The summer in Auster is much milder than normal… not that the young Jericho would know that since this is his very first summer. The heat does not agree with his darker coat so the boy often stays near the waterfall of the pack land, dunking his small form in the cool waters as necessary to battle the overwhelming warmth that clings to him. Yet, today, the youth is not near the waterfall or even his pack’s land because, today, he is hunting down a dragon. Small paws lightly press into the leaf littered forest floor as the boy attempts to be stealthy, his young mind transforming the landscape around him into a grand battlefield.

Innumerable eyes that belong to strange, unseen foes glisten in the dark, fathomless depths of the swirling fog because each step the boy takes is watched by the evil agents of the horrible Duke. The castle that lays close to Ethne lands obviously houses Princesses and this mean old Duke has stolen the very prettiest one that there is and, even worse, has a dragon guarding her. Jericho is duty bound to retrieve the woman that is hidden in here and return her to the safety of her home.

Jericho’s trusty sword is held aloft in his maw as he slides gracefully through the strange woods, a bird’s warbling song suddenly becoming the battle cry of his enemy. The boy swings around, brandishing his stick-sword high, growling threateningly at the first opponent that appears. A rabbit hops through the underbrush, rustling bushes and leaves and forcing the boy to ward off a huge, burly knight. Jericho growls as he swings his sword around wildly, deflecting the enemy’s crazy blows and pressuring the bad guy away. Finally, he claims victory, sending the brawny guard running with his tail between his legs.

Tail wags triumphantly as he trots onward, searching for the place the big ol’ dragon his hidden the beautiful Princess. A twist in his narrow path brings an unknown, bright blue glow into sight and the boy cautiously moves toward it. Suddenly, an opening appears and there, on a tall rock stands the heavenly vision of the most glorious Princess that has ever live. Jericho’s mouth drops open as he stares in awe at his Princess, youthful eyes blinking in wide-eyed astonishment and... love.

His make-believe sword drops from his hold as he moves forward a step, willing this vision to be real and not one of his made-up stories. But, as she turns her head toward him and he suddenly knows that he could never imagine someone so pretty. Twisting vines litter the floor and, as he moves forward, one of the boy’s paws happens upon its thorny embrace, pricking the pad and driving him backward as he lets out a small, startled yelp. White eyes flick from vine, to sword, to Princess and his painful paw is immediately forgotten.

Spreading his stance wide, the pup puffs out his chest and calls, “Ho there! Beautiful Princess! It is I, Sir Jericho, here to rescue you from the foul dragon’s clutches! Be brave my darling and I will free you shortly!” They were words that the boy has picked up in some books that he had squirreled away about Knights and this kind of stuff so they must be important. Reaching down, he seizes his stick sword and lifts it high, shouting out a warrior’s cry as he lunges toward the large snarl of roots and thorny vines at the base of his sweetheart’s rock, furiously smacking at them with his stick and sending broken pieces of shrubby every-which-way.

After several puppy-growled filled moments, the brush lays decimated at his paws. Panting, the boy steps back and bends his knees, plunging his stick into the ground as he bows his head and says, “Fair Princess. I have vanquished the beast and am here to set you free. I am, your humble servant.” There he waits, on bended knees for the unknown Princess to descend from her tower and allow him the honor of escorting her home… or something.



WC: 683
Total WC: 683 / 1500


"Jericho Agatsuma-Kedieo"

Rare were the times when she was away from Alaois, but today was one of those days. Alora's massive sibling had gone to a more populated place in search of some supplies. The glowing fae tended to stay away from civilization as much as possible. Too many bodies and too much sound... it clouded her mind and made it hard to see. Not in the visual sense, but in the mystical sense. Alora was a seer. She couldn't remember a time in her life where she hadn't had visions. Sometimes they were of the past, sometimes of the future, but visions they were. The woman had this uncanny way of knowing things and this ostracized her from most groups. More than once she'd heard the whisper of witch. Lucky for Alora, she didn't need anyone but Alaois.

The woods were lovely, all foggy and mysterious. Alora felt quite at home in such a place. She found the mist to be terribly beautiful and she loved the way that her glowing spots lit up that mist with a cerulean sheen.  The delicate beauty enjoyed it so much that she'd found a raised platform of rock amidst the trees to lounge upon and enjoy her surroundings. The woman hummed a little song as she lay upon the rock, her sweet, lilting tones reverberating throughout the forest.

Suddenly, Alora wasn't alone. Sound from up ahead brought the fae's chin to rest upon the edge of the rock, the woman's icy eyes fixed upon the foliage in the distance. She saw the boy before he saw her and watched with amusement as he enacted a scene from his imagination. A wooden 'sword' was clenched between his teeth and he swung it back and forth, cutting down vines and make believe monsters. Alora watched with interest, her brows lifting when he finally brought his pale gaze to her resting form. A little yelp left the boy as he pricked his paw on one of the thorny vines, but he recovered quickly. The show continued.

Princess, he called her. Alora laughed softly, her silken tones carrying to the boy. "Please save me, my brave knight! Slay the dragon!" Dramatically, Alora pressed an obsidian gloved paw over her chest and batted dark lashes. The boy continued to hack and slash at the greenery until he deemed his foe to be defeated. Only then, when he declared victory, did Alora slide down from her rocky pedestal.

The small fae moved to the colorful boy and she dropped into a low, dramatic bow. "I, Princess Alora Dreamer, am in your debt, Sir Jericho." Rising from her bow, the fae lightly touched the knights shoulder, allowing him to rise. "I don't know what I would have done had you not come to rescue me." Leaning in, Alora placed a chaste little kiss upon the pups cheek. "My hero." Alora then pulled back to seat herself on the cushion of obliterated greenery. The fae's long tail curled around one hip and the various butterfly-like markings on her body pulsed brightly. "How did you come to find me, my brave knight?" A slight head tilt was given. This was a dangerous place for a young boy.

WC-534
Total-1217/1500

"Alora Dreamer"

The stranger is vison in the fog, her small form giving off a glow that brightens the swirling mists around her. Even the books that the boy pours over could never have imagined a beauty like her and Jericho valiantly fights off his imaginary shrubbery dragon in order to protect her. Once it is vanquished, the young wolf kneels before the Princess on the raised platform and bows his head as she gracefully slides down from her pedestal to grace him with her presence. White eyes spy her dainty paws approach and he lifts his gaze to catch the flourished bow that the small woman gives. On of those slender paws gently alights on his shoulder and the boy takes it as his cue to stand.

Her voice is sweeter than a song and as soft as silk as she thanks him and, quite suddenly, she gives him a kiss. Alora’s chaste offering feels like a bolt of lightning to his cheek and heat immediately floods his face. While the dark fur might hide this fact, the starry eyes and dopey grin that appear speak for themselves. As she calls him her hero, Jericho’s heart flutters with delight and the silly string of unintelligible words slip free from his lips. Never has he laid eyes on such a beautiful creature and this… vision in wolf form just gave him a kiss.

Eyelids flutter as the goofy grin grows, the heat he feels beginning to crawl down his neck as he sighs dreamily. The glow that Alora’s markings give off pulse brightly as she questions how he found her and the spell the boy has been under breaks. Wide eyes blink as the grin falls away to reveal a shy little smile. Ducking his head slightly, the boy admits, “Well uh… you see, I have been reading a lot of books about knights and princess. I saw that castle place not far from here and thought, ‘I bet that a princess lives there!’ and well, one thing led to another and I decided to go on an adventure!”

Eyes roam the strange area he has found himself in and sheepishly admits, “But I think I might have wandered a little far from my pack…” This never happens in the stories he reads but they also never seem to think princesses can do much. Silly books. Bringing his pale gaze back to the woman, he says, “Would my beautiful Princess consider escorting her brave Sir Jericho out of this place? I’ll protect you!” The boy knows he should not be here all by himself but this lady has been kind and sweet and he wouldn’t mind walking with her for a bit… even if is only so he can look at her.




WC: 460
Total WC: 1677 / 1500


"Jericho Agatsuma-Kedieo"