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You make sure to keep both eyes and ears open for any sign of the dragon creature, Kyouboku. You can't imagine she just ran off without making a meal out of you. When only the sound of birds greets your ears, you feel somewhat at ease. Taking a deep breath, you move towards the doorway. A sudden gust of wind spins you around and you jump. There's not even a breeze. You furrow your brow and look around. Silence. The birds have stopped twittering. You hold your breath and wait for something, anything, but nothing happens. You take a tentative step closer to the door and the blast of air comes at your from the other side. Something brushes against your leg and you feel a pinching pain strike your flesh.  
You jump back a few steps and gaze down at the small equine. He looks up at you with deep red eyes, his nose horn dripping with your blood, then charges at your leg again. You dance around him watching the cat-sized creature rear and charge at you with such furor you almost have trouble getting away. His purple spikes adorning his body manage to find your legs more than a few times. He keeps leaping passed you and kicking out so that the spike on his hindquarters strikes you. With your pants sliced and dozens of small cuts on your legs, you wonder if he'll ever give up. He looks up at you, seemingly grinning, and you raise an eyebrow in reply. He lowers his head and charges, flailing his neck spikes into your leg. You yelp. That one hurt!
 A sharp, piercing cry scatters the smaller creature and you see a bright colored gryphon leap passed you. She gives the smaller creature a bit of a run before turning back and returning to you. The orange and pink gryphon pads up to you and cocks her head to the side. "Are you alright traveller?" Her voice is musical despite its high tone and you sigh in relief. Finally someone who won't attack you! She tilts her head again waiting for your answer. You nod looking down at your legs. "Aye. Kyouboku and Akushu are not the friendliest of folks. Ky is merely teasing, she knows better than to attack those given the special mark by Lady Reaper. The mark not only helps you get back to realm entrances but it keeps you out of certain places and allows us to recognize you. However, Akushu is a bad tempered little thing." The gryphon shakes her head and notices your apprehensive stare. She giggles. "No worries, traveller. I won't hurt you. The three of us are Whorlings of our respective breed." The gryphon jumps up on a piece of rubble and stretches languidly before plopping down. Her chocolate eyes wander over you and she gives her upright, bright green mane a shake. She laughs all of a sudden, a strange sound for a gryphon. "I almost forgot to introduce myself!" She sits up and bows to you. "My name is Bara." You smile and introduce yourself. You look over at the doorway but before you can go back to it, Bara shrieks; a very menacing but strangely beautiful sound. You spin around to face her. Bara's poised on top of the rubble. You wonder if maybe she'll attack you. "Even though your mark will not permit you to go into the temple, I must ask that you not try." Bara watches you go.
Jungle Realm Entrance Lady Reaper |
