning cry. 

Mere seconds later the Harbringer herself crawled out of a hole next to them, long legs stretching as the spiderling morphed into a woman with sleek black hair. Her face was gaunt, red stripes lining her skin as an indication of her colour as her shifted form. There was no questioning that this woman was a shapeshifter. She nodded to Fierre in respect, waiting for Romano to speak.

Holy shit, that was-

Cool.


He grasped Fierre's hand, taking it in his firm grip as he shook it vigorously. Awe captured his expression, having just seen Fierre display precise control over his shapeshifting, and a woman literally grow from a spider into a human. Never in his travelling years had he seen people so extraordinary.

He appraised the woman; in her own way, she was wildly beautiful. Her skin was painted with red stripes, which Romano concluded must've been the streaks in her spider form. He noted that not all shapeshifters appeared as human as others, but this only made him more curious to discover all that he could about the race he was going to associate himself with. Somehow, his own differences wouldn't matter to these people, at least he thought.

"Hi, I'm Romano!" He greeted her eagerly, preparing for the next fight to begin at any moment. He made his own features shrink and contort into a short, slim girl with a platinum braid. His hair now reached his petite waist, dainty and unassuming in manner.

"Don't go easy on me 'kay?" His voice was high-pitched, baby-like in nature.

"You may call me Arabella." She announced curtly, brow simply quirking at the change in the boy's appearance. Nobody in the shifting world could alter their appearance into another human, so she was only mildly surprised by the change. The Harbringer wanted to claim Romano as her own clan member; but he'd have to prove himself to her. Her standards were simple, but hard to achieve.

"We will battle on my command. We will then cease when the Swiftbound orders us to. Until then, assume we are fighting." 

She stepped backwards, placing herself beside a tree. Arabella had no qualms with hurting a little girl, so she prepared to challenge Romano in her own manner.

"Ready? We fight NOW." She hissed as she changed into her spider form, crawling up the tree and out of complete sight. The air went silent as Fierre watched her disappear, then averting his gaze to Romano. He was clearly unaware of what was going to happen, not as adept with the sixth sense the Vanguard were able to harness so skillfully.

His petite figure watched as the spiderling scaled the tree and left his sight. What was she planning? He felt the hairs on the back of his neck raise as he pondered what she was going to do next; he was sure he had no way of knowing.

Unless...

He dug his heels into the ground, stilling his breath to barely a sigh as he tried to listen for her approach, or feel it in the ground beneath him. His current body was ideal for this, considering how close to the ground he was, bare feet greeting soft soil readily.

Romano was still; he waited for her attack.

She had planned to strike immediately, not giving him a chance to anticipate her attack. But his stillness indicated that he knew what she was planning regardless, meaning she would wait and reconsider.

In that moment she chose to drop from the tree, burying her legs into the ground as she tunnelled beneath it carefully. She ensure that she did little to disturb the ground, hoping to catch him from the roots up.

He felt it - the slight tremor in the ground. It was a minute vibration, rippling against his toes as his eyes now cast downwards. Although he could not see her, something in his mind screamed to jump back, the danger imminent.

He gracefully sidestepped where he believed she would show up, expecting her tarantula form to cling to his body once she had a chance. Romano tried to quell the spring of fear that settled in his stomach, wondering how venomous her bite could be.

He's clever. Maybe he will gain the sense after all.


She indeed appeared where the girlish figure had previously been standing, legs quaking with surprise as she swiftly reburied herself, aiming to not give him the chance of retaliation before she could strike again. Arabella wanted him constantly on the defence, constantly shadowing her so she could have the upper hand. sooner or later, she was sure the boy's senses would fail him, and would fail to see one of her attacks. So she shifted under the ground again, trying to predict his next step. 

Arabella would not relent.

only replied a month late lmao

ic Romano seemed to tune into her field of senses, feeling the earth between his feet as she felt him crawl towards him again. He raised the balls of his feet, preparing to dance away if she were to strike. He couldn't describe it, but he just had a feeling - an instinct - which told him where she would strike, and he'd need to strike back sometime soon.

It was a shame she had the upper hand being so small, but as far as he knew he was unable to shift into an animal like the Kastanikans could. Hell, he'd tried but it had been too jaw-achingly painful.