A Villain.... or a Hero? (Continued from SO)

[Relairah]

OoC: For anyone reading, feel free to check out the original thread here.

Xen, I decided to re-post the last post I made for this thread since no time is passing for the Human/Anthro Worlds. After re-reading through the whole plot, I decided I really wanted to see how Zenithe would've responded and where they would've gone next. This post is almost the same... I'm adding a couple of things at the end >D

iC:

Jolene was silent for a moment after he spoke. She could identify with his desire to know her - since she also wanted to know him. But it suddenly crossed her mind that whatever she shared, he would be the first to ever hear it. Even on her journey with the other companions before, she had mostly kept to herself on the side of personal background. She had simply been the mysterious street urchin still discovering herself. It occurred to her also that such may be the case for his own past. That she had been the first to learn it outside of himself. Indeed, if so, what a pair they made.

"About my family I don't really know anything," she said first. "I sometimes have vague images come into my mind, I think of my mother, but I'm not for certain. I grew up in an orphanage in Escavas. Well, at least for a few years," she paused, a brief proud smile coming to her face. "I ran away at the age of ten and taught myself how to survive. I mainly lived on the streets and took whatever I needed. When I was sixteen, I met a group: a mercenary and her bird and a couple of vampire brothers. I accompanied them for some adventures which is when I also discovered about my feline characteristics - and my ability to transform into a cat." She paused again. "Somehow it made a lot of things make more sense. I also discovered..." she shifted, her hair draping over her shoulder as she moved to her hands and knees so as to reach for one of her boots. She seemed entirely unaware - or uncaring - of the fact she was still naked. After grasping her boot, she removed a dagger and displayed it before Zenithe, finishing her sentence with, "this." It was a treasure she alone knew of. It was beautiful, the hilt decorated with various gemstones and a shining ruby at the center. The blade was finely sharp and glimmered with a bluish-silvery light, as if the dagger itself held some sort of secret.

"At first, the thing merely captured my attention, but after experimentation, I discovered it has certain properties. I'm not sure of its past; I found it in the basement of an abandoned building. But it helped me immensely in learning how to control my transformations and honing some of my skills. I already had some knowledge of daggers and knives before - but this is special. I ventured off on my own after discovering it and once I felt I had mastered my skill with both the dagger and my other self, I began taking up work as a thief for hire. But that was some time ago. Once I had gathered a certain sum, I sort of just wandered here and there. I'm not sure what I was looking for..." she paused, "maybe just waiting for the right person." Upon saying this, she glanced at Zenithe, catching his gaze. She observed the way the light affected his eyes, almost caught up in them once again. She wondered if that would be a daily thing from now on.

She glanced back at the dagger, putting it beside her in the grass. She didn't have anything else to say, she thought. So instead, she simply waited for his response.

As she was waiting, she found her mind thinking over all she had said and her travels. And then about Zenithe. He had shown her his true form... but she had yet to show him hers. It was only right... and she imagined he did want to see at some point. For now though, she simply waited. Perhaps he would bring it up. Or perhaps he would simply wait for her to.

[Xenoxice]

Zenithe listened to every word Jolene spoke intently. The sun rising higher and higher into the sky as the morning began to pass on, his eyes ever changing to adjust to the shifting light through the leaves of the trees around them near the lakes edge. When Jolene removed the blade from her boot, he stared at it with a curiosity that showed he was familiar with such items, though his first time actually seeing one. Reaching over he gently rubbed his index and middle fingers across the flat of the blade, admiring its quality and craftsmanship as he himself was a master swordsmith who made his own weapon. "I can appreciate the quality of such a fine piece of work, from one craftsman to another, whoever it may be that made this." While still listening to the words Jolene spoke, he continued examining the dagger until she put it down on the grass beside her. "I've only heard of such weapons and how they're made, I know that each one is unique and no two are the same but..." he glanced down at the dagger and then back at her, "This is the first time I've ever seen one in person."

He smiled kindly at her as he went on. "From what I've heard through my travels while I was following the rumors of the ores I used to make my own blade, I did overhear of special weapons called 'shifting blades'. Though the name can be a misnomer as the weapon can be anything from a sword or dagger to blunt weapons such as a mace or staff. The process while I don't know the full extent, must be very cautiously and gradually infused with the magical abilities from another person during it's creation process, which unfortunately will deplete the owners ability to ever use magic again. The magic may be embedded into the gemstones that decorate it, or into the very metal as it's being forged." Looking down at the dagger once more, it held his gaze only for a moment as he spoke his next sentence. "From the way your blade shimmers that color, I'd say yours was infused into the blade itself."

Taking a deep breath Zenithe looked out across the lake and over at his sword. As it dried up from being dipped into the lake, the colors returned to normal. The edge becoming more transparent and the center more of a light emerald green instead of a vibrant acid green. "Enough about that for now I suppose." Turning his eyes back to her once more, he smiled.  "So what does your transformation look like?  I have a feeling it's something I would enjoy seeing and would like to know more about.  You know, how long you've been practicing, any troubles you may have while doing it?  I was born with the ability to shapeshift so it all feels so natural to me, I don't know of how it is to someone who was born not knowing how."  He awaited her response with intrigued eyes, staring at her expectantly with a playful grin.

[Relairah]

As Zenithe explained more about her dagger, and how it was probably made, she found herself now even more curious about its origins. When she had first discovered it, she had wondered. But over time had decided it probably didn't matter too much. But what if it did? What if the person that made it had lost it and needed it? She pushed it from her mind. Even if it was important, there was probably no way she could do anything about it. The fact was, the dagger was hers now. She could appreciate Zenithe's knowledge.

If he thought anything of the rest of what she said, he didn't say. Instead, he focused on her abilities. It was somewhat ironic. As if he had read her mind.

But he didn't just want to see her other form. He wanted to know all of the details. She shouldn't be surprised. Jolene stared at the lake before them, orange eyes focused. She felt completely safe with him, trusting of him. Finally, she turned her gaze toward him once more, eyes meeting his crimson ones. Slowly, she let one finger twirl through her brown hair and smiled coyly. "Well, it's definitely not as impressive as your transformation." She paused, turning so that her body completely faced him. "I will answer your questions when I revert back."

With that, she closed her eyes. First, her face began to change, her nose becoming smaller and her ears stretching until two triangles sat on the top of her head. Her fingernails elongated into sharp claws though she clinched her hands into fists. Fur sprouted about her body, and a tail grew long and slinder. Her dark hair grew until it covered her entire body, seeming to curl and wave and even change in color. Overall, Zenithe would also see that she was shrinking in size.

Finally, what sat before him was a tabby cat, slightly larger than the average domesticated creature, but clearly one that looked like any other feline. Her eyes were still that brilliant orange, but the two dark leather bands usually resting on her upper arms were now giant circles around her front legs. They lay on the ground around her paws, too big for her now.

She stared up at Zenithe and meow'd before rising and moving toward him, rubbing her head and body against him, a soft purr rising from her. For the moment, she remained in cat form. Afterall, she felt completely secure here in this unknown part of the forest with this man... or guardian rather who had stolen into her very soul.

Jolene wondered what his response might be... and how quickly he would discover that she could not talk in this form. One of the downsides.

[Xenoxice]

Listening to her speak with that coy smile brought a small smirk to his own face.  Thinking to himself, Oh I'm sure it's impressive enough, Zenithe watched as Jolene began her transformation.  First her face, then her nails and hands as the rest of her body followed.  "Not impressive you say? Each shape shift is different and impressive in its own right." he whispered quietly.  As the leather bands fell to the ground he gave a silent chuckle of sorts before once again thinking to himself.  Clothes don't shift with you do they?  We'll have to fix that.  Soon enough the shift was complete and he stared down at the Tabby cat that was Jolene.  With her rubbing up against him in this feline form Zenithe found himself strangely comforted by her.  A feeling he hadn't had from anyone else before.  The soft purring and meowing made his smile grow on his face, his crimson eyes watching her as they seemed to continue to change and dilate with the ever changing light through the leaves.  If she would allow him, he would pick her up and hold her closely in his arms, stroking her side and top of her head, occasionally scratching under her chin and neck.  If not, he would reach out to her to see if she would let him pet her.

His mind wandered as he sat there looking at her new form.  What a contrasting pair... he thought to himself.  Large, powerful and conspicuous.... small, agile and subtle... a perfect opposite in every way.  His smile never faded as he continued to look at her.  "You truly are wonderful and unique in many ways, Jolene." he said softly.  His tone gentle and caring, not like most know him to be... calculating and void of any emotion.  "I'm guessing you cannot speak in your form as I can in mine, even if I don't know how exactly I can.... or you may have done so already." he spoke playfully, referring to her initial meow.  "I am most impressed that you remain just as beautiful in this form as you are in your human form."  His words honest, yet humble.  "I hope you don't think of me taking your history lightly, I listened to every word.  But I merely see it as creating who you are now.  You can learn a lot about someone from ones past, but only so much compared to their present."

He would set her down if she had allowed him to pick her up and let her do as she pleased, anxiously awaiting for her change back to see what her answers were to his questions.

[Relairah]

For a while, cat-Jolene seemed content. She did allow him to pick her up and seemed to snuggle under his chin as he stroked her. She continued to purr and meow'd again softly as he complimented her. She clearly felt entirely safe and comfortable in his grasp. Finally, she leaped down to the ground, stepping away from him slightly. Within moments, she was returning to her human form. Her tail shrank until it disappeared and her fur faded, her face elongating with her back and her paws turning back into hands and feet.

As soon as Jolene was back in human form, she glanced toward her clothes. She was crouched, and it was clear she was resisting the instinct that had settled deeply in her system to cover herself after a transformation. But she knew with Zenithe there was no need. Aside from the fact she had already gone to a place with him no other had ever or probably would ever go. She let out her breath softly, looking at Zenithe's face and smiling.

She reflected briefly on everything that had happened since she had stopped him at the pub far away from here. At every chance, he had done the opposite of what she might have expected and in only a short time, had completely captured her. Just staring at him, the way her thoughts were, how vulnerable she was in this moment... especially given her recent transformation. She moved toward him, desiring contact. There it was again. Her instinct to touch things. His skin felt so warm on hers, and she remembered the way he had held her only moments before as a feline. Such bliss and comfort. It had been like she had belonged.

Never. Not ever had she ever let anyone come even close to touching her in cat form. Nor even thought of it. The idea of being treated that way had caused her to evade hands. But not with Zenithe.

She realized she still hadn't answered him. It was just that he managed to surprise her... drawn her in so. "As are you, Zenithe," she said softly. Truly in all her life she had never met anyone like him. "You're right that I can't communicate well as a cat. I literally turn into one. Though my consciousness is the same." She paused. She knew he was right about a past... and it was hardly that she felt he hadn't cared. She had merely been curious of his thoughts. Now she knew. She was quite proud of her accomplishments and the fact she had taken care of herself. She was a strong person.

[Xenoxice]

As she returned the compliment and confirmed what he thought of her communication, he began to speak once more. "I thought so. I'm not sure exactly how I am able to speak myself in my form, but it's impossible for me to tell on my own. I would need your help to figure out exactly what is going on. Anyone else who ever saw my true form simply screamed and ran in fear.... rightfully so since I can level buildings in seconds if I wished to." He paused momentarily as he looked over at his clothing lying on the ground. "I dd notice you're clothes don't seem to shift with you, instead they just fall off..." his sentence broke off as if he had stopped in the middle of his thought. Over a few seconds, the same familiar black smoke enshrouded him, even the sun was unable to penetrate through to see the other side of the cloud. With a sharp pop, the shroud burst and the smoke dissipated. Zenithe emerged fully clothed but sitting in the same position he was in as though he hadn't moved. In fact.... he hadn't moved at all. His hood was pulled back, unlike before. "Nifty little trick isn't it?" he spoke with a sly smirk.

Standing up and stretching his legs and arms, he turned his back to Jolene as he allowed himself to shift his wings out. The bones in his back cracking and morphing to accommodate the size of the wings and his clothing seeming to stretch and gradually blend into the very wings themselves.  Flaring them out to their full wing span, he stretched them as well and gave them a few slow flaps. Even slowly flapping, they created a nice enough breeze to shuffle the leaves around them quite noisily.  Should Jolene have been watching his wings, she would have noticed that the sun could be seen through the webbing of his wings in a radiant dark-violet hue. Not bright enough to hurt the eyes but bright enough like one would be staring at a large flame.  After a few more flaps he allowed his wings to shift back, his clothes returning to normal.  After cracking his neck, he turned to face her once more.  His crimson eyes were narrow after having been facing the still rising sun.

"Now, let's see if we can't fix that little problem of your clothes falling off every time you shift to your cat form.  I imagine that can be an inconvenience at times if you're in a hurry or perhaps... public locale where one may stumble into and wander off with your belongings?"  He snickered to himself quietly.  "After that, perhaps we can go somewhere.  Walk, run, fly, stroll... it doesn't matter to me.  I trust you may know of a good place to eat back in Escavas?  I can honestly say I'm rather hungry.  But fixing that little problem comes first!"

[Relairah]

Jolene wasn't sure how she could help him who clearly knew much... but... "I'll do what I can," she said simply. She laughed lightly when he spoke of people running away in terror. She supposed if they didn't know what to expect, it made sense. She had never really been normal though... so she couldn't say for sure.

Jolene glanced down as Zenithe mentioned her clothes. "Yea..." she said simply. It was a nice trick, she thought. But there was a problem. She didn't really have magic. The dagger, yes. But not of her own abilities. As Zenithe stretched his wings and then pulled them back to himself, she watched, tracing over the bones and webbing with her fiery eyes. They were truly magnificent.

He had a good point with her clothes. Perhaps she had been fortunate never to have lost them. She smiled at his comment of getting food. She was also hungry! Though he made it clear she had a bit of work first. Well.. it would certainly help. But she had no idea where to begin.

"Zenithe... I'm not sure if it's within my capabilities to transform my clothing with me."

[Xenoxice]

Zenithe folded his arms across his chest and quirked one of his eyebrows as he smirked.  "Oh, it's actually well within your power believe it or not."  His eyes momentarily glance at her dagger before going back to her.  "The only catch is where the key lies.  You must always have it with you for it to work."  he unfolded his arms and removed his cape, holding it in his hand.  As he shifted his hand partially so only his claws began to show, the cape began to slowly draw itself into his hand as though molding with his body.  "We'll start slowly.  It does take practice, trust me.  Eventually you'll be able to shift it as fast as you do yourself.  The only thing you need, is a small hint of magic.  Not a large amount.  But anything you can draw from.  Do you remember what I told you of how Shifting Blades were created?  The easiest way is if you practice only with the item the magic is drawn from itself first.  So it's good you haven't gotten dressed yet."  Letting his hand shift back into its human form, the cape fell back to the way it was.

With a deep breath, Zenithe began his instructions.  "If you haven't figured out how to draw the magic from your dagger yet, I would be surprised.  You've been doing it all along which is why you said it helped you in learning to master your abilities in the first place.  Bit by bit you draw on its magic and that's what gives you the small boosts you need to perfect your abilities more quickly than before.  It's a special case in that the magic doesn't conjure an element to be manipulated and used as a spell, but instead the element itself infuses with your body and oh so subtly changes it in a way as to increase intellect, learning speed, overall performance... you name it.  It can affect any or all of those things and more.  But now you need to consciously draw it out.  Try to concentrate on a powerful memory.  Most Shifting Blades from what I've heard are reactive to its present holders memories.  Depending on the type of magic it was infused with, depends on what type of memory it will react to.  A dark memory... a happy memory... a funny memory... don't be discouraged if you don't get it right off the bat.  Try to think of each and every possible kind you can think of until you start to feel a gentle warmth fill your hand while you hold the dagger that begins to run up your arm and through you.  That feeling is the magic being gradually and carefully drawn from the blade."

Zenithe tilted his head to the side and folded his arms once more and watched Jolene keenly.  Observing her as if trying to follow along the process and see just how quickly she could catch on.

[Relairah]

Jolene was utterly mesmerized as Zenithe demonstrated his partial transformation. She felt the desire to touch his hand... as if suspecting it to absorb her as well. But she didn't. Instead, she listened as he spoke, her eyes going to where her dagger lay. She picked it up, studying it. He was right... she had drawn on the magic of this blade. She had already discovered the blade's own abilities, as well as the general magic she could tap into. Why hadn't she thought of this before?

Her orange eyes looked up, meeting his again. "You're correct," she said with a smile, seeing where he was going before he had even finished explaining. Still, she was somewhat amazed that just having this blade could do that much. Up to this point, she had thought she had discovered all that it could do. She probably never would have guessed there was so much more. "I have already tapped into the magic... though not to the extent you're talking about." Now Jolene was glad for the long days she had spent practicing and developing her skills. Drawing the magic from the blade was not a difficult task for her, even if she was not actually touching it in some fashion. It just had to be nearby. She simply had to learn how to manipulate it differently.

Jolene had always been a fast learner. Perhaps it was one of those mind over matter things.

She listened as Zenithe talked her through the process, closing her eyes to concentrate. She wondered if she could perform the transformation without a memory. But she supposed it was best to do as he said for now. After all, she had already come to trust him so much.

She thought of the moment when she had first turned into a cat, her body reacting on instinct to preserve her life. She thought of how she had left her belongings in a pile then...

Well not this time.

She could feel the familiar form of this blade's energy flowing through her, the sensation warm. She then focused on the two leather bands she normally wore on her arms. They were small, and probably a good start. She could feel her nails elongating into claws and her hands shifting into paws. She then felt something else. A new feeling. Like the magic of the blade was in sync with her desires. She wondered if part of the reason this was happening was because of how safe she felt with Zenithe... and her desire to keep that feeling. It was true that Zenithe was teaching her this... but she wondered if her emotions would effect this particular aspect of transformation.

Before, she had been too much in a hurry usually to worry about such trivial things as clothes. Sure, he had a point that it proved worrisome if in a public setting. But that was why she had spent so much time developing her transforming abilities and her skills. She was fast, agile, and a quick-thinker. It was not hard for her to be very much in control of herself and therefore control when and where she transformed. Still... there was always the chance something could go wrong and it was better safe than sorry. Clothing was one form of protection, in a way. And it was good to protect herself. She was all too familiar with that concept.

Slowly, she opened her eyes, feeling confident. A smirk rested on her lips in satisfaction when she realized the bands had successfully disappeared. They had blended until they had become some of the stripes on what was now furry forelegs instead of arms. She looked at Zenithe, searching his face. Now she had to revert back and try again. She thought to herself once she mastered the bands completely, she could add items until her entire outfit was as easy as the rest of her transformation.

[Xenoxice]

Zenithe smiled approvingly as he watched Jolene partially shift and see her bands do so with her. "Excellent. I expected no less of you Jolene, you catch on quickly." With a few nods of his head showing he was satisfied, he continued his instructions. "Alright, a very good start. Now, use another, larger piece of clothing, just hold it in your hand. Don't use the memory you just used, instead just remember that sensation of what it felt like when the bands shifted with you. Try to make yourself feel that sensation again, almost as if you're forcing it to happen while you shift." He looked at her intently and smirked once again. "This will be much more difficult than what you just did, but I know you can do it. If for any reason you have any trouble, there's a way I can help you..." he paused momentarily as he glanced away from her for just a moment. "But only as a last resort. It's not something that's done often and without a clear mind and great focus, can easily distract you."

His gaze once more returned to her as he unfolded his arms, stepping a bit closer. "Once you get the hang of forcing the feeling and it becomes second nature to a single piece of larger clothing, we'll work on shifting with your full outfit later. It can be a bit taxing on ones body and even mind to keep this kind of training up for too long. But before you do that, I have a question I want to ask you."  He continued to step closer to Jolene until his crimson eyes gazed into hers, only inches away.  "Where do you see all of this going between us?  Or better yet..." he paused once more with a soft and gentle tone in his voice.  "Where do you hope... and wish, it will go in the future?"

[Relairah]

She gave a mocking bow as he complimented her, looking up at him with a small smirk. Though she knew she shouldn't get too cocky. She stepped back, this time reaching for the pale top she normally wore. She really should get herself some new clothes, she thought as she grasped the worn material. She nodded simply when he instructed her. This whole thing was somewhat familiar... like when she had been training herself to transform at will. But it was different as well. The ability to transform in and of itself was within her and probably had been her whole life, even if she hadn't known it till she was older. And perhaps transforming things with her had always been too. But she felt that without the aid of the extra magic, she may never have gotten this far. She pushed away those thoughts, focusing.

What did he mean, distracting her, she wondered? She peeked an eye open. "I'm not one to ask for help so easily." She had always taken care of herself and figured things out for herself, after all. She was brash, and bold, and confident. And yet oddly out of her element. She felt like she had so much to learn standing here in front of Zenithe... training her something new when only the day before she had thought she had mastered herself. It suddenly crossed her mind why he had taken so much interest in her? He seemed to read her mind yet again.

She felt his breath on her face, and her heart skipped. Well, if he didn't want to distract her, he certainly was doing an awful job of it, she thought! She felt a flush rising. The tone to his voice... was alluring. Yet his words caused her to pause. Hadn't he already said they had all of eternity to learn each other? That he wanted to be with her no matter what? That he had made up his mind? That he'd be with her even if she needed time to figure it out?

Was he testing her? Trying to figure out something? Her natural instincts were rising up and she forced herself to breathe, pushing down the thoughts. What was she thinking? He was so close. She could almost feel his touch, and she could feel her skin tingling with the desire to have it. Was he toying with her? "I want to be with you... for the remainder of my life, Zenithe," she said finally. She knew in her heart the words were true. She couldn't help herself. She felt like her life had so much more with him in it and she wondered how she had ever not had him before this. She wondered if she returned his question, how he would respond? Then again, she wondered if he had already told her.

She had already said she wanted to take it slower. Learn more of each other. Was he thinking that based on her words just now, there was no need? How she longed to know!

She reached out her hands, trying to slip them inside his cloak, since he had dressed himself again already. "No matter what happens, or where we go from here... I want to have you with me." If he allowed, she tried to pull him the rest of the way toward her, seeking the feel of his body against hers. Whatever his intentions were asking her such a question, she knew that for her, she had fallen for him. A fact that could now never be undone.

[Xenoxice]

Zenithe allowed himself to be pulled closer to her until he embraced her.  His arms wrapping themselves around her as he held her tight.  "Then what we wish for in the end is the same."  His voice, still that same gentle and caring tone.  "If or rather I should say when, you're ready to make that decision final and call yourself my mate, there is something I must do.  Something only my species does when they find that one remarkable... special other."  He relaxed his arms and stepped back away from her.  His voice got a little more serious as he gazed at her.  "For now, let's see if you have the concentration to do as I instructed."  Turning his gaze away from her towards the sun that was now clearly above the horizon, the day beginning to warm up with a cool breeze rolling by, he rested his hand upon the hilt of his sword.  "It's a beautiful morning.  This is my favorite place to be when the sun rises.  The only other place better is the coast, watching the sun rise over the vast ocean."

He continued his talking as he occasionally glanced back at Jolene.  Intentionally trying to distract her at the same time he told her to concentrate.  Though he did not tell her this, he knew it would be best to start training her in a mock environment of where she will eventually need to concentrate in public where there are even more distractions than just himself talking.  He also knew that actually taking her mind off of the task at hand would make the process feel more natural and second nature as it has for him.  Concentration without frustration seems to be what he's aiming for.  "Do you think the commotion at the inn has died down by now?  Or maybe that mans drunk friends are looking for me..."  Giving a shrug he turned himself to fully face her.  His head slightly cocked to the side, his hand still resting on the end of the hilt loosely.

[Relairah]

While in his embrace, Jolene realized there was something about his voice that she enjoyed. She decided not only did she like it, but she wanted to hear it. As much as he might give her. As he explained there was something he had to do, she felt her natural curiosity rising up. Why did he have to be so vague? She looked up at him, orange eyes full of question.

There he went, suddenly changing the subject back. She paused, simply staring at him and standing there a moment. Her fingers were still clutching the top she had grasped before, but her mind wasn't on it. She couldn't agree more with him as he described the beauty of the sunrise... particularly over the ocean. Here was equally mesmerizing. Despite these words from his lips, she didn't dwell on his words. She knew he wanted her to practice but...

She smiled as her eyes gazed over his figure, hand on his hilt, staring into the horizon. She felt admiration and deep attraction. A smirk slowly rose to her lips. She decided then and there that no one in this universe would ever have him, if she had anything to do with it. She slowly reached toward him again, and in the process, her gaze caught the top still in her hands.

Yes....

She needed to focus.

She released her breath slowly. As he continued to talk, rather than letting herself get flustered, she focused on the quality of his voice. The masculine lower tones and the smoothness with which he spoke. It became more of a calm background blur and she tuned out his words, letting herself focus. This was not the first time she had to grow accustomed to background nose disturbing her. Though the task was different and more challenging.

Slowly, Jolene did as he had instructed, focusing on the feelings the memory had given her and on the way the magic had felt when she had done this only moments before with her bands. Now that she had a feel for it, she felt that this would not be as difficult. It was, to her surprise, but she adjusted, truly bringing her training with the dagger and her ability to zone in on something into play. It was almost like a cat hunting... all else but the prey aside. At least the feeling of focus was the same.

It took longer than with her bands, but eventually, the shirt had gone, and this time it was not just her arms that had changed, but also her chest and some of her face. She peeked open her eyes. Surely she looked ridiculous! She didn't much like only partial transformations unless they were ears, a tail, or claws... but beyond that she felt was silly unless she was going to fully transform.

Jolene didn't dwell on these thoughts.

As he faced her, she met his gaze, her eyes as fiery as ever. "Who knows. They probably know you're long gone and that when you come back, confrontation is pointless." That is, if he was as well known as he said he was. She closed her eyes, focusing enough to transform herself back to full human. She then reached for her clothes. "C'mon... before you starve," she said with a laugh, donning her clothes. She wondered if he intended to fly back or not. After all, she had no idea how far they had actually gone in flight the previous night. She had been too focused on the experience. Part of her wanted to fly again... not necessarily for the actual flight, but to be in a form of intimacy with Zenithe. She realized now that she was already beginning to crave him. All of him. She held still to what she had said before... but perhaps she might not take as long as she had originally thought.

[Xenoxice]

Observing her as she performed the transformation as instructed, and succeeding, he smiled happily and nodded in approval.  Her comments about the inn as well as the men being noted, but not mentioned.  "Very good.  The next time you shift, it will be a full transformation while fully clothed.  It may take you a little longer, but each time you do it, you will get faster and more efficient until it's second nature.  I would say at the rate you've been going... a day or two at most and you'll have mastered it."  His crimson eyes reflecting the morning sun that shone through the trees stared deeply into Jolene's own.  He couldn't help but feel wonder, excitement and even a sense of pride in her as he looked her over in silence.  She certainly was a very quick study and easy on the eyes as well.  Lifting his hood back over his head and pulling it up to cover his nose and mouth as well, his eyes shone even more brightly as all of the light was accenting that one area still visible.

With a hidden smile, he tilted his head downward a bit while keeping his eyes fixed on Jolene.  "Now, I must ask you a favor... it's something I have wondered since I first spoke in my true form."  His voice sounded... inquisitive yet humble.  "I still to this day do not know how I am able to speak in my true form.  I've been able to this far bring it down to two possible explanations but I can't tell from my end which is the correct one."  He began to slowly step back from her as he continued to speak.  "Either when I shift, my vocal cords change within my body so they become more like resonance chambers that allow sound to form and carry without movement of my mouth, or I have limited telepathy and I can speak directly from my mind to anothers."  His body began to shift as he continued to step further back away from her.  At first his legs.... expanding... growing... cracking, popping and shifting into their real digitigrade shape while his tail grew to match their size.  His torso began to elongate and stretch as the bones within him grew and hardened further and further.  Up his body the transformation continued so he was now on all fours, his arms shifting into their much larger and stronger form. The muscles grew and his tendons tightened as the shift neared its completion.  His neck and head the final things to change their shape until he once more took the form of what he had shown Jolene the night before.

This time, he had backed himself into the open sunlight to allow himself to be seen in much more detail than could have been seen last night.  His smooth snake-like scales reflected the sun, showing their pristine health and condition.  As black as the night itself he stood in all his glory and inspiring form, save for those large crimson orbs he looked down upon Jolene with, and the webbing which looked so dark violet upon his outstretched wings as the sun peered through them.  His voice chimed once more as pure as crystal and just as smooth.  "We traveled several miles from the city last night.  The quickest way back is for me to take us there flying.  I'll fly low once we get closer to the Escavas.  But there is a sight which you have yet to see that I must show you.  A sight you can only truly see from the skies."  His eyes looked upon her almost expectantly as if he was hoping Jolene may be able to figure out somehow, how he is able to speak.  Laying himself upon the ground with a not so quite thud from his sheer weight going down, he extended his left wing upon the ground so as to allow her to climb upon his back.  "If you thought you have seen a remarkable view at night, wait until you see what I have to show you."  A small toothy grin came across his face as he awaited for her to climb up.

[Relairah]

She smiled at him when he praised her... and encouraged her. He was the first one she could think of to have offered her such kindness and gentle words. it was somewhat foreign, but at the same time, it felt good. For once, she didn't respond in a coy manner, but instead simply remained silent. She stepped back as he lifted his hood and began transforming, talking to her as he did. She remembered the night before. Then, it had felt as though he were speaking into her mind... but she hadn't been quite certain.

Now she realized, neither was he.

But as he talked, suggesting the possibilities and his thoughts, she listened and observed him closely. She definitely did not think it was that his vocal cords changed... though she had heard it was possible for dragons to form words with their mouths, somehow. Still, in this case, she definitely felt more of a mind communication. His voice rumbled and she once more felt as though he were speaking into her mind, as before. Before she told him her conclusion, however she let him finished... talking about showing her something again.

It seemed Zenithe had so much to offer her. She felt like she had nothing to offer him. But she pushed it aside. Perhaps he saw something she did not.

She moved toward him, touching her hand to his scales. They were glorious, particularly now in the light. How had such a magnificent beast fallen for a simple girl such as herself?

Easily, she climbed once more on his back, settling. "Already you have shown me more than I could have imagined. But, I am eager to see what surprise you have in store," she said. She decided to wait until they had landed again to answer him. She wanted to see his face and his response. "Thank you for sharing with me... Zenithe..." she said.