PRIVATE cinder standing up to an inferno

[Viopteoises]

PLEASE DON'T FLATTER YOURSELF
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

The sounds of his heart beat woke him once more from a long slumber in his quiet home. The ancient sea dragon shifted his massive frame upon the ocean floor. Eyes opening, he lets a low growl leave his frame. Bubble rising to the surface of the water miles above him. Emerald optics took time to focus. They had gone so long without use. As soon as his optics found their focus once more, he took note of the world around him. Things had changed once more. When he last slept, this place had less debree for starters.

A reef grew upon and around him. He felt the movements of tiny fish as they swam along his sails as though he was a highway to their destinations. As though he was never alive. Oh, but alive he very much was. How long had he been asleep? Was there even reason to bother leaving this place now? Questions he wasted no time in answering. He found little point in wasting time on these things. Answers would come as they always did. In their own way and time. No, he had other matters to attend to. Such as the screaming hunger that sent pains through his snake-like body. The beast began to shift himself, sending the fish scattering. Coral cracking as he moved his frame.

To small. No point.

The fish were not worth the energy to try them. He would never fill up on small things like them. The male pushed his frame and the cracking soon turned into coral falling free. Toppling into the sands and kicking up soot. He had to be free of the chains the ocean created for him. His early tomb made of living rocks. His body unfurled slowly. Every movement was forced as he was sore from his cramped slumber. Then he moved upwards. Slowly at first, but soon he found his speed again. His grace and power showing in every motion made. He needed air in order to truly revive. He had to breath to truly live again. He would breach the water and gasp in the air. Taking note of the change in the world above the sea. His moment of inspection was just that. A moment.

Hunt. Survive.

He returned to the depths in seconds. Eyes scanning for the things he once knew. Everything was new to him. There were no giant sharks or reptiles. The things he once enjoyed ripping apart were no longer here. No, instead he found himself surrounded by new creatures unknown to him. He wished he knew where his food was. Where everything was. How long had he rested on the cold sands of the ocean floor? All he recalled was the fight to the death. He clearly won, but at what cost?

Focus. Feed.

His mind screamed at him. Pulling his focus back to the pains in his own stomach. His body moved forward with a lurch. His nostrils breaking the surface to breath as he travelled along. Seeking something, anything. Each exhale sprayed mist into the sky above and each dive made the waters ripple violently. He moved forward with desperate energy. Seeking food his body screamed for. Until he heard a sound that he did not know. Yet, it sounded familiar at the same time. Clicking like those weird Eurhinosaurus from his last memories of his old life.

The sounds of what he would later know as dolphins. He sank to the ocean floor. Laying there with his scales blending into the darkness. Resting in the sands as the sounds grew closer. Until he could see them. He lurched forward, maw agape. Fangs gnashing as blood filled the water. Panicked squeaks and bodies fleeing in all directions. He paid no mind to them, as he caught his prize. The water cleared, revealing a dolphin in his maw. To slow to react, it made a nice catch for the beast.

He swam away with his ride. Taking it to the shallows of a nearby river system. Swimming until he could rest on the riverbed. The beast would let his ten foot tall frame rise above the water. Dropping his victim before setting into his meal. He would look feral to anyone that watched him feast in that moment. Yet, he did not care. He would finish the meal and finally feel full. Content and ready to find new nesting grounds.

Strange smell. This awoke me?

The smell was what brought him to this river system. Yet, he could see nothing. Hear nothing. He was alone as far as he could tell. This annoyed him deeply. Sighing, the male would swim away into the rivers. Gliding along the surface until he felt uneasy. Not fearful, but cautious. He sank into the water. Watching and waiting.

( ? ) YOU WERE NEVER A PLAYER IN THIS SHOW | @ Cobra

@ teef

[Chernabog]

Slow, methodical steps against riverbank grass came from upriver, the dark mass of Chernabog slowly coming into view. Her scales, normally so dark and blue, became slightly iridescent in the sunlight. A constant scowl was on her face, even when she smiled, talking to the silly viper she had kidnapped. Said viper was trapped in a wooden cage held in one of her massive talons.

The viper wasn't as talkative, which came across as quite a shock to Chernabog. Usually the little thing was raving about its superiority and her inferiority. But it was silent. "What has gotten your tongue? Did Xanti sneak you away last night?"

Then, her gaze turned to the river as she came to a halt, snorting. She could smell something, that much was certain. But her yellow eyes couldn't find the source. Muscles tensed under mighty shoulders, and she let out a low, gator-like bellow. 

[w]isker

[Viopteoises]

PLEASE DON'T FLATTER YOURSELF
A sound reached ears that were honed in on anything and everything. Footfalls. Heavier than that of the creatures he once knew. A dragon, perhaps? He was unsure. It could have been a dinosaur as well. They were loud under the water. Sending ripples through him as he listened. Until those steps drew ever closer and a voice reached him. Sentient. It was a creature like himself, but in what vein? The beast would have this answered as a bellow escaped the creature unseen and he narrowed those emerald orbs.

It was a sound that brought a primal way of thinking forward. A challenge in its volume, the male slithered closer to the shoreline. Eyes on the shadow of a large creature above the waves. He snarled, aa snake like hiss leaving him and causing bubbles to rise up. He would lunge without much care or thought.

Not attacking yet, but erupting from the water in a shower of droplets as he landed a solid ten feet from the other. Eyes blazing as he held his head high in defiance. His own bellow like that of creatures old. A sound she likely knew as the once mighty deinosuchus. The bellow like her own was a warning. A challenge. His display an attempt to intimidate a threat.

Joke was on him. This threat was different.

( ? ) YOU WERE NEVER A PLAYER IN THIS SHOW | @ Cobra

@ teef

[Chernabog]

Oh, okay, then.

Chernabog didn't back up as Viopteoises erupted from the waters, though her snake friend hissed in almost reverence. Maybe it was the snake-like resemblance of the serpent. But nevertheless, Chernabog cared little.

She watched as Viopteoises bellowed, expression unchanging from that constant scowl. Then she spoke, "Is that a challenge, worm?"

She stepped back only to put the Viper's cage on a fallen tree, before resuming her stance. Her talons dug into the earth as she let out a terrible scream, a ferocious display of teeth. 

[w]isker

[Viopteoises]

Worm.

The word felt as though it hung in the air. His eyes flashed with defiance as he hissed. He cast a glance at the snake, but focused on the dragoness once more. The male opened his maw to hiss back. "You dare call me a worm?" The words were clearly defiant in tone as he eyed her there.

He was done with displays now. Lurching forward the male would attempt to bite onto the females front limb and wrap himself on her like a constrictor would. He would show her a worm.

[Chernabog]

Chernabog grunted as the serpent's teeth dug into her scales, bones aching as he coiled around her arm. The viper in the cage hissed, "Yes! Defeat the unholy handed-beast!"

With a snort, Chernabog tried to grasp Viopteoises, talons attempting to dig into the scales of his body as she tried to force him off. What a queer creature, it almost made her laugh.

The last time Chernabog actually fought a creature of these proportions was.. quite some time. 

[w]isker

[Viopteoises]

PLEASE DON'T FLATTER YOURSELF
Talons digging into his flesh made the beast grunt. Letting his bite go, he would twist in an attempt to bring his head up into her lower jaw. In an attempt to headbutt the woman as they were pushed away from her. A glint of amusement in his eyes. Perhaps at this situation, or perhaps at the viper cheering him on.
Ether way he would coil his frame back into striking position as soon as he was pushed free of the woman. Inspecting her and waiting to see her next move.

( ? ) YOU WERE NEVER A PLAYER IN THIS SHOW | @ Cobra

@ teef

[Chernabog]

Chernabog let out an audible OW! as Viopteoises headbutted her, her head reeling back as she staggered. She pressed her talons against her scaly jaw, rubbing the sore spot where Viopteoises had slammed into her. "Fuck! You are hard-headed."

She shook herself slightly like a wet dog, muscles tensing in her powerful shoulders. Her wings unfurled, then she slammed the thumbs of her wings into the earth to propell her forward. Balling her left talons into an iron-strong fist, she tried to punch Viopteoises in the jaw. 

[w]isker

[Viopteoises]

At the sound of an ow, he chuffed. Almost pleased with this response. The words were met with a snort and he opened his maw to quip back. But the punch connected and sent him toppling backwards. Shock in his eyes as he twisted his frame into his coiled position. "Hell of a punch you got there. For a winged dragon, anyways." He touched the place she hit with his tail tip. Eyes studying her. Truly taking her in for the first time.

His family would have been dismayed at his lack of response. Yet, he opted to study her now. "You are not like the rest. They were.. Weak." He mused as he tilted his head slightly. "Got a name? I'm Viopteoises."