so take to the streets with apocalypse refrain

[Rant.]

rant.

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A slender figure slipped inside the mall, hesitating only a moment before pulling the door shut behind him. Ice blue eyes blinked rapidly; adjusting to the harsh change of light inside the abandoned building. Squinting slightly, Rant took a few cautious steps forward. It was never wise to go charging around in a new place; this was something he'd learned the hard way. Craning his neck to extend his field of vision, the man stood silently as if suddenly turned to stone. And what a picturesque statue he'd make: a slender man, tense and prepared for action, his angular facial features frozen in a mask of cold indifference. And, of course, (like any good gargoyle) great inky black wings sprouting from his shoulder blades.

Once he was satisfied that his new surroundings posed no immediate danger, Rant allowed himself to relax for a moment. He was never truly safe, of this he was well aware, but Rant had learned to take these moments when he could. Stepping silently, Rant picked his way through the debris and strangely determined flora that must have crept into the abandoned mall long ago. Just like me, Rant thought suddenly. Uninvited guests. Smiling silently to himself, the man began to look around.

There were so many different shops surrounding him that Rant didn't know where to begin. Not that it mattered, really. He wasn't searching for anything in particular. He never was. Rant hadn't had a specific goal in mind for such a long time that it now seemed almost futile to strive for anything. No, don't think like that, Rant reminded himself, shaking his head as if to clear it. "That won't get you anywhere, and you know it,"

[/color]he muttered out loud.

Rant sighed and picked a store at random. It looked like it had once been a shoe store; one of the the front windows had been smashed and the pane replaced with several cobwebs. Inside, most of the racks had been tipped over and many fading shoes were strewn about the floor. Rant stepped carefully into the store, glancing around. There did not appear to be anything here of value; no doubt the entire mall had been thoroughly picked over long ago. Stepping back out, Rant caught sight of a large mattress store across the hall.
"Perfect!"[/color]

He strode over to the shop, sizing up the few remaining mattresses. None were in terrific shape, and most were holey and yellowed, but Rant hadn't slept on an actual mattress in weeks. He grabbed the least offensive-looking one and yanked it out from under the debris. Rant dragged the mattress back out into the middle of the hall where he'd come in, and let it fall to the floor. Sighing again, this time with relief at his unexpected victory, Rant flopped down onto the mattress, unconcerned by the questionably-coloured stains covering it. He remained there, laying haphazardly where he'd fallen, for a moment of rest. Rant gazed upward at a conveniently placed skylight, his eyes once again finding the sky.
[/size][/center][/blockquote]

[r y n t h a e]

Ahkra alighted onto the roof of the mall, stretching his impressively large, black wings before leaping through a hole in the largely-deteriorated roofing, wings curved out slightly to catch the air and soften his fall. His feet made no noise as he alighted into the mall, as stealthy as an owl, and glanced up, waiting for his beloved, Arc, who had been just behind him.

He was about to call up to Arc, when a scraping sound reached his ears. The hair stood up on the back of his neck, and without thinking about it, his wings stretched out menacingly, both as an attempt to warn off would-be attackers, and in preparation for flight, if necessary. Glancing down the hall, he spotted another Avian, with wings curiously similar to his own and Arc's, pulling an old and somewhat worse-for-wear mattress out of a store and flopping onto its surface, expression blissful. Ahkra couldn't help but grin at the sight of it; he was accustomed to sleeping on a mattressed bed; Arc and he had fitted beds into the old Cathedral when they'd first moved in there. Nevertheless, he remembered sleeping on the hard ground on more than one occasion before that.... black gaping holes in his memory stared back at home, side-by-side with memories of curling up in trees in the forest, out of fear of being attacked by carriers of the Disease.

Voice lilting and melodic, Ahkra addressed the other Avian playfully; "Why, hello there." His grin was slightly flirtatious, as he stepped over to the black-winged boy, wondering what was taking Arc. A flicker of worry crossed his mind, but he heard a slender form land on the roof above, and breathed a sigh of relief, instinctually knowing it as his beloved.

[w h i s p y r]

Arc's landing on the roof was light, and relaxed a bit, but he didn't go inside right away. Instead he glanced around himself first, before going for the large gaping hole in the roof that he saw the other avian go through a moment before him. He looked down below before he stretched his wings upright to catch himself, and cause his own lighter fall. Not wanting to harm his own wings, or hurt his own legs, should there be anything down below that could harm him.

Though, when he was on the ground Arc again looked around a bit cautiously in case that there had been anything hiding down here. It was a relatively large place that could be housing many things, but he didn't really have quite as much to protect himself other than a hidden dagger in his boot. Which he wasn't too keen on using, unless he really needed to.

Pulling himself out of thought he heard Ahkra talking, and his brows furrowed slightly, before going into a light jog towards the other avian. He still looked around himself as he went, and admired the beauty that nature created to overtake the old shopping center. But then he didn't look where he was going, and slightly crashed into Ahkra's back, which knocked him back on his butt on the floor. A bit dazed, and slowly sitting up, Ow...

[Rant.]

rant.

[/font][/color]

Rant allowed his eyes to close for a moment, his mind drifting farther and farther from his location in the mall. Maybe now, he thought blissfully. Maybe everything will be okay. It was only a matter of time, surely. He'd been wandering for so long now. . . would it be best to try to make a home out of this mall? Surely he could scrounge up enough scrap material to make it at least habitable.

"Why, hello there," came a melodic voice from alarmingly near by. Rant's eyes shot open and he scrambled to his feet clumsily. Caught off-guard, his foot caught on a hole in the mattress and he felt himself lurch forward. Luckily, with a sudden well-timed jerk, Rant was able to right himself, having saved himself from the embarrassment of falling flat on his face by maneuvering into an awkward sort of hop.

Rant faced the source of the disturbance now, raising his arms and extending his wings in a defensive stance. I knew this place was too good to be uninhabited, he scolded himself silently, taking in this newcomer's appearance. It was a young man, looking close to Rant's own age, with dark reddish hair and black wings reminiscent of Rant's own. What now?

Rant blinked slowly, his face betraying nothing. This avian didn't seem threatening. In fact, the expression on his face seemed to be one of amusement more than anything. Rant, while still tensed and ready to flee if necessary, relaxed a bit. He opened his mouth to explain his presence and perhaps ask for permission to at least keep his mattress, when another young avian appeared, jogging towards them. Now Rant was outnumbered. Raising his arms again, Rant berated himself for getting into this position. Why couldn't something have gone right, just this once?

As the second avian approached them, Rant narrowed his piercing blue eyes, ready for whatever kind of confrontation was about to happen. But this new person was gazing around at the building, apparently unaware of his physical location as he ran, and collided with the red-haired avian rather sharply. The second avian stumbled backwards, falling to the ground with a decided thump. Rant blinked again, unsure of how to react. "Ow. . ." came the boy's voice as he sat upright. After a moment of stunned silence, Rant's stoic exterior dissolved as he began to laugh. "Are you okay?" he asked, still smiling slightly.

If he was about to be forcibly ejected from the mall, there was nothing he could do about it at this point. He might as well enjoy himself while he was here.

[r y n t h a e]

Ahkra gave a sharp sound of surprise, too wrapped up in his amusement at the unknown avian to have noticed Arc running at his back; the crash caught him by surprise, and his wings snapped out to full length, pushing him back upright. Looking somewhat flustered, Ahkra's wings shifted, folding at his back once more, and he turned to Arc, holding a hand out for the younger raven avian, and helping him to his feet. His expression softened slightly, seeing the baffled and apologetic expression on the younger boy's face. Pulling him close, if only momentarily, Ahkra stole a soft kiss, before letting Arc go, and turning his attention back to Mattress Boy.

Holding his hands up as a sign of peace, he told him: "we're not looking for a fight. This is neutral territory, and we just thought we'd see if there was anything interesting here. You can keep the mattress, honest. We've got our own at home." The Cathedral, that was. They were the leaders of the Children of the Lokoi... and that was where the flock called home, after all.

Holding out a hand, the redhead offered: "I'm Ahkra. This is my mate, Arc. I'm sorry for the scare." He offered a charming smile bordering on flirtation.

Beneath the flirtatious and confident appearance, Ahkra wondered whether he'd seen this particular avian before. His memory was so shattered and corroded, that it was possible.... the black-winged boy didn't react as though he recognized Ahkra, though.

[w h i s p y r]

The young boy was quite embarrassed with himself at the moment, having done this a few times already in the past. He shifted his wings a bit, and they were slightly twinging with pain with the way they spread out so suddenly when he had fallen, but being back on his feet with Ahkra's help seemed to make them feel a bit more at ease. If not shaken. He shyly smiled, though an embarrassed one, and shifted on his feet a little as he folded his wings gently against his back.

Y-yeah, I'm okay. Arc responded to the other avian, biting into his lower lip a little, he was a bit red to the face right now and he was trying to get rid of it. He looked away from them a little, and brushed himself off of the dusty ground and debris that decided to attach itself to his clothes. It didn't usually bother him too much, but right now it was something that showed sign of his unmindful stupidity when he doesn't pay attention to where and what he is doing. However, the boy listened to what Ahkra told the raven avian, and briefly nodded.

We were just exploring the area, I didn't really think we would run into anyone else. He spoke softly, and sweetly, shifting a little and looking over his shoulder towards the other. You don't always have to introduce me, I can do that you know. Arc looked up at Ahkra when he said this, but nevertheless smiling a bit again, he lightly nudged a piece of glass that was on the ground by his foot. He probably was a bit too sky, at least sometimes, to speak up and introduce himself but he tried when he wanted to.

[Rant.]

rant.

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"Y-yeah, I'm okay,"

[/color] the fallen avian muttered shakily. Rant watched as the first avian helped the second to his feet. "We're not looking for a fight,"[/color] he mentioned. Rant said nothing.
"This is neutral territory, and we just thought we'd see if there was anything interesting here,"[/color] the avian said. Rant shifted slightly, unsure of how to react. Neutral territory? he thought. Does that mean I can stay here? As if in response, the stranger continued:
"You can keep the mattress, honest. We've got our own at home."[/color]

Now Rant was listening. Here were two avians, just like him, who not only had access to so-called "neutral territory" like this gigantic mall, but also a home? A home with mattresses?

"We were just exploring the area,"[/color] the second avian spoke up suddenly. Rant turned to him, still not saying a word. "I didn't really think we would run into anyone else."[/color] Rant decided that he believed him. He didn't know why, but there was no time to dwell on that now.

The first stranger offered his hand, looking cheerfully nonchalant. "I'm Ahkra. This is my mate, Arc. I'm sorry for the scare."[/color] Rant nodded and extended his own arm slowly, shaking Ahkra's hand wordlessly.
"You don't always have to introduce me,"[/color] came Arc's voice quietly. He was looking up towards his mate, smiling slightly. "I can do that you know."[/color]

Realising that he still hadn't said anything, Rant blinked straightened up quickly. "Hello. I'm Rant," he declared. "It's nice to meet some other avians." Pausing for a moment, wondering how to proceed politely, Rant watched Arc kick absently at a piece of glass on the floor. Lucky he didn't land on that before, Rant mused. Turning back to Ahkra, who seemd to be the more talkative of the two, Rant continued.

"Thank you for letting me keep the mattress. I haven't slept on a real bed in ... months, it must be," Rant smiled humourlessly. "I envy you your location, and the home you mentioned."
Well, here goes. . .
"Would it be all right if I sort of. . . moved in here?" Rant asked cautiously. "I mean, it's not perfect, but at least it has a roof, which is more than I can say for everywhere else I've been sleeping lately." If there was anything he needed right now, it was a nice, dry, sheltered place to rest. Surely these avians wouldn't deny him that?
[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[r y n t h a e]

Ahkra gave Arc an apologetic glance, for having gone ahead and introduced the younger avian when he was very capable of doing the same himself. Turning his attention back to the new avian, Ahkra considered Rant thoughtfully as he shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you, Rant," Ahkra told him, tone friendly. He put an arm lightly around Arc's waist as he continued speaking to Rant. He chuckled lightly, and told the boy: "It's not as if it was my mattress -- nothing here belongs to anyone. That's why it's called neutral territory; no one lives here, and no one has claim over the things here. Sometimes, people come to explore or sift through things and see if there is anything interesting to take home, which is why we were here."

At Rant's proposition to live in the old mall, Ahkra's gaze darkened slightly; he looked around them faintly, ears still alert for any strange sounds throughout their conversation. "No one is going to stop you from living here, Rant, but it's a bad idea." His terrible past virtually leaked through his emerald eyes as he talked, the irises like dark pools full of macabe reflections. "Since no one claims this place, animals aren't afraid to have free run of the building. And some of them will be infected. We're avians... we are immune to the Disease, but that doesn't mean a Diseased animal can't rip us into pieces. And believe me, they will."

"If you need a place to stay," he added, a bit more softly, "there are far better places than this." Sizing up the other avian, letting his instincts gauge Rant's character, Ahkra added, "such as with us. With the Children of the Lokoi - an avian flock. The old Cathedral has seen some wear and tear, but the windows are too high up for earth-bound beasts, and the walls are thick stone. Even the doors... despite being warped, have kept out any but the invited."

[w h i s p y r]

ARC

It's just not safe here, like Ahkra said, but I won't stop you either. The young boy responded, staying close to the other avian who had his arm around his waist. He was worried about the other avian, and he bit into his cheek a little, concerned more than anything that something might happen to the stranger. Shifting on his feet, and then looking up at Ahkra as he spoke about joining them at their Cathedral he developed a smile.

Really, you should consider it! It's safer, and if it really matters to you we do have mattresses and a lot of supplies we get just about every week if not sooner depending on if it dwindles faster than we thought. Arc told the other avian, pretty much breaking out of his partners grasp and smiling a little, really wanting to have another person safe in their home. He hoped to convince him, but at the same time he didn't want to force the other to do anything he didn't want to do.

Arc hated to see people get hurt because they didn't have a safe place to live, or starve to death because they didn't have food. And this was probably one of those very important feelings for him, because he was so scared of people dying around him whether or not he knew them. It's just how the young boy worked. He was too kind sometimes, and a bit to brash to usher people to join, but he never quite knew.

[Rant.]

rant.

[/color][/font]

Rant nodded vaguely as Ahkra explained the nature of neutral territory. It made sense to him now; a group would have to be pretty powerful to take over the entire mall. Then came Ahkra's verdict:
"No one is going to stop you from living here, Rant, but it's a bad idea,"

[/color] he said, a shadow crossing his face. Rant narrowed his eyes, unsure of what Ahkra meant. Rant could take care of himself; this he had proved time and time again. It wasn't as if he could have lived this long without figuring out some secrets to survival.
"Since no one claims this place, animals aren't afraid to have free run of the building,"[/color] Akhra continued. Rant glanced around nervously, realising that he'd let his guard down somewhat during the excitement. There didn't seem to be any immediate danger, however, and he turned back to his new acquaintances.
". . . and some of them will be infected,"[/color] Ahkra was saying. "We're avians . . . we are immune to the Disease, but that doesn't mean a Diseased animal can't rip us into pieces. And believe me, they will."[/color]

Rant was silent for a moment, lost in thought. Obviously, these two knew the area much better than he did. If they said it was an unsafe place to live, who was he to argue?
"It's just not safe here, like Ahkra said, but I won't stop you either,"[/color] Arc echoed. Rant frowned slightly at his words.
"Okay, I get the idea," he sighed. "Not a good place to move into." Guess I'll have to keep moving. . .

"If you need a place to stay,"[/color] came Ahkra's voice, softer now that he'd made his point, "there are far better places than this."
Like where? Rant wondered silently. As if on cue, the avian continued:
"such as with us."[/color] Rant's eyebrows shot towards his hairline at Ahkra's words. Invitations such as this were not common in the world they lived in, and for good reason.
"With the Children of the Lokoi - an avian flock,"[/color] Ahkra elaborated. "The old Cathedral has seen some wear and tear, but the windows are too high up for earth-bound beasts, and the walls are thick stone. Even the doors... despite being warped, have kept out any but the invited."[/color]

Rant was at a loss for words. He didn't know what he had been expecting, but this certainly wasn't it. He had just met these people! And now he was supposed to move in with them? It went against every rule for survival Rant had accumulated over years of solo wandering. And, what was more, they were inviting him! He could be a homocidal maniac for all they knew! It was an odd situation, and yet, as his pale blue eyes flicked back and forth between the two avians, Rant couldn't help but trust them; albeit with the strict caution with which he did everything.

"Really, you should consider it!"[/color] Arc exclaimed when Rant didn't respond. "It's safer, and if it really matters to you, we do have mattresses and a lot of supplies we get just about every week if not sooner, depending on if it dwindles faster than we thought."[/color]
Rant grinned again, making his mind up.

"Well, in that case, it sounds like I've got no choice."
At this point, what have I got to lose?
"I would love to see your home," he declared. "It means a lot to me that you are willing to open your doors to a stranger like me, and for that I give you my heartfelt thanks." Rant bowed his head in gratitude for a moment, then straightened up.

"So, what is it that you two were here to look for, anyway?"

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[r y n t h a e]

Ahkra nodded respectfully in return, and offered the boy a smile, glad to see that he wouldn't be living here, in such an unguarded and vulnerable place, and happy to offer him shelter instead. "I used to be on my own, too. And... between Scientists and the Infected, it's a bad situation out there."

In reply to Rant's other question, Ahkra told him, "we typically aren't looking for anything specific when we come here.... If there's something in particular that we want, we usually stop by the market. The mall, though," he shrugged, gesturing around them. "Who knows what you can find here? We come here every so often just to see if there's something useful or interesting to be found."

Ahkra glanced around them; his ears were, as ever, alert to any warning sounds. The building may appear to be deserted, but he knew better. In all honestly, if it weren't for the fact that, as an avian, he was immune to the Disease, he wouldn't even risk coming here. The knowledge that even if he did sustain an injury, he could fly away and recover only fed into his reckless personality. For him, coming here was, in its own ways, a bit of an adventure. Winking in Rant's direction as he slipped his fingers between Arc's, to hold the other raven avian's hand, he told Rant: "If you'd like, you could join us in looking around out here, before we head back to the Cathedral. It's up to you."

[w h i s p y r]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,500px,true][atrb=style, background-image: url(http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3043/gbackgroundbackdrop.jpg); border: 1px solid #c6c5ae; opacity: 0.8;][atrb=cellpadding, 10, true][atrb=style, border: 0px solid #c6c5ae] I don't really like being here too long, because I start to hear things... and they aren't usually friendly. The young avian mentioned lightly, his voice was light and barely audible however. He cautiously looked around them, and bit into his cheek a bit at the thought of something being in the area. Arc hated conflict, especially if he was put into it, but if he had to he would fight whatever came at him and regret it later. Though, when he felt the other avian's hand grasp his he calmed down, and let out a faint sigh. Of all the people he trusted he knew he could count on Ahkra, because sometimes he truly believed that the other raven avian had to be like a polar opposite of himself. Even the thought of it made the corner of his lips twitch a bit with a tiny smile, but it quickly went into a bigger smile when he heard what Rant said to them. A big sigh of relief left the young boy, I'm glad, because I think I would probably worry so much for your safety if we just left you here. It was true, however, but even if he joined their flock he would to still worry whenever he may leave the cathedral for anything. Arc was content, and calming down considerably, until he suddenly flinched at a sound in the mall somewhere. He blinked, wide eyed, and looked over his shoulder to find out where it was coming from as he gripped Ahkra's hand tighter. It wasn't like he didn't know this was going to be a possibility, but the fact that something might be coming their way startled him. Wh-where is that coming from? The boy's voice was very quiet, afraid that whatever it was or whoever was listening.