[h1][color=SteelBlue]Tooth[/color] and [color=burlywood]Dosi[/color][/h1]

It had been a while since Tooth had really traveled the lands like he was now. The sea and waves had been his life and love for a long time. They were the roots of his very being. Since the day he had been a fletchling swirming out of the mud to reach the sea the salt water had always dominated his life.

In being a man of the ocean, he had grown accustomed to trade and commerce centers throughout the land. Most around the coastal regions, but not all. The capital was, for lack of better wording, by far the best place to start his trek of finding himself and exploring. He ought to have strengthened his land legs by now anyways.

As he walked he took not of the shadows that fell against his large frame, as well as those from the buildings and threes. It couldn't be long past noon by now. At latest two in the afternoon. The sun was at it's peak and he couldnt help but relish the warmth that the sun provided him. It was uncharacteristically warm this day. It was the winter solstice still which was odd, but he wasn't complaining. As he walked he readjusted his backpack. It was heavy. Full of the metal armor he wore so often. For comefort's sake he wore his tanned leather and hood for the time being, to save himself the discomfort. As he walked however, he couldn't help but notice a tavern that seemed to be garnering the attention of... well, things that one doesn't usually see.

The first and foremost was the huge arachnid like creature, the size of a small house. Built like a scorpion, complete with the stinger (two of them, in fact) and all. The creature had a hut on it's back, with smoke rising from it and had an odd smell. This aroused mild worry in the reptilian man, but it was quickly doused. The other was a huge sapphire blue dragon, perched on the roof and watching the passerbies traverse the streets. How no one was reacting to such a l creature meant one of two things. Either it's owner was a regular here, or that those in the city were all blind.

Tooth had never been one for alcohol. The beverage never did much for him. He always seemed to react badly to it. He knew from experience this time would be no different. However, his curioustiy was not gone. He pulled down his hood, allowing his well taken care of ashen and red feathers to be displayed, and opened the door to the Tavern, and only just was able to side step running into a smaller mole like man. "Oh, excuse me." He said. His voice was flat, but his were sincere. He continued forwards, to the bar. He took one of the stools and set down his pack next to it, and ordered a water. A few of the men at the bar gave him an odd look, but he ignored them. Knowing better than to return their gaze. Instead he turned to the conversation at hand. The one with the bard and the witch and the hooded girl and the...

Oh, oh my.

His attentive eyes landed upon Apollos. The scar he had given him long ago still ugly and ever present. The reminder to the pirate that, should he ever attempt what he did again, that the job would be finished. His blue eyes narrowed, scanning over the halfling, and he pulled up his hood with his free hand, and directed his gaze somewhat downward, hading his eyes from sight. The last thing he wanted to incite was a bar brawl, or create a bad name for himself right off the bat. He would regret it. His age was getting to him these days and he doubted he would be able to come out of such a skirmish unscathed.

He turned his attention ever so slightly back to the mole-man from moments before. He was slowly scanning the interior of the tavern with his quadruple array of eyes. He was dressed in a mismatch of leather garbs and belts with some forms of... bug shells, wrapped around separate points. His overall appearance... Tooth thought for a moment. He was a... Dorak, wasn't he? The folks from the desert in the east? Yeah, that was it. The Dorak slowly weaved his way through the array of tables dotting the tavern floor. He caught a few glances from some patrons but nothing more. Apollos and his three "friends" certainly weren't paying him any mind. He looked... confused. Lost, even, like this was his first time being in a tavern at all. He slowly made his way to the bar, and Tooth turned his head away.

The Dorak paused for a moment, running his two large fingers along the surface of the counter. After a moment, the bartender approached him. "Get you anything?"

He quickly turned to the bartender, holding his response. "I, uh..." He said in a low, somewhat accented voice, "Sorry, do you... have... any... bugs?"

"Bugs?" The bartender replied, "M'my 'earing you right?"

"Do you..." The Dorak replid, genuinely worried, "Not serve... bugs?"

The bartender gave the Dorak a raised eyebrow and a scowl. "Maybe you ought to clear your head, mate. You ain't talkin' right." The bartender turned and left the Dorak at the counter, a look of confusion and embarrasment etched across his long, scaly, lightly scarred snout. He rubbed his three-fingered hand on two of his eyes and shook his head, looking pretty bewildered. He slowly propped himself up on the stool next to Tooth, as if just now realizing what such furniture was meant for.

"First time at a tavern?" Tooth questioned, not turning to face the Dorak, but still asking. He didn't turn from watching Apollos out of the corner of his eye. He didn't trust him, not for a second. The Dorak turned his head slightly, locking two of his eyes on the old Saurian. He slowly nodded his head and replied, "Yes. I'll admit, I'm... sort of confused."

"Aye. My first time was interesting. Nearly killed a few men in a fight. It wasn't a good place. Much shadier than this one." Tooth replied. His eyes darting to the Dorak's for a moment before turning back to watch Apollos. "Although, entering a bar with a giant scorpion and a dragon on the roof certainly means an interesting first experience..." He trailed off at this point, and for a moment he seemed like he was finished before he stuck his huge hand out for the Dorak to shake. "In Nepharie, those who meet for the first time shake hands. Where I come from, we bow to one another." he said, and continued onway. "Tooth-In-The-Sea is my name, but many just call me Tooth. It is a pleasure to meet you. And you are...?" he finished, leaving an empty blank for the Dorak to fill in the air. He grabbed his hand and gave it a firm, mannered shake. "Dosi Ru-..." He said before interrupting himself. "Just Dosi now, actually." He paused for a moment after they separated their hands before saying, "That, uh, giant scorpion you mentioned? Was it on [i]fire[/i] by any chance?"

"Alas, I know not. But it was leaking smoke, and had an odd aroma in the air around it." Tooth replied. "Why, might I ask?"

Dosi sighed some. "[sub]Well I guess he's watching himself, at least...[/sub] That was my traveling companion out there, her name's Karkada. My brother Darsi was more than likely submitting himself to some... herbal incenses, within our tent." He turned his head for a moment before muttering under his breath, "[sub]As long as nothing's actually on fire, they're fine.[/sub]"

Tooth said nothing to this, his eyes seemed blank- as if deep in thought. He brought his glass over to his maw and took a drink, downing the water in one lap.

"What, uh..." Dosi suddenly began to ask, "What are you, exactly?"

"I'm a Saurian, in the common tongue." Tooth replied. He held out his arm to display his black, white, and red feathers for the Dorak. "Reptilan and bird like for me. We hail fromt he tropical islands far down south." he said. "I'd imagine it's much different than your home, yes?"

A bit of a smirk was returned from Dosi. "Dorakis isn't what others would call [i]normal[/i], I'd wager."

"I can tell. No one who comes from a normal place comes into a bar asking for bugs."

"Well, that's all there is back home." Dosi replied, "Bugs, bigger than... well, most things. This whole city is only a little larger than a Varaka Bertis. You'd call it a "mountain beetle" in Cyclan, I believe." He ran his eyes around the room again, and he folded his hands together as well. "Goka, my... aunt, I think's the word, she told me the insects outside of Dorakis are smaller than a Dorak's foot. Was hoping that wasn't true, but... is it?"

"The biggest ones I've seen on the mainland are beetles no bigger than your first. The smallest... no larger a grain of sand." he said. "Where the hell your giants come from, I have no clue."

"I met a walkabout in Tharnkidae, this city on the western border of Dorakis... he said it has something to do with the... air, I think? It's more... bountiful, if I'm remembering right. Said it's why the bugs are so big and the Dorak are so lively." He scoffed ever so slightly and said, "Don't know if that's the truth or if he was just crazy."

"I think it's... You know what, I wont even ask." he said. "You're new around here, yes? I'm wandering the lands some at the moment, since I have yet to really set foot on the main land like this in a very long time. If you wish, I could show you the way. Like... a tour guide of sorts." Dosi turned and gave the Saurian a raised brow and a mouth agape, as if Tooth had just up and answered the Dorak's internal prayers. He nodded and said, "I think me and Darsi would like that very much."

Tooth was silent at this, but the ends of his lips curled up in a small smile.