2674/Day in The Forest

Day in The Forest
Date of Scene:	24 July 2015
Location:	The Forest Path
Synopsis:	Duke runs into someone new and slightly fascinating.
Cast of Characters:	Duke, 842

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Duke has posed:
The wind rustled through the forest trees high above and critters moved about within the tall grass, brush, and open fields among the trees. The path was pretty open and there was very few people out today. Though once and awhile a person may be seen on some of trails.

On one section of the trail, a rabbit goes screeching from one side of the trail to the other. Not far behind it is a red raptor dragon goes chasing after it with dark markings and a white underbelly. Those gold eyes zeroed in on the poor rabbit!

The rabbit darts back across the trail in a sharp turn and the dino-dragon lizard attempts to follow with its sleek form, though its back legs almost lose traction on the grass kicking up some leaves, his three hand claws come up and he goes to make a swipe for the rabbit, only to trip on a rock. The four foot red lizard goes crashing down, sliding across the path and then can only watch the rabbit run off. "...there goes lunch..." he rumbles to himself.

Testament (842) has posed:
    It's not his forest. But it's still nice. Besides, not having to fight off bounty hunters left right and centre is a nice change. He'd given up the human-killing after the whole Justice debaucle, why bounty hunters kept coming after him he didn't know. Honestly... some people.

    Anyway. That said, Testament is in a tree. He's doing doing anything really. Just sitting there on a branch, his back against the tree. He looks human, but those with magical senses will be able to tell instantly that no, he is definitely not human. Not with an aura like that.

    He is very pale, his skin almost white. But his hair is black, and so it his clothing. What little he wears, anyway. Just enough to be decent and no more -- a bandeau-type top with a long leather kilt and shin-length boots. And there's a raven on his shoulder.

    Duke might notice him there in the tree above when the wind catches the trailing end of his leather kilt and snaps it against the branch he's sitting on. The little metal bits in his kilt smack the tree too, making more noise. And the voice from the branch might help too. "Not quite. Better luck next time, though."

    That voice just sounds WEIRD. It sounds metallic, with a heavy echo. Almost... distorted. Like a speaker with too much reverb. But it plainly came from the man on the branch, and his mouth moved when he spoke.

Duke has posed:
The Guilmon X gets up and shakes himself off about the time he hears the odd voice from above. His gold eyes peer around, before his gaze moves upward into the tree. His gold eyes looking up at the man and his ear fins perk up slightly as he studies the human; Or was he a human...; In the tree.

His tail moves side to side as he tilts his head gently. His gold eyes from the looks seem young, but there was a bit more age if one was to look deep enough. "Uh... Hi there." He then shifts his weight slightly. "And yeah... probably." He then looks to were the rabbit went off too. "A friend of mine is still a better hunter then me, but better then what I use to be." His gaze then goes back up to the man, "What are you doing way up there?"

Testament (842) has posed:
    "Attacking from ambush makes it easier," the man in the tree offers. "Or setting traps. Just running the prey down doesn't work unless your prey tires easily or is slow. But then, that's why call it 'hunting' and not 'catching'." He seems to know a little about hunting himself, from the sound of his voice.

    At the question, Testament turns to look at Duke, finally looking in his direction. his eyes are red. But not just the iris. The pupils of his eyes, which should by all rights be black (since it's basically just a hole in the eye), are somehow ALSO red-colored. "Just having a quiet moment." He pauses to rais a hand to stroke the raven's back, which the raven seems to like, if the soft squawk is any indication.

Duke has posed:
Duke shifts his stance again and hms softly. "Ambushing is hard when your colors are red," He muses with a mild grin. "But I know where to get some fish and that I'm good at!" grunts gently, "Just really wanted some rabbit to take back to see if a friend was willing to cook up some apples with rabbit meat."

The Digimon shrugs his shoulders gently. "But maybe I'll try to trap idea next time." He muses before tilts his head to the side. "Quiet time huh? Then I'm sorry for interrupting that." He lowers his head gently. "Though... can I ask what your name is? I'm Duke." Those gold eyes do note the man's red ones. The slow conclusion Duke is making in his own head is that this man is either a cyborg or something else...

Testament (842) has posed:
    "You could always try hunting at night," Testament suggests at the mention of Duke being red. "Red is hard to see at night. And most animals don't see color, especially not at night. They usually just see movement or lack thereof." He pauses, tilts his head to regard Duke, as if only now just really looking at him. Not human, so that's instantly points in Duke's favor!

    interrupting? Testament shakes his head. "Quite all right," he excuses. "This is not my forest, I wouldn't expect everyone to stay out. Besides, if I'd not spoken up you might not even have known I was here." Indicating that he must have wanted the interruption.

    And then he's asked his name. "Testament," he offers. Then he nods, almost politely. "Good to meet you, Duke."

Duke has posed:
"You as well, Testament." Duke says with a nod of his head and a small smile on his muzzle, "...and hunting at night huh?" He closes his eyes in thought before he gives a few nods of his head. "That sounds like a good idea really. I'll have to try that out too."

"One of my friends who taught me can get away with it during the day, but he is better at staying low and is very patience." Duke ear fins go back a bit as he looks off in the distance. "More patience then I have." The Guilmon X then looks back at Testament once more. "If, um, you don't mind me asking... urm," He scratches behind his ear fin for a moment, before looking up once more at the guy. "...what are you? You don't look human at all." he then sniffs the air, trying to maybe see if he even /smell/ human, but there is a ton of scents in the way. "...and you sound... different then them too."

Duke shifts his weight a bit. "I know there is many races in the Multiverse and we Digimon are pretty diverse too, but I'm... just curious. Its always nice to learn something new or even meet someone new."

Testament (842) has posed:
    Testament smirks a little at the mention of hunting at night. There's something unpleasant in the smirk, something a little mad, a little unhinged. It's not so much aimed at Duke, though, but more aimed at the topic of conversation. "Lie in ambush, or swoop down from above. Make each and every movement count."

    Though the unhinged air fades quickly as Duke asks what he is. There is a bit of a sneer as Duke mentions he doesn't look human. "I would hope not." No indeed, Testament does not smell human, not in the slightest. He has an acrid, almost acidic tone to his scent, and underneath it all, there is an artificial undertone. Almost metallic, but not quite.

    "I was human. Not anymore though. I'm a Gear," Testament replies. "A... manufactured magical creature. In my case, converted. Humanoid Gear, Toxic Class." He smirks a little. "I'm known as the Gear of Distortion." He bows, almost with a flourish of that arm as if folds across his midsection.

Duke has posed:
"Gear of Distortion huh?" Duke asks back, with a nod of his head. "So I am guessing there are other kinds of Gears too?" The small Guilmon X looks around the trees trying to see if there is a good way to get up there, but the answer is not really. Not without far more effort then he wants to put into it.

"Well, I meant no disrespect in comparing to a human. Given I fully understand that disgruntlement when I get called a mere beast." The Guilmon X snorts a bit to the side, there is a bit of smoke that comes out from his nostrils as he does so. "Though information for information, is proper appropriate right now, huh?"

The Guilmon X then taps his muzzle gently with his front claw in thought, "I'm a Digimon-- a Digital Monster. We are living beings of digital data code and I am the species known as a Guilmon X. Though I have the ability to Digivolve to stronger forms." He says with some pride in his voice and perks of his ear fins. Its all over his face really, it makes he glad to say such things and know he can now do it with no hang ups.

"I just use this one more often cause its easier to get around and doesn't take up as much energy." Duke then taps his two index claws together. "I'm hoping eventually I can just stay-stay in my Ultimate though and not have to worry about Digivolution anymore..."

Duke then looks up at him and then to the Raven that is on Testament's shoulder, "What is your raven's name?"

Testament (842) has posed:
    Testament nods. "In my world, at least," he confirms. "You wouldn't like them." He sounds fairly certain of that! Maybe because... "They're mindless, mobile engines of destruction. That is their purpose, to destroy." Yeah, that'd explain the certainty.

    "No offense taken," Testament replies. "It's an understandable mistake." He does look like a human, at least superficially. He tilts his head as Duke explains his particular ability. "Hm... you can transform to stronger forms? There are Gears who can do that. Perhaps the principle isn't so different after all."

    Pausing, he turns and slides down off the branch as the raven takes off from his shoulder. The movement is really weird -- when he lands, it almost looks like he's hurt himself, but then he flows to his feet as if he was... liquid somehow. Possibly slightly unnerving a movement, in fact. and as he gets to his feet, the raven alights upon his shoulder again, as if he'd never moved.

    As for staying in his 'Ultimate' form? "That could prove problematic depending on the form," he points out. "Though I can assume you've attained this form before and know its advantages and disadvantages." Ah, and then his raven is mentioned. Testament and the raven seem to exchange a look. There is a pause. "...Call her 'Zio'." the raven caws quietly, and dips her head, as if bowing.

Duke has posed:
"Zio?" Duke repeats looking at the Raven, "That is a pretty name for a lovely bird." He says with a gentle smile, but his gold eyes go back to Testament. The way he came down from the tree was a bit odd, nothing he could ever compare to in his mind's eye. It actually causes the 'young' Digimon to take a step back, keeping some distance between the two of them.

The Guilmon X's tail moves side to side, even as he stands rather still, his gold eyes stayed focused on Testament's own. It was a chance for the Digimon to get a real feel for the man, how he walks, stands, everything. Its all very telling, telling enough that Duke is even sure in his Ultimate form he would not be able to easily overpower this man; It could be the other way around!

The Guilmon X tilts his head to the side gently, "I have. Yes." Duke rumbles softly. "I had to work to regain it however and there are some... secrets that are not fully obtainable yet. Curse of what happens when you all but lose all of your memory, but..." He shrugs a little. "I am getting it back... slowly."

"...though I wish it would come back faster..." he says softly to himself with a sigh. Those gold eyes then look back at the man's red. "You said the other Gears are mindless, right? Why are they... if you don't mind me asking?"

Testament (842) has posed:
    And in response to Duke's praise, the bird begins to preen. Testament turns his head a little, smirking, a soft breath of laughter exhaled. "She says she knows she is quite lovely, but thank you for noticing," he replies. They are, after all, mentally linked; if she can't communicate with the world at large like this, she can communicate with him, at least.

    Depending on how observant Duke is while evaluating Testament, he may notice a few things. The Gear has an odd way of standing. His movements are smooth but still very inhuman. Inhumanly smooth, he seems to flow from position to position, however he moves. He doesn't fidget like a human does, he stands unnaturally still. Not enough to seem artificial though...

    The mention of losing one's memory gets a visible reaction from Testament. His brows draw together just for a moment, a flicker of pain across his expression. His face returns to the unreadable look, and he nods. "...Sometimes memories are the price for greater strength. It's hard to decide if it's worth it or not."

    And for the question of the Gears' mindless nature? "They were made that way. Can't have your pet killing machine getting emotional while slaughtering masses of innocent people, after all." He says it easily enough... but there's a bitter edge to his tone.

Duke has posed:
Duke snorts to Testament's explanation about other Gears. "That seems a bit unfair to them. Everyone should have the right to do as they wish and choose the path they want to walk." his ear fins move back slightly as his facial features soften a little; Even looking at little distant. "But at the same time... I can understand it too. Rules are rules and if something doesn't know better, how can they break them?"

Perhaps a silent reminder to himself based of events he has learned. His gold eyes look to Testament again. He noticed the furrow of the brows and he heard his words, which he decides to now address. "...but as for my memory, no. I didn't lose it because of power. I lost it because, apparently, I stood against a greater power in my world. I stood against my god."

The Guilmon X shook his head. "I... I barely remember the details, but I was left for dead, saved... but the damage, the injury was so extensive, that it impacted my memory. Perhaps... even a hint of some facts I don't want to face.. so I subconsciously keep it locked away until somethings jars it to the surface." As the digimon talks he closes his eyes lowering his head, but once he finishes he looks to Testament again.

"I have nightmares sometimes about it. My mind trying to make sense of things, not as bad as I use too... but they still come sometimes." He shakes his head gently. "But... maybe another subject is... better right now, like-- Zio," he points a claw to her, "How do you understand her? Is it like magic?"

Testament (842) has posed:
    "Exactly. We weren't made for fairness, we were made for conquest and destruction of enemies," Testament replies. A nod. "I was rare amongst those converted -- I retained my self-awareness." Stated flatly, "It wasn't appreciated." The mention of having stood against the god of Duke's word gets a raised brow. "Interesting," he replies.

    He quiets, to listen to Duke's story, tilting his head. When the subject of nightare comes up, he gives a sympathetic nod. He still has them too. A long way back. But he doesn't speak up about it, not yet. Because there's no sense in adding to the heavy atmosphere.

    And then Duke asks something else. About Zio. Testament nods. "We are blood-pacted," he replies. "So we are in contact with each other at all times.

Duke has posed:
"Blood pact..." Duke says softly with a hmm. "I think I read about such things in a few books." He then smiles. "But that is pretty neat! To be connected like that. It means she'll always have your back, like you have her's right?" Duke says with a bright smile and a soft, 'hee'. Yeah, he is trying to kill the earlier tension.

Testament (842) has posed:
    Testament nods. "It guarantees it. I have no doubt that one of us dying will have... dire consequences for the other," he notes. The raven shifts, and nudges his chin with her head. It's as if she's saying, 'hey, stop that'. Testament smirks. "But then again, she's no mere raven." He seems to like Duke, so trusting him with a little information seems all right.

Duke has posed:
"No mere Raven?" Duke asks in question, seeming puzzled by this. He does smirk softly as the Raven nuzzles Testament a bit in a silent statement of 'shush'-- did he embarrass her? "Do you mind explaining or would that be to much information to ask for?"

Testament (842) has posed:
    Testament pauses. Then he looks to the raven. They seem to be discussing something between themselves. After a moment, Testament nods once. And in response, Zio lifts off from his shoulder and flies down to land on the ground near Duke. After a moment, where the bird tilts her head and blinks, then her body begins to glow, and...

    ...She starts to change.

    She grows to human form, but shorter than Testament. Though her form is human, she is plainly not, and EVERYTHING about her screams this. Her skin is a pale powder blue, with accents all over her body in lavender (including some that preserve her modesty). Her hair is lavender as well, and so are her eyes. She is barefoot and her hands and feet have long, clawlike nails. And a pair of golden horns grow from the sides of her head. These horns are almost like ram's horns, but don't curl. Rather they points down, laying next to her ears, and only towards the very end do they curl forward.

    "As you can see. No mere raven," Testament replies. The blue-skinned woman only giggles, blowing a kiss at Duke, before returning to her raven form and flying back to her perch at Testament's shoulder.

Duke has posed:
Duke watches as the Raven flies down in front of him, then his eyes widen as she transforms right there in front of him. While transformation was no stranger to digimon, it was how she did so that was! He blinks his eyes a few times as that feminine figure before him before his eye ridges furrow in some confusion to what he sees.

A demon? A siren? Duke was not sure what race she may fit into, but probably like Testament, she may been of a very different species of anything he may know of in the Multiverse currently. He smirks at the blow of the kiss and watches her transform back to resume her place on Testament's shoulder. "That is-- indeed no normal Raven." He says with an amused tone in his voice.

"You two most have also known one another for some time." Duke says gently. "Or is that wrong to assume?" He asks with a tilt of his head and an ear fin twitch.

Testament (842) has posed:
    Testament nods. "Some time, yes," he confirms. "We had a... mutual interest, so thought it was best that we join forces. We forged a blood-pact to protect ourselves from each other. But that was some time ago. We trust each other now." And right on cue, raven-Zio tucks her head in the crook on his shoulder, with a soft peep of a caw.

Duke has posed:
Duke smiles softly and gives a gentle nod. "Having those around you that you can trust is always good." He then grins, before he notices the shadows over the trail and he blinks his eyes a few times. "Ah! I'm sorry to cut this conversation short, but I need to get back before it gets to much later."

Duke goes to leave, before he turns about on his feet to wave a paw hand to Testament. "It was nice to meet you Testament! I hope our paths cross again! You too Zio!" Then the Digimon turns about and continues down the path at a greater brisk pace.

Testament (842) has posed:
    "Take care," Testament replies as Duke makes to leave. "Careful of humans. They're the biggest monsters you'll encounter." After all, someone of Duke's appearance, in his world anyway, would be hunted down so fast it'd make his head spin. Though if Duke looks back to ask? Just before he turns there will be a weird sound, and then both Testament and Zio are nowhere to be seen.