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[b]Hushabye[/b][@13org][@PaulHaynek]

[quote=@PaulHaynek]
[color=royalblue]I eventually left home to travel the world 'cause... I don't know, find more about monsterkind, I guess?[/color]"
[/quote]

Ozzy felt guilty having asked the question.  [color=gold]"I didn't mean to pry."[/color]  he hoped he could make it up to her with some follow ups, maybe get a look into her personality and psyche.  Ortus would be a good indicator of who she was, maybe having grown up in alot of strife.  It sounded like she wasn't untouched by that.  It reminded him how lucky he was, growing up in the Aerie, the harpy clan having mingled successfully with the humans there.  He could imagine she probably might have been picked on for her wings.  He didn't want to bring it up.

He brightened when she said her reasons why.  [color=gold]"You should have told me earlier."[/color]  He beamed back.  [color=gold]"Cultures and ecology are like my specialty.  I have books on the stuff, and the people I've met on the way!  An Imp in Whitewall is an acting minister for monster human marriages.  A gremlin in Softbay runs her own factory."[/color]  He smiled broadly.  [color=gold]"Then there's the Demon Circus to get a sight of the Demon Kingdoms.  You'd have a blast."[/color]  

[hr]

[quote=@PaulHaynek]
"[color=royalblue]Hey Ozzy, check this out.[/color]" 
[/quote]

He hovered over her shoulder and looked at the tracks.  A beastman from the paws, but there was soemthing very odd about them.  [color=gold]"I'd say lizard man, but-"[/color]  He pointed out the curvature of the claws.  [color=gold]"The way it runs... it digs its claws in.  Lizardmen are mostly upright.  This has them leaning in and pushing off the ground."[/color]  From his observations of body structures, this running is more seen in birds.  They grip the ground when they run.  [color=gold]"Posture must be really off, but its hard to tell."[/color]  She suggested following them.  He nodded.  [color=gold]"Ill give you what I found out on the way."[/color]  He flew, again, to avoid the traps.

He told her his facts and theories.  Fast, carnivorous, ate livestock and a dog, but didn't attack the farmer, meaning its a predator but it rather not eat humans.  This made sense, alot of carnivorous monsters were much the same.  He also said it was by the river.  He made sure Haley knew everything.

The corpses were the first thing they saw.  Mostly eaten, and quite a few of them.  He landed on a branch before checking it it was clear, comparing one bite to another.  [color=gold]"Wow... things got teeth.  Beastman...  This might be a new species."[/color]  He got excited. 
 [color=gold]"Hungry isn't she?  Maybe she's trying to fatten up for winter."[/color]  Speculation.  [color=gold]"Lets not end up on the menu.  If its smart enough to-"[/color]

[b]CLANG[/b]

The sound echoed in the forest, the sound of a bear trap.  He looked to Haley,  and gave her a finger to his lip, the sign for quiet.  He took to the skies again, finding another branch and taking out his little pocket spy glass.  [color=gold]"Oh my gods..."[/color]  He whispered when he saw it.  The creature was... so bizarre!  Tail longer than her own body, she ran like a bird, arms tucked in, but the body was sinuous like a lizard.  The 'hair' on her head was almost like tendrils... [color=gold]"Ahh she's beautiful."[/color]  She said, but that was more out of a marvel for the unknown then actual attractiveness.  He passed the spy glass to Haley.  [color=gold]"Look at that.  She's so fast, and she knows how to spring the traps, and use them.  She must have a super high metabolism.  That must explain all the eating."[/color]  Ozzy was in total nerd mode, and couldn't keep his beak shut.

Thats probably why she noticed them.

He made an 'oop' sound.  He started into her red eyes, she stared into his golden ones.

He stayed stalk still, he whispered to Haley.  [color=gold]"I think she's intelligent, and harmless... I hope.  Stay here, if something goes wrong."[/color]  He didn't give her an alternative plan, but she was safer than he would be.  He stood up, and with a step flitted down with a couple of beats from his wings.  He was on the ground, maybe ten, twenty yards away.  He hoped she wouldn't see him as lunch.  Another, larger chicken.

He immediately smiled, raised his hands, took a gulp and spoke to the creature.  [color=gold]"Hi there!"[/color]  He said, a little squawk in his words but he tried to sound pleasant, cordial.  [color=gold]"Hello, my name is Ozzy.  I'm not going to hurt you.  Just wanted to talk.  Maybe be a friend!  You're so-  unique. You might be a natural wonder.  Truly extraordinary."[/color]  He just gabbed not even sure if she understood him.