[ Flower-Picking -- Dragon- Kicking]

[A-ub--re]

Brightly colored blossoms stretched almost as far as the eye could see. Bright marigolds, periwinkles, baby's breath, and of course a few thorny roses carpeted the ground. The entire landscape was a kaleidoscope of colors -- crimson hues wrapped around virgin whites, bordered by navy petals. Every so often an inquisitive head would poke up from a grass coated tree stump, or peer out from between a curtain of willow fronds. The place was a paradise of not only sight, but smell as well. Subtle perfumes blended together to form one earthy scent. This place was beautiful! A virtual Eden! Until you turned around [ put your back to the ancient Swamp Willow] and took a deep breath. The colors seemed to have been sapped from the landscape, gradually becoming one mass of vomit green, and muddy brown. Dark murky water lapped inches from your feet, the mud permeating the flower fields as far as twenty feet in. The scent of rot, and decay flooded nostrils, as the small girl at the edge of the virtual heaven took in a deep breath. Water dripped from her shoes, which squelched as she strolled deeper into the flower fields--occasionally casting a fearful glance at the horrors behind her.

A dark tentacle slunk beneath the stagnant water, some unseen beast splashed in the shadows. Sounds from ahead caused her to turn back to her destination-- and to glance at the sleeping bundle in her arms. A little sprig of hot-pink, lay nestled in her arms, a single emerald leaf hung from the middle of its broad forehead. Two little triangular peaks sat atop its head, and occasionally its little feet paddled at the air. The girl holding it allowed herself a small smile, before a loud splash drew a scream from her throat:
"EEK!"
The orange haired youth began, almost dropping the dozing Hoppip in her arms to the damp ground below.

A monster from her nightmares rose from the deep--it stood about seven feet tall, and dripped mud from every bit of its body. Long claws jutted from its tri-pronged hands and feet. A pair of eyes like glowing embers were recessed in its mud coated face--its very white canines visible even through the smog-like air of the swamp. Pulling itself onto the dry land, the beast let out a moan, and drew its lips away from its pink fleshed mouth.
'Mouse---shut the hell up. It's just me. Idiot."
The creature grumbled, brushing a ivory-tipped hand against its chest, and drawing away in disgust.
" I look like a freaking sand-castle!"
Shaking itself, the large creature sent dried mud flying away from its body in a storm, lemon yellow scales now visible beneath the coating of much. Spitting a few times, the Statodyle climbed fully onto the bank, strolling up to the young girl, and scowling at her:
"You jumped off of my back! Then stomped on my face, because a freaking Tentacool brushed your ankle! I Look like the swamp beast--while you're somehow dry! You and that loud ass beast in your arms!"
The girl listed a fabric ensconced hand, and held a single finger to her lips.

In hushed tones she quietly whispered:
" I' m sorry Achilles . . "
Fear was obvious in her dark colored eyes, even as she turned toward a nearby stump, and sat down. DGently dropping the still sleeping Hoppip into her open lap, Aubre turned her face skyward.
" . . .it's pretty here Achilles. Right?"
" Little too girly for my tastes."
"Yes. Just a little too girly."
The girl's change of opinion drew a sigh from the dragon looming over her. Throwing his petite arms into the air, Achilles curled around the stump, his tail slowly waving back and forth in annoyance.

" So what the hell we here for?"
The Dragon muttered after about ten minutes of silence, the agitation in his voice growing as he spoke.

" I . .err . . . umm . ."
Aubre began to murmur, words tripping over one another in an attempt to find a satisfactory reason.

Would he like her picking a certain kind of flower? Or would he pick her head from her shoulders from dirtying his scales for something so trivial?

Maybe she should just shut up? Yes. That worked.

The girl's words trailed into nothingness. The dragon--very much used to it--merely let out a muted growl, before closing his eyes.


( Aubre is VERY hard to start a thread with)