Rufio is drawn to the sea.  It reminded him of home – and however much he hated the circumstances which had trapped him in Neverland, he missed it.  He thought of the sandy shores, the crystal blue water, the tropical lushness of the jungle.  It was a veritable paradise (albeit a lonely one), and he’d dreamed of easier days on the shores for some time now.  So it is not unusual that the boy is on the shores, staring out to the ocean while his companion rested on a nearby pile of golden sand, gnawing on a crab she’d unearthed from the tidepools.

Waves crashed, and Rufio closed his eyes to imagine he was somewhere else.  Somewhere further from this hellhole.  He didn’t hold any affection for Solterra, but it was as good of a place as any to hang his hat.  Once, he’d pledged to support the king’s cause.  Raum… that was his name.  But after his task was completed, Rufio had decided it wasn’t worth his time to return.  War had come, and he’d wanted no part of it.  So the metalworker had simply wandered around Novus, managing to stay out of the sight of others, keeping a low profile.

Sunlight beams down and cascades in prismatic light from his elaborate golden adornments.  They chatter when the wind blows, creating a melodic tone which he found pleasing.  There is another sound now though, one which suggests that his days of being alone were over.  He turns, eyes flashing hot as they fall on her form, a sneer wrapping around his lips as he motions his companion to his side.  Asha, come.  The command is not spoken, but instead is a sort of telepathy he shares with the hyena alone, as she yips and makes her way to his side.  Both of them stare at Lucinda for a moment, silence masked only by the quiet wash of water against sand.

"What are you staring at, Girl?”  He huffs at the stranger, waiting for her to answer as his tail flicks impatiently against striped hocks.  If he were intimidated by her jagged horns and haughty stare, Rufio didn’t show it.  Instead, he simply juts his chin out further, stubbornness set as he regards her warily – not entirely disappointed at finding some company, but certainly not letting that show.  

---

| "speaks" | @Lucinda

I am the daydream, bring you faith and conviction
I am the nightmare you've been crawling through

The sea tells her many things. It whispers secrets from its depths but promises safety outside of the shadows. It speaks of the love of its children and the kelpies like Lu within it. She has welcomed the sea as her home and it's hard to imagine a time that she didn't have such a connection. She had been weaker then and not nearly at her full potential.

Anandi gave her this, although Lucinda still despises the woman. Whether she likes it or not, they are connected by the Changing, just as Lu is connected to Emersyn. Unfortunately, she's seen more of her enemy than the one she had half-hoped to be her friend.

No matter, there is a reason she has chosen the life of a Vagabond and not one within a Court. The only companionship she truly values is the one with her dragon, although she'd be curious to reunite with the only kelpie she created so far. Maybe someday there will be more.

On this day, she takes on her land form and has been patrolling the shoreline. Something had carried in the breeze that caught her attention. It reminded her of a past life, one where enchantments were her only specialty and she had been surrounded by the desert sands.

There is a man with his own companion up ahead. It's some type of canine creature by his side and it immediately stands in front of him at Lucinda's approach. They stare and Lu keeps her gaze fixed on them as Abraxia breaks through the clouds in the sky. She soars down until she lands by the kelpie's side, stirring up sand around them.

Initially she thinks man, but the way he snapped at them reminds her of a child. Her smile is that of amusement, but her eyes tell a different story.

"I am no "girl", boy," she growls, showing the slightest hint of her sharp teeth. Lucinda stops until she's a few feet away from him. There's no need to pursue him, not yet anyway. Not until he gives her a good reason to, but she can't help feeling a bit hungry. It had been some time since she had been on a real hunt.

Abraxia growls beside her and digs her long claws into the sand. Lu can tell the beast so badly wants to unleash her fire on him. She brushes her wing against the dragon's cheek to calm her down.

"I was merely trying to figure out how you can move around in all those chains," she replies, looking at the intricate detailing of them. She's not sure if they're accessories or if he's a slave. "Where are you from?" While this stranger flicks his tail around out of frustration, Lu remains calm and collected.

"Speaking."