[for losthunter]

[poetwarrior]

It has been nearly six hours.

Faris can feel it. The weakness is unmistakable. He's never experienced it before, but all K'da know what it means. He's been separated from his host for too long, long enough that he needs to join or he will die, and fade away into nothing.

He still isn't sure where this Nexus place is, but there are no Shontine that he's seen. No species he recognizes as one able to serve as hosts. There have only been two compatible races that the K'da know of, and he's seen neither. Robots, aliens, all manner of creatures, but nothing he recognizes.

This cannot be the end.

Movement, from the corner of his eye. The sight of painted skin, full of life and possibility. A human, perhaps. Faris has never met one before. But if this one has willingly inked his skin, perhaps it is possible... perhaps he would allow it. At least long enough to buy him some time.

The K'da gathers his remaining strength, ready to leap as soon as the human is in range. It may be the last thing he ever does, so he intends to make it count.

Comments

[losthunter]

That was really weird.

One moment, Hunter was ready to get tackled to the ground by a strange creature... and then next moment it is gone. And the slight pressure on his body is also very weird.

The sensation across his torso is unusual, so Hunter has to pause for a moment. He strips off his shirt, trying to determine what had happened.

[poetwarrior]

The moment Faris's paws touch the human, he knows that this will work. He flows onto the human's skin, shifting from three dimensional to two dimensional, and he can already feel the difference. Energy flows back into his body, strengthening him.

The K'da has to take a moment to just savor the sweet taste of life, the knowledge that he will not die, at least not right now.

The human's ink is a bit strange to him. Shontine don't tattoo themselves, not in this sense anyway. He shifts a little to avoid crossing over as much as possible, and as he does, he becomes aware that he's being watched. Suddenly, the human's shirt is gone, exposing what appears to be a full-body tattoo of a wingless dragon.

[losthunter]

Okay, Hunter knows that he didn't have the dragon tattoo before. It definitely does not match the rose-themed motif of his other markings. But it is still a very nice tattoo.

"What is this?" He questions out-loud.

[poetwarrior]

Faris feels a slight twinge of guilt at not asking first, but he hopes that the human will understand. There will be a sensation of increased weight on Hunter's shoulder as the K'da's head becomes three-dimensional, lifting off the human's skin. To anyone watching, it might look like Hunter has grown a second, draconic head. "My apologies. Please do not be alarmed." His voice is almost snakelike, not quite a hiss, but drawing out the "s" sounds a bit.

[losthunter]

Hunter has had his tattoos take on magical properties before, but nothing like this. And he has to take a moment to collect himself.

"I am trying."

"What is going on?"

[poetwarrior]

"You have saved my life," Faris says, aware that this may not be the explanation this human is looking for. "I had nearly faded away when you passed by. Not many species are able to serve as hosts for my kind. I saw your markings, and thought perhaps... well."

[losthunter]

"I am glad that I was able to help, even though I am not quite sure how I did." Hunter is respectful of other sentient beings.

"Just being on my skin is all you need?"

[poetwarrior]

"Yes. At least every six hours, we must rest on a compatible host body, or else we fade and die. I... must confess that I do not know where my host has gone," Faris says, regretful. "I have not seen any Shontine since I have been in this place at all, as a matter of fact."

[losthunter]

"Well, this is the Nexus. You are a little way from home right now."

Hunter doesn't feel any negative effects from the situation, so he is fine with the creature staying as long as needed.

"I am Hunter."

[poetwarrior]

It might be hard to tell with such an alien face, but the dragon-creature seems to perk up a little at such a sensible name. "I am Faris, poet-warrior of the K'da."

[losthunter]

"A poet warrior, that sounds interesting."

"Is this your first time in the Nexus?"

[poetwarrior]

"If that is what this place is called, yes." Now that his presence seems to be accepted, more or less, Faris lets his head sink back onto Hunter's skin, becoming fully two-dimensional again. When he speaks, it will feel almost like a slight tingling sensation against Hunter's skin, where Faris's head is located.

[losthunter]

"The Nexus is a meeting place between dimensions. You can find a lot of different people and creatures by coming here."

Hunter realizes that it might look like he is talking to himself right now, but doesn't mind.

"It can be a little difficult to find your way home, if you didn't pay any attention to your door."

[poetwarrior]

"I do not remember seeing a door," Faris says, a little puzzled. "Not any different than any other door on the ship, at least."

[losthunter]

"It likely looked like a ship door from your side, when you entered it." Hunter looks around to see if he can see any doors that might fit the description.

[poetwarrior]

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like Faris's door is forthcoming. The K'da may have wandered a good deal away from it anyway, not that he can tell.

"I've never heard of this danger."

[losthunter]

"The Nexus doesn't give any warning. And often, those who come here are caught unaware."

"Most times, there is a reason for why the Nexus has used its influence."

[poetwarrior]

If he wasn't in tattoo form at the moment, Faris would lash his tail in agitation. As it is, the twitching might tickle a little on Hunter's skin. "It is sapient? What reason would it have for nearly killing me?"

[losthunter]

"The Nexus itself isn't sapient, at least not from what anyone can prove."

"But usually, the person or creature brought into the Nexus is done so... to help them in some way."

Hunter shrugs. "And perhaps your door would only open if there was someone like me around, who would not react negatively to your need."

[poetwarrior]

"Perhaps." He has to concede that he doesn't know much about these sorts of things.

He shifts position a little. "Do your markings have meaning?"

[losthunter]

"They signify that I needed to change."

Hunter doesn't know if this is something that can be sensed or not, but explains in a little more details. "The tattoos were part of a magical curse."

"And now, they are just part of me."

[poetwarrior]

"A curse?" The K'da isn't entirely sure he understands. "They were... forced on you?"

[losthunter]

"Yes. They were." Hunter knows that he had not wanted the markings at first.

"But I accept them now."

[poetwarrior]

"And now I have similarly tresspassed. My apologies."

Faris decides to take advantage of Hunter's lack of shirt, which gives him a nice big area to emerge into his three-dimensional form again. He leaps, flowing off Hunter's skin and landing on all four paws in front of him.

[losthunter]

"You said it was life or death." Hunter calmly states, holding out his hands to signify that he is not upset.

But he does take a moment to study the creature in front of him.

"Are you going to be okay?"