Forbidden Fruit (Syrene)

[Zephyr]

It was amazing really. He had spent so long at this weyr and he hadn't once stepped foot in the jungle. All candidates not from the weyr had been told about the felines that inhabit the forest, and while Kaius wasn't trying to disregard anyone's warnings, he just couldn't live here without having experienced the jungle surrounding Selenitas. Of course he hadn't gone too far in, but already King was radiating waves of uneasiness through the tall candidate's body. The tales of big bad felines did scare him, but he hid it easily with regal ease. At the moment, he scurried up Kaius' head, perching there like the king he was.

" I don't see any felines." He said to no one in particular. His salamandyr snorted a little. As if the beasts would make their presence known so quickly. Kaius sighed at King's current pessimism and stepped further into the Jungle. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do in here, but at least he'd find out soon.

Suddenly, without warning, King bugled loudly and leaped from his head. Kaius was startled backwards a bit, until he saw the bronze mandyr clinging to a large orange and red fruit. Knitting his brows, the candidate walked up. " What's that?" King just beamed at him, using his tail to anchor him as he climbed up the branch the fruit was dangling from before leaning over it. Pretty, pretty fruit! Kaimine want pretty fruit?" Well, now he was interested. It actually was pretty cool looking. He plucked it from the branch, causing King to bob up and down on the branch. Purring, he leaped back to his bonded's shoulder, looking at the fruit with greedy blue and green interchanging eyes.

" I wonder if it's safe to eat?" He asked, though the mandyr couldn't answer it. There was only one way to find out, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to risk it.

[Shiny]

Syrene's boot-clad foot swung like a slow pendulum from a leg that hung leisurely over the side of the thick branch. Her back was leaning against the tree trunk, head pillowed against the rough bark. The end of her black cloak draped over the side of the branch and hung limply in the still, humid jungle air. Kohl-covered eyelids were closed, keeping a low heart-rate to keep cool. Despite the shade of the canopy of the tree blocking most of Rukbat's rays, Syrene still found it too hot for her tastes. Most Selenitas days were too hot for her, really.

In an almost meditative-like state, Syrene felt a bead of sweat trickle down her forehead and onto her nose, slowly, thickly. It left a cool trail in its wake. The weight on her belly stretched out and elongated. Queen was asleep and using her as a pillow - she was used to it nowadays. Almost every night he'd curl up on her stomach or chest. The little terror wouldn't dare show such 'bonded' behaviour in front of others. But they were alone here, so it was fine.

Or so they thought. A sound other than the ambient buzzing of insects and distant calls of avians caused Syrene to open her eyes, swinging leg coming to a halt. Queen shifted slowly and then raised his head, groggily opening his eyelid membranes. His eyes swirled an annoyed, alerted amaranthine hue. Slavething also heard noise?[/color] Yes. she replied, tilting her head to look past the branches below them. Queen slowly and silently opened his mouth to sink part of his fangs into Syrene's forearm. Is probably feline! Go kill. Now. Queen wants to keep shiny hide.[/color]

Syrene's sweating brow furrowed at Queen's teeth and quietly shook him loose, earning a light whip of his long tail. Movement finally caught her eye, and the both of them froze. It was - what was that kid's name again? Kaius, she thought - and - oh. Syrene made a grab for Queen but the Bronze was already swooping down at his brother, hissing, talons extended. Great. Wridelth, I thought you said nobody would bother us if we were in the tree with the red-orange fruit? Any individual with a brain would avoid contact with it. The exterior surface of the fruit produces a severe irritant that produces its effect in a matter of 3.16 minutes, assuming normal conditions for the human skin. The skin will become inflamed and may shed in sheets. The pits of the fruit contain a neurotoxin only deadly to humans and related species. It is named Toxaea for this very reason - completely fatal.[/color]

In a split second Syrene fell from the branch and landed next to the Candidate, smacking his hand hard enough to send the fruit flying granted the male's grip wasn't tight. "Drop that, right now! Do you even know what that is?" She growled, looking around. He'll need to wash his hands. There is a brook 80.12 degrees east-north-east; I suggest you hurry. "We need to get you to some water. Believe me, you don't want your skin falling off." She turned sharply and began to jog in the direction Wridelth had told her. "Hurry up!"