'The Red Dawn' Illustration

<sub>The seeker slowed to a halt, muscles bulging then lying flat as he stood in a balanced, comfortable position. His eyes still searched subtly, but there was nothing to be seen.

Of course, it hardly meant that nothing was there.

‘If I was feeling a bit more amiable, I would advise you to cease and desist.’ His eyes narrowed, and the normally placid being fought to keep from flexing his claws. ‘Instead, I am telling you to stop whatever it is you are doing.’

‘You should have been clearer much earlier in the conversation,’ was the reply. Plum-colored feet emerged from a crease of shadow underneath a side table holding a lamp. Ivory white skin, a sharp and shocking contrast against the darkness, followed, peeling itself from the shade of the table and into the artificial light. The seeker gazed at the ghaenelt coolly, shifting his weight a bit.

‘Be that as it may, I am telling you to quit what you are doing. Now.’

The ghaenelt, hardly anywhere near the size of this imposing seeker, flicked his tail in a laconic fashion, while it’s dark jade eyes failed to blink.

‘And the crime of which I am accused?’

One lip quivered upwards in a delicate snarl, before settling down. ‘Sierra’s schemes and plotting are more than I should need to deal with. She requires no instigation from you.’

‘What if I conclude that she does?’

A stiffness traveled up Java’s jaw into his neck muscles. ‘Your conclusion is not one that is shared by anyone else. In this matter, you have been overruled.’

One fragile ear swiveled away as Jericho titled his head to his right, gazing back at his shadows. ‘And the majority decides against right or wrong, fiction and fact? I find it hard to believe someone like you is a slave to the masses.’ Dark, unfathomable eyes flickered back, unable to look away from whatever reaction the seeker might have. As it turned out, his current subject of interest was having a hard time keeping himself from advancing on the smaller creature.

‘Believe what you will – this is not a debate. You will bother Sierra no longer, and that is final.’

‘And the consequences if I don’t will be …?’ The ghaenelt queried, leaning forward as if interested. Java knew better. Java also was not in the mood to play these games. It was because of this that Jericho received the first real shock of his life.

I will leave it up to your capable imagination.</sub>





A slightly late birthday gift for Selindra :3


Seeker, Ghaenelt (c) Art of Spirit
Java, Jericho, prose bit (c) Selindra