Don't Kill The Messenger

Thread Status:(closed)
Players involved: Archera, Kokopuffs
Characters involved: Kenjin, Kavrier
Setting: Le mountains fam
Time: Late Evening
Weather: Clear with a slight change of rain

It was a sight he wasn't prepared to see, though before he'd entered the throne room he could smell death beyond the door; waiting for some unsuspecting being to walk through. That unsuspecting one was him, and his eyes had grown wide with horror at the sight. He had come seeking the king, to speak with the man of something; he couldn't even remember what exactly that was going to be. Hell, who could even remember what they were going to do when faced with a body? That last time he'd seen one... Kavrier shook his head, dispelling the image from his mind. There was only one thing that needed to be done now, he needed to find Kenjin.

He was as quick as he could, moving from the castle and into the open air. Much faster a traveling distance when in flight, walking at this point in his life was more difficult than it had been many, many years before. Where did he hear of Kenjin being? The mountains perhaps? The dragon could only hope so, as they were coming close into sight the further he traveled in the skies.

Once he was at the mountains, he lowered himself down until he could land safely upon them; eyes scanning the immediate area. "KENJIN!" he called out into the open air, waiting for a call in return, "I have something of great importance you need to know!"

Up in the great mountains laid a carved out cavern big enough to fit even the largest of dragons. In the side of the snowy hill just a few miles away from where the mountains began, rested a dragon having just finished a meal. He looked out to the opening of his cave, watching as the sunlight made the world around him nearly blinding to the eye. The small saving grace where the few clouds that foretold a different story for the future events. Little did the male know what his omen would mean.

The world was quiet. Little to disturb the beast as he enjoyed his little sunning. Slowly, but surely his eyes started to close as he began to dose. How could he not when the sun made him feel so cozy? It wasn't long before loud shrieks jolted his eyes open with alarm. Birds fluttered in various directions as the sound continued. Was that his name being called out? How the hell did anyone know where he was to begin with? With a groan, the dragon opened out his wings on either side as his body lifted up from the ground. He took himself out before folding his wings back to his side and taking some steps towards the direction the sound had been coming from. It didn't take long for him to see the form of another dragon and one he had known all too well.

"Kavrier, long time old friend," Kenjin replied as his wings opened up. With a quick movement, he took off into the air to descend down to meet the other dragon. He landed a few feet away from him, folding his wings back into place. "What brings you around these parts? You said something I need to know?" More importantly, how did he find him?

It wasn't as if he knew he was specifically in that location, but he knew it was in the mountains somewhere; gods know where to be exact, yet he had come seemingly make the best guess a dragon could. The right guess at that, as soon enough the one he'd been searching for emerged from a cave upon the mountain; above his own head it seemed. It wasn't too far off away, but he'd have to meet him down below for them to properly speak to one another. "It has been quite some time indeed, old friend, but there are plenty of other times for catching up," he spoke to the other, his feet bringing him a step or two closer to the other male, "it is dire news I must say, the image still is lingering in my own mind. I am to assume I am the first to have come upon it in the time it happened..."

Kavrier took a moment to collect his thoughts, mind racing about how he was going to exactly say what he needed to; but it would have to come out in some manner. "I was on my way to speak to the king of something, though for now the reason I can't be bothered to remember.." the dark dragon cleared his throat, "there was no answer when I knocked upon the doors of the throne room, so curiously I had entered.. and there, laying upon his own throne was the kill, dead.."

Kenjin listed quietly as he let his old friend start to speak. He wasn't his usual self. Something definitely had spooked him but enough to drive the other dragon to find him this far up north? Not many would willingly stay up here if there had the luxury of being around the castle, but then again, to each their own.

Once the news was delivered though, it all became clear. "A dead king..." Kenjin replied quietly, unsure of what to make of the news. Sure, he had heard about how terribly his kin had been ruling the kingdom, but that was his choice. The male had no intentions of interfering unless it was truly terrible. Looks like someone decided to beat him to the punch line. The kingdom now not only had a king, but had a murder on the loose. Was it one murder or multiple? Were they just in killing the monarch for all the terror he had caused or should they go free? So many questions were now left to answer, but those were the least of his problems now. There was one thing that made little sense to the male as he looked to his friend.

"If the king's dead... Then why have to come to inform me rather than another of the royals?" A few were still left, minus his line as Ren was still too young and Andromeda held no claim to the throne. "Surely, there is someone to step in during this trying time..."

The male watched close, allowing the other to take in the information given to him; though he knew well himself it was always a possibility that could happen. Even so, it was still all in a surprise, perhaps to himself more than the other before him. He was a royal, and there certainly were others who he could have gone to about this; so why Kenjin? Perhaps it was because he'd known the dragon for quite some time; he could even call him a close friend if he wanted.

Kavrier lowered his head slightly, though his eyes stayed set upon the royal's own; wings flicking slightly as a nervous habit. "To be quite honest, Kenjin, you were the first to have come to my mind with this..." he spoke up, head slowly raising once again, "out of all the royals that I could have possibly seen about it, it is you of all I trust the most. I know you probably do not care for such a trivial thing as this, he was not very well liked... this I know quite well."

Kenjin listened intently as Kavrier gave his explanation as to his choice of royals to visit after the unforeseen events. It made sense that the other dragon would go to him, regardless of his disinterest in the throne. As much as Kenjin hated the royal politics at times, he still was a royal by blood. With a light sight, the male shifted his wings a bit as he began to sit down, tail wrapping around in annoyance. How would this impact the kingdom? Sure, many wanted the king dead but there were still those who were his followers. How would this end up playing out? The king had no heirs and the throne defaulted to the next in line, but of course anyone with an ounce of royal blood would go after the throne. Well, those who were not him.

The male gave a heavier sigh as he tried to think it all through, coming up with little as to how to handle the situation. But then, why was it his concern? The images of his two daughters flickered in his mind for a moment. One was already grown and well able to take care of herself but the youngest... She still required dad. An unstable kingdom was no place for his daughter and he sure as hell wasn't going to let that happened.

"You know Kavrier, why do people have to go dropping dead," he asked with a small smirk on his face. It was in this instance he got up from the ground to stand on all fours once more. "Come on old friend. We should probably at least see what kind of chaos is going on. By now, you're not the only one to have found him. Word should be spreading soon."

The silence of the moment seemed to linger on, his eyes only watching intently towards Kenjin; unsure of what he was going to say or even do. There was one thing he did know, however, that the dragon would not hold any hard feelings towards him for this. Why would he? As he stated, he trusted the royal more than the others, something he couldn't say to anyone else in the entire kingdom around them. With a light sigh, his eyes turned to the environment they sat in; so calm and peaceful, he could see why the royal would be out here of all places. "You know..." he spoke up, softly, "this is the kind of place me and my love would have come, its lovely out here."

"Hmm?" he attention soon turned back towards Kenjin, brow raised in curiosity, "oh, you are quite right about that. I suppose I didn't even think of that before I left, I had to find you as quick as I possibly could, Kenjin. But yes, let us see what had become of the castle in our absence." He followed suite of his old friend, raising upon all four legs; spreading his wings out on each side of his body.

Kenjin smiled at his friend. It was easy to forget that others would be involved when something like this happens, but it was the way of life with royals. Who knows. Maybe someone saw Kavrier coming out and now suspected him of murdering the king. While Kenjin knew that was impossible, rumors would kill anyone's reputation within seconds. The royal lifted a claw and slashed the space in front of him. As his claws moved through the air, a dark void began to emerge to fill in the gap created by the beast. It began to extend further until it took on a large circular form big enough for both dragons to fit through.

"Come my friend. This will be easier and quicker than flying. You must be tired after that journey anyways." Kenjin did not waste much time before he went through the portal, only to land within the castle's borders. Just as he expected, the guards were running around while members of the castle tried frantically to shut everything down to prevent other such as himself from appearing during this time of crisis. At least Kenjin was a royal, so it would be hard to block him out without another royal present.

"Looks like I'm the first one," he murmured to himself. Before he continued on, he waited for Kavrier to join so they could take this on together.

Kavrier watched closed, though he wasn't quite well with portals, making them at least; one would certainly make getting back to the castle much faster. There was only so much traveling by flight one could take, and that came with it's own complications and dangers. Dragon hunters one of them, it was the reason for their entire species having humanoid forms to hide within. "Ah yes, you are quite right I must say," he spoke softly, a soft nod of his head, "you've always been quite perceptive and caring friend, Kenjin."

He followed the other through the taproot, just behind the other but not to close. Mostly just in case Kenjin stopped suddenly, he didn't want to run himself right into the male's backside. On the other side it wasn't as peaceful as in the mountains. Guards and many of the inhabitants of the castle were running about, surely this was due to the king's death now being known through the kingdom. Of course he wouldn't be the only to find out, it was only a matter of time before someone went to seek out the king. Well, the dead king that is.

"Certainly seems that way," the other dragon spoke, though as he started to walk along side Kenjin, and changed his form slowly; coming now into his human form.

"This is the most active I've seen this place in a quite some time, if I am to be honest my dear fiend," he sighed softly, cane clacking against the hard ground.

The most activity he's seen in awhile. Had people not really been coming to the castle for anything? Sure, it was a kingdom but nonetheless there were normally more dragons around. The male sighed knowing it had probably been quiet since no one wanted to be near the tyrant king. The less time in the same vicinity, the better.

"It's unfortunate that it took a tragedy like this for more of us to gather together, but at least we're here now. Shall we go start work?" By now, others were starting to take notice that a royal had appeared. Not only that, but one who had not been around in a long time. Another sigh as the dragon began to shift, transforming from the large beast to a human. His mane barely left as it converted to his long hair, flowing hair above the ground. As his claws became hands, the male stashed one away into a pocket to pull out a bit of ribbon to tie his hair at the bottom, just as always. The only remnants of his dragon form were the black, jagged horns placed on top of his head. He was dressed in his usual regalia for a visiting royal, though how long would be really be here for?

"Is there anything you need to do while you're back? If not, please escort me to whomever I should speak to. Not sure who the current council members are or if they even know what happened."